This order includes over 500 species of mostly marine fish, like cod, haddock, and pollock.

Gadiformes are usually found in cold or cool ocean waters, especially in the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Most live near the seafloor, but some swim in open water. Tropical species are usually found in deep water, and some species are found in brackish estuaries.

A few species are found in freshwater habitats. The Pacific tomcod (Microgadus proximus) is found from the southeastern Bering Sea to central California and can enter freshwater, but probably doesn’t breed there. The Atlantic tomcod or frost fish (Microgadus tomcod) is found in coastal waters from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and northern Newfoundland, south to Virginia. It is an inshore fish, found in shallow estuaries, salt marshes, and tidal river mouths.

The burbot (Lota lota), also known as the freshwater cod, is a true freshwater fish. It is found in sub-Arctic regions. Burbot live in large, cold rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

These fish have a few features that make them easy to recognize:

• They often have elongated (long) bodies
• Many have three dorsal fins (fins on their back)
• They usually have two anal fins (on the underside near the tail)

Some species, like cod, have a small barbel (a whisker-like structure) on their chin that helps them sense food.

Most Gadiformes are bottom feeders and eat animals that live on or near the ocean floor. Their diet can include small fish, crustaceans, and worms.

Many species in this group, such as Atlantic cod, have played a huge role in fishing industries for hundreds of years. Because of heavy fishing, some populations have declined, and scientists are working to manage and protect them.