Saffron Cod

A locally abundant cod in the nearshore western Arctic

Migrate annually into shallow waters to spawn in winter; Fecundity varies by region and increases with body length, weight, and age; 5,000-680,000 eggs laid per female; Eggs are demersal, spawned on sand-gravel substrate. Larvae are pelagic.; Begin to mature at 2-3 years. Maximum age 14 years, up to 9 years in most regions

Feed on fish, mysids, decapods, amphipods, polychaetes; A food of some marine mammals, seabirds, and fishes

Subarctic to arctic faunal regions of North Pacific and adjacent Arctic; Demersal, in brackish waters and river mouths to continental shelf edge; Surface to depth of 200 m, typically < 100 m in the Arctic

Back and upper sides brown to gray-green with mottling; More or less pronounced yellow wash on body and pectoral fins; Bulbous snout; Upper jaw protruding beyond the lower jaw; Truncate caudal fin; Juveniles (to 6-7 cm) have large dark blotches on sides