Southern Hake

Merluccius australis has a more slender body compared to other species of Merluccius, with a short head which makes up around a quarter of its standard length and a protruding lower jaw with some visible teeth. The anterior dorsal fin has a single spine and 9 to 12 fin rays and the posterior dorsal fin has 39 to 45 fin rays. The anal fin has 40 to 46 fin rays and the pectoral fins are long and thin, but they do not reach as far as the origin of anal fin in specimens longer than 50 cm standard length. The caudal fin margin is normally truncate, but in smaller specimens it can be slightly emarginate. The scales are small and there are 144 to 171 scales along the lateral line. They have a steel grey back which is tinged with blue, paler on sides, and a silvery white belly with dark fins. It grows to a maximum length of 160 cm but lengths of between 60 cm and 100 cm are more commonly recorded.

Merluccius australis has two distinct populations one in New Zealand and the other in the eastern South Pacific and western South Atlantic. The New Zealand population is found over the Chatham Rise, Campbell Plateau and around South Island north to the East Cape, the South American population extends from Chiloé Island south to 59°S in the Pacific, around Cape Horn and north to 38°S in the South Atlantic. It is also found off the Falkland Islands.