Species learning profile
Silver hake
Merluccius bilinearis
Silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) is a saltwater fish associated with demersal habitat in Atlantic. A mouth full of sharp teeth suits its active nighttime hunting.
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At a glance
- Água
- Água salgada
- Habitat
- Fundo do mar
- Comprimento máximo
- 76 cm
- Distribuição
- Atlântico
- Família
- Merlucciidae
- Ordem
- Gadiformes
Observe
How to identify Silver hake
- A mouth full of sharp teeth suits its active nighttime hunting.
- Guide context: demersal habitat in Atlantic.
- Reported maximum length: 76 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with demersal habitat across Atlantic. It lives on or close to the bottom, where sediment, rock, depth, and bottom-dwelling prey matter most.
Behavior
Rises from the bottom after dark to feed
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Ecological role
Connects seafloor and midwater food webs.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Silver hake pode chegar a cerca de 76 cm e costuma viver perto de Fundo do mar.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Bottom-associated fish can be affected by seafloor disturbance, bycatch, warming, and changes to benthic prey.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Silver hake in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections