What characteristic color pattern, common to whiting species, serves as camouflage in the water column?
Answer
Silvery or whitish undersides
A consistent morphological feature observed across whiting species within the Merlangius genus is their coloration, which employs countershading for camouflage. This effect is achieved because their undersides tend to be silvery or whitish, blending them against the bright surface light when viewed from below, while their upper flanks are typically darker (grayish or brownish-yellow).

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