Hake
Otolith description
The shape of the otoliths is ovally pointed. The sulcus is well developed and wide. The sulcus is closed and runs over almost the whole length of the otolith, but does not run into the posterior point. The ostium and cauda are well developed and separated by a narrowing of the sulcus. The cauda is longer than the ostium. The otolith is at its widest anterior from the centre. The dorsal side is rounded, while the ventral side is straight. The surface of the inside is smooth, while the outside and margins are lobate. The rostrum is not well developed and round lobate. The antirostrum is indistinct. The posterior margin is pointed. The inside and outside of the otolith are flat. The otolith is thin, compared to other large gadoids.
Otoliths of hake are similar to gadidae otoliths. Hake otoliths are comparatively thin and flat and the posterior end is less pointed. The sulcus of hake otoliths does not end in the posterior point as it does in gadidae, but higher up.
In eroded otoliths the sulcus is less clear and the margins are smoothed.
Fish length and distribution
Hake can grow up to 180 cm. Hake is a bottom-living fish (MERLUMER.TIF) found in deeper parts of the continental shelf. It moves to mid-water at night to feed. It spawns in mid-water from December to July (Wheeler, 1978, Nijssen and De Groot, 1987, Knijn et al., 1993, Muus et al., 1999).
Hake is found in the NE Atlantic and Northern North Sea.
Sample origin
Northern North Sea and Celtic Sea.