Lingcod
The lingcod or ling cod (Ophiodon elongatus), also known as the buffalo cod or cultus cod, is a fish of the greenling family Hexagrammidae. It is the only extant member of the genus Ophiodon. A slightly larger, extinct species, Ophiodon ozymandias, is known from fossils from the Late Miocene of Southern California.
| Lingcod | |
|---|---|
| Ophiodon elongatus | |
| At Santa Catalina Island, California | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Hexagrammidae |
| Genus: | Ophiodon |
| Species: | O. elongatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ophiodon elongatus Girard, 1854 | |
| Range of the lingcod. | |
Ophiodon elongatus is native to the North American west coast from Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. It has been observed up to a size of 152 centimetres (60 in) and a weight of 59 kilograms (130 lb). It is spotted in various shades of gray. The lingcod is a popular eating fish, and is thus prized by anglers. Though not closely related to either ling or cod, the name "lingcod" originated because it somewhat resembles those fish. Around 20% of lingcods have blue-green to turquoise flesh.p. 298 The colour, which is destroyed by cooking, may be due to biliverdin, but this has not been established beyond doubt.