- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Superclass: Gnathostomata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Gadiformes
- Family: Lotidae
- Scientific name: Molva molva
- Norwegian: lange
Characteristics:
The juveniles have a beautiful brown or olive coloration on a white base. Adults have grey bodies with a brown tint. The ling has a long, slender body and a distinct beard on the lower jaw. The first dorsal fin is short and rounded, while the second is uniform and rectangular in shape. There is a dark spot at the rear end of the first dorsal fin. The ling can reach a length of 2,2 meters.
Habitat:
Adults prefer to go deeper than 100 meters, while juveniles and young individuals are often seen under rocks and in crevices, on diveable depths.
Distribution:
It is widespread over the North-Atlantic Ocean, but most most frequent in the eastern parts. The registrations span from the western Barents Sea to Gibraltar and occasionally in the western parts of the Mediterranean.