107-474: The lingcod or ling cod ( Ophiodon elongatus ) is neither a ling nor a cod, but is also known as known as the buffalo cod or cultus cod, or Buckethead is a fish of the greenling family Hexagrammidae . It is the only extant member of the genus Ophiodon . A slightly larger, extinct species, Ophiodon ozymandias , is known from fossils from the Late Miocene of Southern California. Ophiodon elongatus
214-550: A writing system , built huge pyramids and temples , had a complex calendar , and developed the concept of zero around 400 CE. The first recorded European references to North America are in Norse sagas where it is referred to as Vinland . The earliest verifiable instance of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact by any European culture with the North America mainland has been dated to around 1000 CE. The site , situated at
321-410: A female by the presence of a small, conical papilla behind the anal vent. Up to age two, males and females grow at similar rates, with both reaching an average length of 45 centimeters (18 in). After age two, females grow faster than males, with the growth of males tapering off at about age eight, and females continuing to grow until about age 12 to 14. In 1977, Dr. Dick Beamish and Doris Chilton of
428-478: A hard substrate such as rocky reefs and generally deeper waters as well. Such a shift in habitat based on the life stages portrays Lingcod's ontogenetic shift. Typically, female Lingcod will migrate seasonally to spawn but male Lingcod prefer to stay near the familiar habitat in which they were born. However, in certain cases, there have been cases of immature Lingcod migrating more than 60 miles. Females mainly go to more shallow waters to lay eggs. Lingcod have
535-432: A lower hepatosomatic index value, which may indicate blueness is also an indication of poor body condition. The exact mechanism behind the production of blueness is not yet determined. One explanation includes that parasites may cause physiological damage to the fish, producing blueness as a result. Another possible explanation is that starvation may be the driving factor for blue coloration and parasite burden, but this factor
642-445: A male's territory. The female Lingcod will leave the nest site immediately after depositing eggs. However, the male Lingcod will come to fertilize the eggs by spawning. After the eggs are fertilized, the male will actively defend the nest from predators for 6 weeks until the eggs hatch between January and June. Male Lingcods typically will only defend one nest, however, it has been observed for male lingcods to defend up to three nests if
749-457: A narrow home range and show territorial behaviors. This behavior aids Lingcods in returning to the same reef for spawning. Lingcod can also live more than 20 years but typically only live up to 14 years for males and 20 years for females. Starting in November, male lingcod migrate to nearshore spawning grounds and establish territories. Such interannual nest fidelity coupled with great precision of
856-578: A part of Denmark) and Mexico classified as Latin American). It is unknown with certainty how and when first human populations first reached North America. People were known to live in the Americas at least 20,000 years ago, but various evidence points to possibly earlier dates. The Paleo-Indian period in North America followed the Last Glacial Period, and lasted until about 10,000 years ago when
963-648: A period of mountain building called the Laramide orogeny , between 80 and 55 mya. The formation of the Isthmus of Panama that connected the continent to South America arguably occurred approximately 12 to 15 mya, and the Great Lakes (as well as many other northern freshwater lakes and rivers) were carved by receding glaciers about 10,000 years ago. North America is the source of much of what humanity knows about geologic time periods. The geographic area that would later become
1070-571: A powerful earthquake killed seven people in 2009. Volcanic eruptions are common in the region. In 1968, the Arenal Volcano , in Costa Rica, erupted and killed 87 people. Fertile soils from weathered volcanic lavas have made it possible to sustain dense populations in agriculturally productive highland areas. Central America has many mountain ranges ; the longest are the Sierra Madre de Chiapas ,
1177-540: A variety of reactions, including curiosity, trading, cooperation, resignation, and resistance. The indigenous population declined substantially following European arrival, primarily due to the introduction of Eurasian diseases, such as smallpox , to which the indigenous peoples lacked immunity, and because of violent conflicts with Europeans. Indigenous culture changed significantly and their affiliation with political and cultural groups also changed. Several linguistic groups died out , and others changed quite quickly. On
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#17328587793581284-428: Is oviparous which reflects the males guarding the eggs in a nest until the eggs hatch. Oviparous parental care provides offspring care by one, both, or neither parent by maximizing both sexes’ fitness through a wide range of mating behaviors such as monogamy to polygamy . Usually, like in the case of Lingcod, males are the primary caregivers but Lingcod typically follows a polygamy mating structure which contributes to
1391-403: Is a single dorsal fin which is notched and contains between 16 and 28 spines and 11 and 30 soft rays. There is a single spine and 5 soft rays in the pelvic fin . The front nostril on each side of the snout is well developed but the rear nostril may be absent or if it is there it is merely a small pore. The anal fin may have upn to 3 spines, or there may be no spines, and 6 or 7 soft rays. There
1498-640: Is a very large continent that extends from north of the Arctic Circle to south of the Tropic of Cancer . Greenland, along with the Canadian Shield , is tundra with average temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F), but central Greenland is composed of a very large ice sheet. This tundra radiates throughout Canada, but its border ends near the Rocky Mountains (but still contains Alaska) and at
1605-511: Is an ancient craton which forms the geologic core of North America; it formed between 1.5 and 1.0 billion years ago during the Proterozoic eon. The Canadian Shield is the largest exposure of this craton. From the Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic eras, North America was joined with the other modern-day continents as part of the supercontinent Pangaea , with Eurasia to its east. One of
1712-517: Is as follows. Protein calories % : 0.7 g Fat calories % : 7.6% Carbohydrate calories % : 0.0% According to the NOAA Fisheries, both population stocks (The Northern Pacific Coast and Southern Pacific Coast stocks) of lingcod are not overfished as of the 2021 stock assessment and are not subjected to overfishing based on 2021 catch data. More information and updated information may be found at Stock SMART (noaa.gov) for
1819-466: Is composed of spines and rays , separated by a notch. The anal fin also contains 3 spines. Lingcod do not have a swim bladder . Lingcod grows relatively quickly and up to 5 feet (60 inches or 152 centimeters) or 80 pounds but has been reported to weigh 59 kilograms (130 pounds). About 20% of the lingcod population in the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of North America presents a blue coloration, while
1926-404: Is destroyed by cooking, may be due to biliverdin , but this has not been established beyond doubt. Lingcods have several variations in their appearance, including dark gray, blue, brown, or green coloring on the back, sometimes accompanying mottling or spotting on the upper back that is copper colored. The belly is typically lighter than the body. Lingcod typically has a large head and mouth where
2033-685: Is due to Lingcod's association with strength and resilience which reflects Peter's faithfulness and courage in preaching the Gospel in the face of persecution and hardship. Moreover, the lingcod's large mouth may also represent Peter's outspokenness in communicating the Word of God. Lingcod also has a significant role in the Celtic culture as its fierce demeanor and predatory nature represent warrior-like qualities of strength and power. Lingcod continues to be used as an inspiration for artists and designers. In African culture,
2140-405: Is found usually near alternating sizes of rock substrates with varying combinations of moderate and low relief but still in generally shallow waters. As Lingcod approach adulthood, they move to more rocky habitats or into seaweed, kelp, and eelgrass beds. The benefit of this habitat is food abundance. Year 3+ Lingcod (Lingcod that are equal to or greater than 50 cm) are positively associated with
2247-535: Is in present-day Panama at the Darien Gap on the Colombia -Panama border, placing almost all of Panama within North America. Alternatively, some geologists physiographically locate its southern limit at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec , Mexico, with Central America extending southeastward to South America from this point. The Caribbean islands, or West Indies, are considered part of North America. The continental coastline
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#17328587793582354-630: Is long and irregular. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest body of water indenting the continent, followed by Hudson Bay . Others include the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Gulf of California . Before the Central American isthmus formed, the region had been underwater. The islands of the West Indies delineate a submerged former land bridge , which had connected North and South America via what are now Florida and Venezuela . There are several islands off
2461-607: Is maintained by NOAA Fisheries: The Northern Pacific stock and the Southern Pacific stock. When lingcod are in their larvae life stage, they typically live near the surface of the ocean. At the juvenile life stage, lingcod live on sandy ocean bottoms with eelgrass or kelp beds near the shore. More specifically, year 1 Lingcod (Lingcod that are equal to or under 25 cm) are found in homogeneous soft sediment to avoid predation from adult Lingcod as well as wave relief areas. Meanwhile, year 2 Lingcod (Lingcod that are 25–45 cm)
2568-649: Is native to the North American west coast from Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California , Mexico. It has been observed up to a size of 152 centimetres (60 in) and a weight of 59 kilograms (130 lb). It is spotted in various shades of gray. The lingcod is a popular eating fish and is thus prized by anglers. Though not closely related to either ling or cod , the name "lingcod" originated because it somewhat resembles those fish. Around 20% of lingcods have blue green to turquoise flesh. The color, which
2675-486: Is no swimbladder. The largest species is the lingcod ( Ophiodon elongatus )which has a maximum published total length of 152 cm (60 in) but typically they are 50 cm (20 in) or less in length. Hexagrammidae is endemic to the North Pacific Ocean where they are found in the subarctic and temperate regions, with a single species, the whitespotted greenling Hexagrammos stelleri , being found in
2782-496: Is of concern for Lingcod as younger Lingcod are typically in shallow waters near vegetation of kelp or eelgrass beds. Such kelp and eelgrass beds are very susceptible to natural and anthropogenic impacts and thus are declining worldwide, pushing younger Lingcod to more structurally complex habitats such as hard and mixed substrates. Lingcod is harvested alongside bottom longline and salmon troll fisheries. When trawls are used to harvest Lingcod, there are varying degrees of disruption to
2889-548: Is part of North America geographically. In a geologic sense, Bermuda is not part of the Americas, but an oceanic island that was formed on the fissure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge over 100 million years ago (mya). The nearest landmass to it is Cape Hatteras , North Carolina . However, Bermuda is often thought of as part of North America, especially given its historical, political and cultural ties to Virginia and other parts of
2996-421: Is smaller octopuses , and they also readily devour large rockfish . Lingcod that survive the larval stages have few predators themselves and are vulnerable mainly to marine mammals, such as sea lions , harbor seals , sharks, and more mature Lingcods . Larvae Lingcod typically feed on zooplankton, krill, and larval crustaceans while juvenile Lingcod feed on small fish . Nutrition information for lingcod
3103-574: Is still harvested for subsistence alongside commercial fisheries with longlines, trolls, and jigs. For the Indigenous peoples of North America, the lingcod acts as a totem for lessons of adaptability, depth, and resilience which reflects the lingcod's existence deep under the sea. More specifically, for the Tlingit people of Alaska, the lingcod represents wisdom and strength. For the Haida people of British Columbia,
3210-686: Is the Morrison Formation of the western U.S. Canada is geologically one of the oldest regions in the world, with more than half of the region consisting of Precambrian rocks that have been above sea level since the beginning of the Palaeozoic era. Canada's mineral resources are diverse and extensive. Across the Canadian Shield and in the north there are large iron, nickel, zinc , copper, gold, lead, molybdenum , and uranium reserves. Large diamond concentrations have been recently developed in
3317-516: Is the humid subtropical climate . This area has the wettest cities in the contiguous U.S. , with annual precipitation reaching 67 in (1,700 mm) in Mobile, Alabama . Stretching from the borders of the humid continental and subtropical climates, and going west to the Sierra Nevada , south to the southern tip of Durango , north to the border with tundra climate, the steppe / desert climates are
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3424-688: Is the center may be resorbed, resulting in the loss of the first two annuli. It is therefore necessary to determine an average width for the first two annuli by examining the fins from juvenile fish. This measurement can then be used to estimate the position of the third annulus on older fish. Adult lingcod are aggressive predators. They consume other bottom-dwelling fish, including other Lingcod, squid, octopus, and crab. Lingcod are voracious predators, feeding on nearly anything they can fit in their mouths, including invertebrates and many species of fish, such as herring (Clupea pallasii), salmon, and Pacific hake (Merluccius productus). One of their favorite foods
3531-566: Is under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. In commercial harvest, in 2022, 1.8 million pounds of Lingcod were harvested, which was valued at $ 2.7 million. Commercial harvest equipment varies by sector but can include different hook-and-line gear , gill nets , trawls , and traps. Lingcod may be sold fresh, dead, alive, or frozen in the US and in exports. Recreation fishing for lingcod occurs throughout
3638-524: Is unmeasurable. Moreover, the study's findings suggest that the immune system may play a role in blue coloration, but when coupled with parasitism expresses a role in the population dynamics of lingcod. Future studies are required for further determination of the cause of polymorphism of Lingcod. Ophiodon elongatus is native to the North American west coast from the Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California , Mexico. They are found on
3745-451: The Age of Discovery and the early modern period . Present-day cultural and ethnic patterns reflect interactions between European colonists, indigenous peoples , enslaved Africans , immigrants from Europe, Asia, and descendants of these respective groups. Europe's colonization in North America led to most North Americans speaking European languages, such as English , Spanish , and French , and
3852-509: The Archaic period began. The classic stage followed the Archaic period, and lasted from approximately the 6th to 13th centuries. Beginning in 1000 AD, the Norse were the first Europeans to begin exploring and ultimately colonizing areas of North America. In 1492, the exploratory voyages of Christopher Columbus led to a transatlantic exchange , including migrations of European settlers during
3959-551: The Bering Strait during the Early-Middle Holocene . Prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in North America, the natives of North America were divided into many different polities, ranging from small bands of a few families to large empires. They lived in several culture areas , which roughly correspond to geographic and biological zones that defined the representative cultures and lifestyles of
4066-576: The British Columbia Coast , Western Canada , and Northern Canada . In the U.S., they include New England , the Mid-Atlantic , South Atlantic states , East North Central states , West North Central states , East South Central states , West South Central states , Mountain states , and Pacific states . The Great Lakes region and the Pacific Northwest include areas in both Canada and
4173-863: The Caribbean Plate , whereas the Juan de Fuca Plate and Cocos Plate border the North American Plate on its western frontier. The continent can be divided into four great regions (each of which contains many subregions): the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic ; the geologically young, mountainous west, including the Rocky Mountains , the Great Basin , California , and Alaska ;
4280-553: The Cordillera Isabelia , and the Cordillera de Talamanca . Between the mountain ranges lie fertile valleys that are suitable for the people; in fact, most of the population of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala live in valleys. Valleys are also suitable for the production of coffee, beans, and other crops. The indigenous peoples of the Americas have many creation myths , based on which they assert that they have been present on
4387-459: The East Coast to eastern North Dakota , and stretching down to Kansas , is the humid continental climate featuring intense seasons, with a large amount of annual precipitation, with places like New York City averaging 50 in (1,300 mm). Starting at the southern border of the humid continental climate and stretching to the Gulf of Mexico (whilst encompassing the eastern half of Texas)
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4494-608: The Inuit of the high Arctic arrived in North America much later than other native groups, evidenced by the disappearance of Dorset culture artifacts from the archaeological record and their replacement by the Thule people . During the thousands of years of native habitation on the continent, cultures changed and shifted. One of the oldest yet discovered is the Clovis culture (c. 9550–9050 BCE) in modern New Mexico . Later groups include
4601-694: The Mississippian culture and related Mound building cultures, found in the Mississippi River valley and the Pueblo culture of what is now the Four Corners . The more southern cultural groups of North America were responsible for the domestication of many common crops now used around the world, such as tomatoes, squash , and maize . As a result of the development of agriculture in the south, many other cultural advances were made there. The Mayans developed
4708-820: The Northern and Western Hemispheres . North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean , to the east by the Atlantic Ocean , to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea , and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean . The region includes the Bahamas , Bermuda , Canada , the Caribbean , Central America , Clipperton Island , Greenland , Mexico , Saint Pierre and Miquelon , Turks and Caicos Islands , and
4815-544: The Pacific Biological Station published an article showing that cross sections of the fourth to eighth fin rays from the second dorsal fin provided a method for estimating the age of lingcod. This method has since been validated by a mark-recapture study in which lingcod received an injection of oxytetracycline . Other methods of aging, such as those using scales and otoliths , were found to underestimate ages for older fish. Ages are determined from fins in much
4922-505: The United States . North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), representing approximately 16.5% of the Earth 's land area and 4.8% of its total surface area. It is the third-largest continent by size after Asia and Africa , and the fourth-largest continent by population after Asia, Africa, and Europe . As of 2021 , North America's population
5029-480: The first official name given to Mexico. North America includes several regions and subregions, each of which have their own respective cultural, economic, and geographic regions. Economic regions include several regions formalized in 20th- and 21st-century trade agreements, including NAFTA between Canada , Mexico , and the United States , and CAFTA between Central America , the Dominican Republic , and
5136-616: The suborder Cottoidei in the order Perciformes . These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean . Hexagrammidae was first proposed as a family in 1888 by the American ichthyologist David Starr Jordan . The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this family as the only family in the monotypic superfamily Hexagrammoidea within the suborder Cottoidei of the diverse order Scorpaeniformes. Other workers have found that if
5243-453: The 1490s, building cities, putting the resident indigenous populations to work, raising crops for Spanish settlers and panning gold to enrich the Spaniards. Much of the indigenous population died due to disease and overwork, spurring the Spaniards on to claim new lands and peoples. An expedition under the command of Spanish settler, Hernán Cortés , sailed westward in 1519 to what turned out to be
5350-468: The Arctic Ocean too. They occur from the intertidal zone to as deep as 600 m (2,000 ft) but most are found in waters of depths of less than 200 m (660 ft) on the continental shelf . Hexagrammidae greenlings are demersal fishes , except for the pelagic Pleurogrammus , and they feed on crustaceans, polychaetes, small fishes and fish eggs. Hexagrammidae greenlings are fished for,
5457-615: The Arctic, making Canada one of the world's largest producers. Throughout the Shield, there are many mining towns extracting these minerals. The largest, and best known, is Sudbury , Ontario. Sudbury is an exception to the normal process of forming minerals in the Shield since there is significant evidence that the Sudbury Basin is an ancient meteorite impact crater . The nearby, but less-known Temagami Magnetic Anomaly has striking similarities to
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#17328587793585564-635: The Caribbean islands. France took the western half of Hispaniola and developed Saint-Domingue as a cane sugar producing colony worked by black slave labor. Britain took Barbados and Jamaica , and the Dutch and Danes took islands previously claimed by Spain. Britain did not begin settling on the North American mainland until a hundred years after the first Spanish settlements, since it sought first to control nearby Ireland . The first permanent English settlement
5671-616: The Cod fish", in reference to the abundance of cod fish on the East Coast . Waldseemüller used the Latin version of Vespucci's name, Americus Vespucius, in its feminine form of "America", following the examples of "Europa", "Asia", and "Africa". Americus originated from Medieval Latin Emericus (see Saint Emeric of Hungary ), coming from the Old High German name Emmerich . Map makers later extended
5778-464: The Lingcod as the "Godzilla of the kelp forest" as a spirit animal. In Eastern cultures, the lingcod represents perseverance and adaptability due to the fish's ability to camouflage in their habitat and it is also a delicacy in many Asian cultures due to the tenderness and distinct flavor of lingcod. In Christianity, lingcod may represent the apostle, Peter, a fisherman who was called to follow Jesus. This
5885-419: The North America's southeastern coast, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León , who had accompanied Columbus's second voyage, visited and named in 1513 La Florida . As the colonial period unfolded, Spain, England, and France appropriated and claimed extensive territories in North America eastern and southern coastlines. Spain established permanent settlements on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Cuba in
5992-611: The Northern Pacific stock and Stock SMART (noaa.gov) for the Southern Pacific stock. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game conservatively manages Lingcod in Alaska to prevent overfishing as it is hard for Lingcod to recover from an overfishing event. Such management includes protecting female Lingcod that are spawning and male Lingcod who are nest-guarding, by closing sport and commercial fisheries closed during those two periods. Minimum size limits of Lingcod are also established to prevent
6099-496: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) to manage lingcod in addition to other groundfishes on a sustainable basis. This management is under the federal Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (GFMP) implemented by the PFMC in 1982 which facilitates the joint jurisdiction of the states and the federal government. However, federal and local regulations still apply for fishing and recreation use regarding lingcod to protect habitat and other sensitive fish populations. Habitat conservation
6206-426: The Scorpaeniformes, as delimited in Fishes of the World , is not included in the Perciformes it renders the Perciformes paraphyletic . These workers retain the Cottoidei as a suborder within the Perciformes while reclassifying Hexagrammoidea as the infraorder Hexagrammales. The family Zaniolepididae has been included within the Hexagrammidae, as the subfamilies Zaniolepidinae and Oxylebiinae , but Fishes of
6313-416: The Sudbury Basin. Its magnetic anomalies are very similar to the Sudbury Basin, and so it could be a second metal-rich impact crater. The Shield is also covered by vast boreal forests that support an important logging industry. The United States can be divided into twelve main geological provinces: Each province has its own geologic history and unique features. The geology of Alaska is typical of that of
6420-410: The U.S. North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere , the Americas, or simply America, which, in many countries, is considered a single continent with North America a subcontinent . North America is the third-largest continent by area after Asia and Africa . North America's only land connection to South America
6527-429: The United States has been the source of more varieties of dinosaurs than any other modern country. According to paleontologist Peter Dodson, this is primarily due to stratigraphy, climate and geography, human resources, and history. Much of the Mesozoic Era is represented by exposed outcrops in the many arid regions of the continent. The most significant Late Jurassic dinosaur-bearing fossil deposit in North America
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#17328587793586634-550: The United States, and Mexico. France , Italy , Portugal , Spain , Romania , Greece , and the countries of Latin America use a six-continent model , with the Americas viewed as a single continent and North America designating a subcontinent comprising Canada , the United States , Mexico, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (politically part of France), and often including Greenland and Bermuda . North America has historically been known by other names, including Spanish North America, New Spain , and América Septentrional,
6741-527: The United States. North America is divided linguistically and culturally into two primary regions, Anglo-America and Latin America . Anglo-America includes most of North America, Belize , and Caribbean islands with English -speaking populations. There are also regions, including Louisiana and Quebec , with large Francophone populations; in Quebec , French is the official language. . The southern portion of North America includes Central America and non-English speaking Caribbean nations. The north of
6848-486: The West Coast, including Alaska. 1.3 million pounds of lingcod were harvested by recreational anglers in 2021. There are restrictions to sizes and the number of Lingcod that can be kept each day. Legal equipment includes hook and line as well as spear gear. Historically, Lingcod has been harvested by many indigenous coastal populations within Southeast, Southcentral, and Western Alaska. Traditionally, they were caught for subsistence use with wooden or bone hooks. Today, lingcod
6955-445: The World and Betancur et al classify these taxa as distinct from the Hexagrammidae. Placing these two families in their own monotypic superfamilies was originally proposed in 1994 by Gento Shinohara. Hexagrammidae contains the following subfamilies and genera: Hexagrammidae have cirri but do not have ridges or spines on their heads, They have between one and five lateral lines and may have cycloid or ctenoid scales . There
7062-435: The area had shifted to the Aztec Empire , whose capital city Tenochtitlan was located further north in the Valley of Mexico . The Aztecs were conquered in 1521 by Hernán Cortés . During the so-called Age of Discovery , Europeans explored overseas and staked claims to various parts of North America, much of which was already settled by indigenous peoples. Upon Europeans' arrival in the " New World ", indigenous peoples had
7169-473: The bottom, with most individuals occupying rocky areas at depths of 10 to 100 m (32 to 328 ft), however, Lingcod has been found at depths of 475 meters (1,558 feet). Tagging studies have shown lingcod is a largely nonmigratory species, with colonization and recruitment occurring in localized areas only. However, Lingcod are the most abundant near British Columbia, Canada, and Washington, USA. The Lingcods within this range are composed of two stocks, whose status
7276-409: The coastal species are fished for using hook and line and spears and in the late 20th and early 21st centuries the kelp greenling ( Hexagrammas decagrammus ) has become a target of a commercial fishery, while historically the lingcod ( O. elongatus ) and the atka mackerels of the genus Pleurogrammus have been the most targeted species. North America North America is a continent in
7383-432: The continent maintains recognized regions as well. In contrast to the common definition of North America, which encompasses the whole North American continent, the term "North America" is sometimes used more narrowly to refer only to four nations, Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and the U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau includes Saint Pierre and Miquelon, but excludes Mexico from its definition. The term Northern America refers to
7490-452: The continent's coasts; principally, the Arctic Archipelago, the Bahamas , Turks and Caicos , the Greater and Lesser Antilles , the Aleutian Islands (some of which are in the Eastern Hemisphere proper), the Alexander Archipelago , the many thousand islands of the British Columbia Coast, and Newfoundland. Greenland , a self-governing Danish island, and the world's largest , is on the same tectonic plate (the North American Plate ) and
7597-410: The continent. The vast majority of North America is on the North American Plate. Parts of western Mexico, including Baja California, and of California , including the cities of San Diego , Los Angeles , and Santa Cruz , lie on the eastern edge of the Pacific Plate , with the two plates meeting along the San Andreas Fault . The southernmost portion of the continent and much of the West Indies lie on
7704-654: The cordillera, while the major islands of Hawaii consist of Neogene volcanics erupted over a hot spot . Central America is geologically active with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occurring from time to time. In 1976 Guatemala was hit by a major earthquake , killing 23,000 people; Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, was devastated by earthquakes in 1931 and 1972, the last one killing about 5,000 people; three earthquakes devastated El Salvador, one in 1986 and two in 2001; one earthquake devastated northern and central Costa Rica in 2009, killing at least 34 people; in Honduras
7811-725: The cultures of the region commonly reflect Western traditions . However, relatively small parts of North America in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America have indigenous populations that continue adhering to their respective pre-European colonial cultural and linguistic traditions. The Americas were named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci by German cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringmann . Vespucci explored South America between 1497 and 1502, and
7918-489: The distance the section is cut from the fin ray base is important, so all fins should be collected with the bases intact. More specifically, in preparation for determining the age of a Lingcod, the fourth to eighth rays on the second dorsal fin are used due to having the highest accuracy and readability. Once the rays are cut, the rays are dried in a manner where they lay perpendicular to the cut base for up to 3 days. Once dried, two layers of Cyanoacrylate glue are used to harden
8025-447: The driest in the U.S. Highland climates cut from north to south of the continent, where subtropical or temperate climates occur just below the tropics, as in central Mexico and Guatemala . Tropical climates appear in the island regions and in the subcontinent's bottleneck, found in countries and states bathed by the Caribbean Sea or to the south of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean . Precipitation patterns vary across
8132-618: The effective population size of Lingcod. The larvae are pelagic until late May or early June, when they settle to the bottom as juveniles . Initially they inhabit eelgrass beds, then move to flat, sandy areas that are not the typical habitat of older lingcod. They eventually settle in habitats of similar relief and substrate as older lingcod but remain at shallower depths for several years. Females reach sexual maturity when they are 3 years old and 30 inches long. Males reach sexual maturity when they are 2 years old and about 20 inches long. An adult male can be distinguished externally from
8239-463: The end of the Canadian Shield, near the Great Lakes . Climate west of the Cascade Range is described as being temperate weather with average precipitation 20 inches (510 millimeters). Climate in coastal California is described to be Mediterranean , with average temperatures in cities like San Francisco ranging from 57 to 70 °F (14 to 21 °C) over the course of the year. Stretching from
8346-544: The first American inhabitants sailed from Beringia some 13,000 years ago, with widespread habitation of the Americas during the end of the Last Glacial Period , in what is known as the Late Glacial Maximum , around 12,500 years ago. The oldest petroglyphs in North America date from 15,000 to 10,000 years before present. Genetic research and anthropology indicate additional waves of migration from Asia via
8453-843: The geographic center of either the 50 states, the conterminous United States, or the North American continent." Nonetheless, there is a 4.6-meter (15 ft) field stone obelisk in Rugby claiming to mark the center. The North American continental pole of inaccessibility is located 1,650 km (1,030 mi) from the nearest coastline, between Allen and Kyle, South Dakota at 43°22′N 101°58′W / 43.36°N 101.97°W / 43.36; -101.97 ( Pole of Inaccessibility North America ) . Canada can be divided into roughly seven physiographic divisions: The lower 48 U.S. states can be divided into roughly eight physiographic divisions: Mexico can be divided into roughly fifteen physiographic divisions: North America
8560-840: The harvest of immature fish to allow the fish to spawn at least once before harvest. There are also catch limits, where the sporting side of fishing is restricted by a daily bag and possession limit, and the commercial side is restricted by bycatch and bycatch quotas. Under the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife , lingcod are identified as a Priority Species under the WDFW's Priority Habitat and Species Program. This provides lingcod protective measures for their survival due to factors such as their population status, sensitivity to habitat alteration, and/or recreational, commercial, or tribal importance. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife works closely with NOAA Fisheries, other states, and
8667-419: The indigenous people who lived there, including the bison hunters of the Great Plains and the farmers of Mesoamerica . Native groups also are classified by their language families , which included Athapascan and Uto-Aztecan languages. Indigenous peoples with similar languages did not always share the same material culture , however, and were not necessarily always allies. Anthropologists speculate that
8774-460: The land since its creation, but there is no evidence that humans evolved there. The specifics of the initial settlement of the Americas by ancient Asians are subject to ongoing research and discussion. The traditional theory has been that hunters entered the Bering Land Bridge between eastern Siberia and present-day Alaska from 27,000 to 14,000 years ago. A growing viewpoint is that
8881-443: The lingcod also symbolizes resilience and adaptability due to its ability to thrive through tough conditions and adapt to new environments. Spiritually, lingcod are indicative of powerful spiritual messengers who have strong intuition and strength. Moreover, some cultures believe that when a lingcod encounters a person, it may bring good luck and positive energy. Some omens may have positive or negative connotations. For example, seeing
8988-409: The lingcod represents a powerful guardian. These tribes mentioned and many more, have deep and rich fishing traditions and connections to the ocean which may have provided lingcod symbolism in addition to being a resource. Additionally, it is said that the lingcod may have been created by a powerful deity as a predator to control the overpopulation of other fish species. Other cultures may have considered
9095-424: The lingcod's baleful eyes from the depths of the ocean could mean good fortune, or it could mean impending danger. This article incorporates material from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This reproduction was not done in affiliation with or with the endorsement of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Hexagrammidae see text Hexagrammidae , the greenlings , is a family of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to
9202-404: The liver or gallbladder may also result in biliverdin permeating tissues and biliverdin is also linked to starvation. Anecdotally, blue coloration in lingcod has been thought to be caused by dietary preferences through the individual preference of the consumption of prey items that have increased levels of biliverdin in their tissue or prey items that trigger biliverdin release. A study examining
9309-640: The mainland in Mexico. With local indigenous allies, the Spanish conquered the Aztec empire in central Mexico in 1521. Spain then established permanent cities in Mexico, Central America, and Spanish South America in the sixteenth century. Once Spaniards conquered the high civilization of the Aztecs and Incas, the Caribbean was a backwater of the Spanish empire. Other European powers began to intrude on areas claimed by Spain, including
9416-863: The middle into the main range of the Rockies and the coast ranges in California , Oregon , Washington , and British Columbia , with the Great Basin—a lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying deserts—in between. The highest peak is Denali in Alaska. The U.S. Geographical Survey (USGS) states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles [10 km] west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota " at about 48°10′N 100°10′W / 48.167°N 100.167°W / 48.167; -100.167 , about 24 kilometers (15 mi) from Rugby, North Dakota . The USGS further states that "No marked or monumented point has been established by any government agency as
9523-450: The name America to North America. In 1538, Gerardus Mercator used the term America on his world map of the entire Western Hemisphere . On his subsequent 1569 map , Mercator called North America "America or New India" ( America sive India Nova ). The Spanish Empire called its territories in North and South America "Las Indias", and the name given to the state body that oversaw the region
9630-409: The nests are within their territory and close enough to each other. Two types of guarding behavior can be observed in male Lingcod. The first type of behavior includes a male lying directly on or next to the nest and remaining motionless unless disturbed. The second type of behavior includes a male in a sentry post and providing active defense when any other fish would swim close. This reproductive method
9737-493: The northernmost countries and territories of North America: the U.S., Bermuda , Canada, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. Although the term does not refer to a unified region, Middle America includes Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. North America's largest countries by land area are Canada and the U.S., both of which have well-defined and recognized subregions. In Canada, these include (from east to west) Atlantic Canada , Central Canada , Canadian Prairies ,
9844-440: The northernmost extent of the island named Newfoundland , has provided unmistakable evidence of Norse settlement. Norse explorer Leif Erikson (c. 970–1020 CE) is thought to have visited the area. Erikson was the first European to make landfall on the continent (excluding Greenland). The Mayan culture was still present in southern Mexico and Guatemala when the Spanish conquistadors arrived, but political dominance in
9951-635: The ocean floor which impacts habitat. There is a lesser degree of disruption when trawls are used on soft, sandy, or muddy ocean floors. It has been reported that charter boat fishermen in Washington, CA use an alternative bait, large flatfish, to better target Lingcod while decreasing yelloweye rockfish bycatch. Historically, in 1997, Lingcod were declared overfished, ranging from Washington to California. In, 2005 they were declared restored, thanks to restrictive fishing regulations and favorable oceanographic conditions. Management includes size limits, trip limits,
10058-422: The opening and closing of certain seasons or areas, gear restrictions that can limit bycatch and further impacts to the habitat, and a trawl rationalization catch share program. The trawl rationalization catch share program is a program that is based on catch limits which are constructed from the health of each fish stock. This is then divided into shares and given to individual fishermen and groups. Such management
10165-558: The other 80% presents with the brown coloration morphology. Blue lingcods have blue coloration in both the external and internal tissue. In general, the effect of blue polymorphism observed in other fish species, such as other members of the Family Hexagrammidae and Family Cottidae, can be from the bile pigment biliverdin. Biliverdin is a product of heme catabolism which circulates the lymph and suffuses tissues. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in lingcod. Dysfunction of
10272-586: The raised but relatively flat plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast; and the varied eastern region, which includes the Appalachian Mountains, the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, and the Florida peninsula. Mexico, with its long plateaus and cordilleras , falls largely in the western region, although the eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf. The western mountains are split in
10379-604: The rays, followed by cutting the rays into 1–2mm wide sections from the start of the fin base with a PACE Pico high-speed saw. This usually provides 5–6 ray sections that can be examined under a microscope slide in addition to two layers of medium viscosity mounting fluid. To determine the age of a Lingcod, the number of annuli is counted. Annuli are the translucent zones that form during winter growth yearly. Summer and spring growth results in an opaque zone. Checks or fine and translucent rings may also result from summer growth. One problem associated with using fin rays to age older fish
10486-500: The region, and as such rainforest , monsoon , and savanna types can be found, with rains and high temperatures throughout the year. Notable North American fauna include the bison , black bear , jaguar , cougar , prairie dog , turkey , pronghorn , raccoon , coyote , and monarch butterfly . Notable plants that were domesticated in North America include tobacco , maize , squash , tomato , sunflower , blueberry , avocado , cotton , chile pepper , and vanilla . Laurentia
10593-653: The relationship between parasites and lingcods from the coast of Alaska, Washington, and California, USA found that blue male lingcods carried 1.89 times more parasites brown counterparts. However, the study found that there was no difference in blue and brown female lingcod regarding parasite burden despite blue coloration being more common in females. The discrepancy in the burden of parasites between male and female lingcod may be because male vertebrates' immune systems are typically less effective than females since male sex hormones have immunocompromising properties. The same study found that blue Lingcod individuals of both sexes have
10700-478: The results of the formation of Pangaea was the Appalachian Mountains , which formed some 480 mya, making it among the oldest mountain ranges in the world. When Pangaea began to rift around 200 mya, North America became part of Laurasia , before it separated from Eurasia as its own continent during the mid- Cretaceous period. The Rockies and other western mountain ranges began forming around this time from
10807-417: The same manner as for other aging structures: sections of varying thickness are examined under a microscope, and the annuli, or rings, that are formed for each year of growth are counted and used to estimate the age. The cross sections must be made at right angles to the length of the fin ray, and it is therefore important that fins be dried flat, with the cut surface at right angles to the fin rays. In addition,
10914-426: The site is one of the first recorded examples of such behaviors in temperate marine fish. This behavior also provides evidence that male Lingcod's selection for nesting sites are a component of prespawning mate attraction behavior. Spawning likely occurs at night and occurs annually between January and March. A female Lingcod may lay up to 500,000 eggs in a nest, which she will place under rocks or rocky crevices within
11021-401: The upper jaw extends posteriorly past the eyes. They have 18 large and sharp teeth that are canine-like. This body of a lingcod resembles a fusiform body plan , indicating their primary mode of movement is quick, short, bursts. The head of a lingcod is unscaled and has a cirrus above the eye. Lingcod's lateral line is prominent and white while the body is covered in cycloid scales. The dorsal fin
11128-540: Was called the Council of the Indies . The United Nations and its statistics division recognize North America as including three regions: Northern America, Central America , and the Caribbean . "Northern America" is a distinct term from "North America", excluding Central America, which itself may or may not include Mexico . In the limited context of regional trade agreements, the term is used to reference three nations: Canada,
11235-508: Was estimated as over 592 million people in 23 independent states , or about 7.5% of the world's population. In human geography , the terms "North America" and "North American" can refer to Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Greenland or, alternatively, Canada, Greenland and the US (Mexico being classified as part of Latin America ) or simply Canada and the US (Greenland being classified as either Arctic or European (due to its political status as
11342-790: Was in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, followed by additional colonial establishments on the east coast from present-day Georgia in the south to Massachusetts in the north, forming the Thirteen Colonies of British America. The English did not establish settlements north or east of the St. Lawrence Valley in present-day Canada until after the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War . Britain's early settlements in present-day Canada included St. John's, Newfoundland in 1630 and Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749. The first permanent French settlement
11449-468: Was the first European to suggest that the Americas represented a landmass not then known to the Europeans. In 1507, Waldseemüller published a world map, and placed the word "America" on the continent of present-day South America. The continent north of present-day Mexico was then referred to as Parias. On a 1553 world map published by Petrus Apianus , North America was called "Baccalearum", meaning "realm of
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