Blue Hake Antimora rostrata (Gadiformes: Moridae) off the Atlantic Coast of South America: an Overview on Its Distribution and Biology

MARÍ, N.; COSTA, P. A. S.; SYTOV, A. M.; BARBINI, S. A.; MINCARONE, M. M.; ORLOV, A. M.; FIGUEROA, D. E.; MARIN, Y. H.

Journal of Ichthyology

Pleiades Publishing

Año: 2019 vol. 59 p. 174 - 185

0032-9452

Long-term data on spatial and bathymetric distributions, preferred bottom temperatures, length and weight of blue hake Antimora rostrata caught off the Atlantic coast of South America are presented basedon published and unpublished materials. The species frequently occurred in waters of southern Argentina where catches were considerably higher as compared with Brazilian waters. The blue hake were captured atdepths from 97 to 2162 m (average depth 1279 m). Most of the specimens (65.1%) were collected at depths from 700 to 1300 m, similar to depths in other parts of the species? range. Bottom temperatures at sites of bluehake captures in Brazilian waters were 2.18?4.20°C (average 2.93°C). Specimens in bottom trawl catches were 9?61 cm in total length, averaging 34.84 cm. The bulk of the catches (85.5% of individuals) were fish of 25?45 cm. Body weight ranged from 70 to 1380 g (average 437.5 g). Frequency of occurrence decreased from southern Argentina to northern Brazil; complete absence of records in the Central Western Atlantic might relate to different means by which the blue hake colonized the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America.