Mora moro (Risso, 1810)
Common mora
Mora moro
photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Family:  Moridae (Morid cods)
Max. size:  80 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 2500 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Iceland and Faeroes to Cape Bojador, West Africa, and including Azores, Madeira, and western Mediterranean. Also known from the Walvis and Vavilov ridges (Ref. 45011). Reported from Mauritania (Ref. 55783). Western Indian Ocean: in the region south of Madagascar. Pacific Ocean: temperate Australia, New Zealand, and between Valparaiso, Chile and the Juan Fernandez Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 54-59; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-21. Eyes relatively large, greater than snout length in diameter. Anal fin originating near midlength of body, deeply indented at midlength, sometimes appearing as two. Ventral light organ absent. Color is generally gray.
Biology:  Recorded from the upper continental slope (Ref. 9563). Occasionally found at 50 m. Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and other invertebrates as well as food of terrestrial origin, including garbage. Probably a winter and early spring spawner (Ref . 4774). Minimum depth from Ref. 106682.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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