Diagnostic characters: presence of pigment; anterior placement of bars; rays on superior hypural = 5; distinguished from Gadus macrocephalus by: dorsal pigment separated in specimens <13 mm SL, bars not continuous; distinguished from Theragra chalcogramma by: anterior bar begins closer to anus.
Pigment: pesence of bars; single row on each side of ventral midline anteriorly and a single row along ventral midline posteriorly; large melanophores scattered on ventral surface of gut.
Sequence of fin development: caudal, 1st anal, 2nd anal; 3rd, 2nd, and 1st dorsal (nearly simultaneously); pelvics, pectorals. |