Red codling

Taxobox
name = Red codling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Gadiformes
familia = Moridae
genus = "Pseudophycis"
species = "P. bachus"
binomial = "Pseudophycis bachus"
binomial_authority = (Forster, 1801)

The red codling or hoka, "Pseudophycis bachus", is a morid cod of the genus "Pseudophycis", found around southern Australia including Tasmania, and New Zealand, from the surface to 700 m. Its length is up to 90 cm.

The red codling is similar in general appearance to the northern bastard codling, but with a squarer caudal fin and the hind part of the second dorsal and anal fins are raised. The first dorsal fin is high and contains 10 or 11 rays.

Body colour is grey-pink above and whitish below, with a distinctive large dark blotch on the body above the upper base of the pectoral fin.

Red codling have bands of small equal sized teeth in both jaws and are carnivorous, feeding on small fishes, crabs and other crustaceans, squid and even shellfish.

References

*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8