Fish of a subfamily of the Gadidae in the order Gadiformes. Important commercially, these fish are found in cold waters, such as the Baltic and the North Atlantic. Gadus morhua is extensively fished off the Newfoundland banks and a circumpolar species, Boreogadus saida, the Arctic cod, is found around the ice pack during the summer. G. macrocephalus, a related species, occurs in the northern Pacific.
The cod is covered with cycloid scales, has a barbel under the chin, and has pelvic fins on the throat; there are two anal and three dorsal fins. Codfish average about 3 ft (0.9 m) in length and weigh 10–35 lb (4.5–15.7 kg). They live at depths of 100–1500 ft (30–450 m), where they feed on mollusks, small fish, crustaceans, and worms. Spawning occurs from January on to spring. The livers are processed for cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamins, and the swim bladder is made into isinglass. See also Gadiformes.
