Merlangius

Merlangius is a genus of ray-finned fish in the cod family Gadidae. It is currently considered monotypic, containing a single extant species, Merlangius merlangus, commonly known as the European whiting. The genus name derives from Latin merlangus, a traditional name for whiting, while the species epithet mirrors its widely used common name.

Description and taxonomy: Merlangius merlangus has a slender, elongated body with two dorsal fins, a forked caudal fin, and a silvery body with a darker back. Adults typically reach around 30–50 cm, with a maximum length near 60 cm. It possesses a well-developed lateral line and a body shape adapted for demersal life while still forming schools for foraging.

Distribution and habitat: The species is native to the northeast Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas, occurring around the British Isles, in the North Sea, and into coastal waters of western Europe. It is a demersal fish that inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms from shallow coastal zones to depths of several hundred meters, often forming large schools outside the spawning season.

Biology: Merlangius merlangus is a predator and opportunistic feeder, preying on crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. Spawning occurs in spring and early summer in shallow coastal areas; eggs are pelagic, and larvae drift with currents before settling to the bottom as juveniles. Juvenile and adult stocks use coastal nurseries and migrate seasonally in response to temperature and prey availability.

Fisheries and management: European whiting is an important commercial species in European waters, targeted by trawls and longlines and sold fresh, filleted, or smoked. It is subject to fisheries management measures, including quotas, size limits, and seasonal closures, to sustain stocks.