Editing Haddock (section)

==Description==

[[File: Melanogrammus aeglefinus.png|thumb]]
The haddock has the elongated, tapering body shape typical of members of the cod family.<ref name = Marlin>{{cite web | url = https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/79 | author = Barnes, M.K.S. | year = 2008 | title = ''Melanogrammus aeglefinus'' Haddock | editor1 = Tyler-Walters H. | editor2 = Hiscock K.| work = Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews| publisher = Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom | access-date = 13 April 2018}}</ref> It has a relatively small mouth which does not extend to below the eye; with the lower profile of the face being straight and the upper profile slightly rounded, this gives its snout a characteristic wedge-shaped profile. The upper jaw projects beyond the lower more so than in the [[Atlantic cod]].<ref name = gma>{{cite web | url = http://www.gma.org/fogm/Melanogrammus_aeglefinus.htm | title = Haddock ''Melanogrammus aeglefinus'' | access-date = 14 April 2018 | publisher = United States Fish and Wildlife Service | work = Fishes of the Gulf of Maine | author1 = Henry B. Bigelow | author2 = William C. Schroeder | name-list-style=amp | year = 1953}}</ref> There is a rather small barbel on the chin.<ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Melanogrammus|aeglefinus|month=February|year=2018}}</ref> There are three [[dorsal fin]]s, the first being triangular in shape<ref name = BSF>{{cite web | url = https://britishseafishing.co.uk/haddock/ | title = Haddock | date = 20 August 2012 | access-date = 7 January 2019 | publisher = British Sea Fishing }}</ref> and these dorsal fins have 14 to 17 fin rays in the first, 20 to 24 in the second, and 19 to 22 in the third. There are also two [[anal fin]]s and in these there are 21 to 25 fin rays in the first and 20 to 24 fin rays in the second.<ref name = gma/> The anal and dorsal fins are all separated from each other.<ref name = FAO>{{cite book | editor1 = Daniel M. Cohen | editor2 = Tadashi Inada | editor3 = Tomio Iwamoto | editor4 = Nadia Scialabba | name-list-style=amp | year = 1990 | title = VOL. 10 Gadiform Fishes of the World (Order Gadiformes) An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Cods, Hakes, Grenadiers and other Gadiform Fishes Known to Date | publisher = [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the United Nations | isbn = 978-92-5-102890-2 | pages = 54–55 | url = http://www.fao.org/3/T0243E/t0243e.pdf | access-date = 2 April 2018 }}</ref> The pelvic fins are small with an elongated first fin ray.<ref name = Wheeler>{{cite book | author = Alwyne Wheeler | year = 1992 | title = The Pocket Guide to Salt Water Fishes of Britain and Europe | publisher = Parkgate Books | edition = 1997 | isbn = 978-1855853645 | page = 47| author-link = Alwynne Cooper Wheeler }}</ref>

The upper side of the haddock's body varies in colour from dark grey brown to nearly black while the lower part of the body is dull silvery white. It has a distinctive black [[lateral line]] contrasting with the whitish background colour and which curves slightly over the [[pectoral fin]]s. It also has a distinctive oval black blotch or ‘thumbprint’, sometimes called the "Devil's thumbprint",<ref name = FOC>{{cite web | url = http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/sustainable-durable/fisheries-peches/haddock-aiglefin-eng.htm | title = Haddock | access-date = 14 April 2018 | publisher = Fisheries and Oceans Canada}}</ref> which sits between the lateral line and the pectoral fin,<ref name = FAOCDR>{{cite web | url = http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/tan/x5939e/x5939e01.htm | title = The haddock | access-date = 14 April 2018 | publisher = Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | author = Torry Research Station | archive-date = 26 December 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181226100838/http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/tan/x5939e/x5939e01.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> a feature which leads to the name of the genus ''Melanogrammus'' which derives from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''"melanos"'' meaning "black" and ''"gramma"'' meaning letter or signal.<ref name = FishBase/> The dorsal, pectoral, and [[caudal fin]]s are dark grey in colour while the anal fins are pale matching the colour of the silvery sides, with black speckles at their bases. The pelvic fins are white with a variable amount of black spots. Occasionally there are differently coloured variants recorded which may be barred, golden on the back or lack the dark shoulder blotch.<ref name = gma/>

The longest haddock recorded was {{convert|94|cm|in|abbr=off}} in length and weighed {{convert|11|kg|lb|abbr=off}}. However, haddock are rarely over {{convert|80|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} in length and the vast majority of haddocks caught in the United Kingdom measure between {{convert|30|and|70|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}}.<ref name = FAOCDR/> In eastern [[Canada]] waters, haddock range in size from {{convert|38|to|69|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|0.9|to|1.8|kg|lboz|abbr=on}} in weight.<ref name=FOC/>