Dorsal surface silvery, with a purple or blue-green tinge; plank and belly silvery; fins darker. Body very elongate and compressed with a tapering tail, dorsal and anal fins confluent with the caudal fin

Appear to live usually on or near the bottom, but may occasionally move up into mid-waters. Large adult fish generally occur deeper than 400 m, while juveniles may be found in shallower water, more commonly found in large estuaries and bays, and may even enter freshwaters. Juvenile specimens and especially adults belonging to the American subspecies, have been caught from the coastal zone to 110 m. Form schools.

Feed primarily on lantern fishes. In New Zealand, it feeds in midwater on small fish, crustaceans and squid.

Oviparous, spawn 1 million eggs on the average which are released all at one time. Very important species commercially, fished extensively by deepwater bottom trawlers. The New Zealand Commercial Hoki fishery of this species has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/) as well-managed and sustainable (http://www.msc.org/html/content_487.htm).

Cohen, D.M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto and N. Scialabba, 1990. FAO species catalogue. 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. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(10). Rome: FAO. 442 p.