Common ling

Common ling
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Lotidae
Genus: Molva
Species:
M. molva
Binomial name
Molva molva
Molva molva range map.
Synonyms
  • Gadus molva Linnaeus, 1758
  • Molva vulgaris Fleming, 1828
  • Gadus raptor Nilsson, 1832
  • Molva linnei Malm, 1877
  • Lota mola Moreau, 1881

The common ling (Molva molva), also known as the white ling or simply the ling, is a large member of the family Lotidae, a group of cod-like fishes. It resembles the related rocklings, but it is much larger and has a single barbel. This species is unrelated to the pink ling, Genypterus blacodes, from the Southern Hemisphere. The common ling is found in the northern Atlantic, mainly off Europe, and into the Mediterranean Basin. It is an important quarry species for fisheries, especially in the northeastern Atlantic, although some doubts exist as to the sustainability of the fisheries. As an edible species, it is eaten fresh, frozen, or dried, but also preserved in lye, while the roe is a delicacy in Spain.

  1. ^ Fernandes, P.; Cook, R.; Florin, A.; Lorance, P.; Nielsen, J. & Nedreaas, K. (2015). "Molva molva (Europe assessment)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T198593A45132914. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Molva molva". FishBase. February 2018 version.