The morid cod, largeye lepidion, or North Atlantic codling (Lepidion eques) is a species of fish in the family Moridae. The Catalog of Fishes considers it a synonym of Lepidion lepidion.

Name

The specific name eques means "knight", referring to the plume-like protuberance on its head; this is also reflected in the Icelandic name bláriddari and Danish name blå ridder, both meaning "blue knight."

Description

Illustration of fish from the Danish Ingolf-Expedition, 1899. The North Atlantic codling is at bottom right.

The North Atlantic codling is pink-brown in colour with a blue tinge; albinos are common. It is up to 44 cm (1.44 ft) in length. Its posterior nostril is immediately anterior to the eye. There are 55–60 dorsal finrays and 50–54 anal finrays. It has a lateral line with pit organs but no pores, and 8–13 pyloric caeca.

Habitat

The North Atlantic codling lives in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is benthopelagic, living at depths of 120–1,900 m (390–6,230 ft).

Behaviour

The North Atlantic codling feeds on crustaceans and polychaetes. It usually swims close to sandy bottoms and exhibits station holding behavior.