DORSAL FIN:
Summary: Dorsal fin base long, extending almost the length of the back. Dorsal fin divided into 3
well-separated parts (separate fins), bearing about 13, 18 and 16 rays respectively. First part originating posterior to
head (predorsal distance greater than about one-third of total length); its length about one-half of head length; ends
of rays in first part reaching second part when depressed, longest ray fitting three times into head length. No spinous rays present.
Literature: Jordan and Evermann 1898:
Reference to family Gadidae: Page 2531 (text) - "...no spines, the fin rays all articulated.
Dorsal fin extending almost the length of the back, forming 1, 2 or 3 fins..." Reference to genus Gadus:
Page 2531 (key) - "...dorsal fin divided into 3." Page 2540 (text) - "Dorsal fins 3, well separated..."
Reference to Gadus macrocephalus: Page 2541 (text) - "D. 13-18-16..." "in head ... highest dorsal ray
3..." "...ends of first dorsal rays reaching second dorsal when depressed..."
Eschmeyer and Herald 1983:
Reference to order Gadiformes: Page 96 (text) - "Their dorsal...fins are long and often separated into 2 or 3 fins.
No fin spines..." References to family Gadidae: Page 97 (text) - "Our cods have 3 dorsal fins...some in
other areas have 1 or 2 dorsal fins..." "No spinous fin rays" Reference to Gadus macrocephalus:
Page 97 (text) - "3 dorsal fins." Robins and Ray 1986:
Reference to family Gadidae: Page 92 (text) - "No fin spines." "Dorsal fin base long;
either single or divided into 2 or 3 parts." Cohen et al. 1990:
Reference to family Gadidae: Page 13 (key) - "Anterior dorsal fin originating at rear of or behind head, not widely separate from
following rays..." Page 18 (text) - "Anterior dorsal fin originating at rear of or behind head..."
Reference to subfamily Gadinae: Page 3 (text) - "characterized by having three dorsal fins..."
Reference to genus Gadus: Page 20 (key) - "Dorsal fins 3, the last one originating far posterior to the level of the
vent" Page 41(text) - "Three dorsal fins ... all separate from each other..."
References to Gadus macrocephalus: Page 41(key) - "Predorsal distance greater than about one-third of total
length." Page 42 (text) - Predorsal distance more than about 33% of length.
Nelson 1994: Reference to order Gadiformes: Page 227 (text) - "...no true
spines in the fins..." Reference to family Gadidae: Page 237 (text) - "First dorsal fin posterior to head..."
Reference to subfamily Gadinae: Page 237 (text) - "Three dorsal fins..."