Hake

Hake, any of various fish of the family Merlucciidae, related to the cod but with a different arrangement of fins. Hake live in deep water and have large mouths set with sharp teeth for catching other fish, such as herring. The teeth can hinge backward to allow large pieces of food to slip in easily. There are several kinds of hake, including the silver hake of the American Atlantic coast and the stockfish of South Africa. In some parts of the world, hake are extensively fished for food.