Panama hake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Panama hake |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gadiformes |
| Family: | Merlucciidae |
| Genus: | Merluccius |
| Species: |
M. angustimanus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Merluccius angustimanus Garman, 1899
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The Panama hake (Merluccius angustimanus) is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the dwarf hake because it's quite small. You can find this fish along the west coast of North and South America, from Del Mar, California, all the way down to Ensenada de Tumaco, Colombia. It's part of a family of fish called merluccid hakes.
Contents
What Does the Panama Hake Look Like?
The Panama hake is a fairly small fish. It usually grows to about 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. Some bigger ones have been found up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches). This fish has a long head. Its pectoral fins (the fins on its sides, like arms) are also long. They reach back to where its anal fin (the fin on its belly) begins.
The Panama hake has two dorsal fins (fins on its back). The front one has one strong spine and 9 to 12 soft rays. The back dorsal fin has 36 to 40 rays. Its caudal fin (tail fin) can be flat or slightly notched. Along its side, it has a special line called the lateral line. This line helps it sense things in the water. It has 121 to 134 scales along this line. The fish is silvery on top and whitish underneath.
Where Do Panama Hakes Live?
The Panama hake lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it from southern California and the Gulf of California down to Colombia. However, scientists are still checking if it truly lives in all parts of this wide area.
Panama Hake Habitat and Life Cycle
The Panama hake is a demersal fish, which means it lives near the bottom of the ocean. It is also bathypelagic, meaning it can live in the deep open water. It lives from the shallow continental shelf (about 80 meters deep) to the upper continental slope (as deep as 500 meters). It can also be found in the middle of the ocean and over sea mounts, like Uncle Sam Bank.
Panama hake eggs and young fish float in the open water. Adult hakes eat other fish and small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates. They usually lay their eggs from April to June, or sometimes even later. These fish become old enough to reproduce when they are about 18 to 19 centimeters long. They can live for up to seven years.
Is the Panama Hake Fished?
The Panama hake is not very important for commercial fishing. This is because it's small and there aren't a huge number of them. However, when it does appear in markets, it can sell for a good price. Sometimes, it is sold locally in the areas where it is caught.
 | Delilah Pierce |
 | Gordon Parks |
 | Augusta Savage |
 | Charles Ethan Porter |
