Merluccius merluccius lives in temperate waters of the north-east and east-central Atlantic, including the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It usually lives in depths of between 40 and 200 meters. The body is moderately laterally compressed, with a beautiful silver-grey coloration. The head is large, with a flattened snout and sharp teeth in two irregular rows. Its eyes are large, with a golden iris and black pupil. Its maximum weight is about 15 kg, with a body length of up to 1.4 m. The average length is 30 – 60 cm.