Scales on the lateral line 104 to 119. Head 26.8 to 31.7% of standard length and snout 31.0 to 37.2% of head length. No scales on nasal membranes in most specimens; no scales on lacrimal; scales on lower part of cheek, preopercular and interopercular. Eye diameter 17.1 to 27.7%, interorbital space 20.8 to 26.5% of head length. Lower jaw slightly protruding; strong and conspicuous teeth on premaxilliaries and mandibules; lower jaw slightly or not protruding. First branchial arch with 8 (10) 11 gillrakers: 1 to 3 on the upper limb and 7 to 9 on the lower limb.1D 11 (11-12) 13 rays; 2D 35 (38-39) 40 rays. A 35 (39-40) 41 rays. Pectoral fins with 12 (13-15) 16 rays, their length 16.9 to 22.3% of standard length, posterior end reaching the level of anal-fin origin. Ventral fins 13.8 to 20.6% of standard length. Posterior margin of caudal fin, truncate in young individuals and slightly concave in adults. A total of 51 to 55 vertebrae, 5 or 6 of them being cervical with 3 or 4 ribs.
Colour: preserved specimens present a pale yellow, uniform colouring.

Ginsburg (1954) accepted the validity of M. albidus, even though it was considered by other authors as a synonym of M. bilinearis, and described a new species, M. magnoculus from Pensacola (Florida). Karnella (1972) and Inada (1981) relegate M. magnoculus to the synonymy of M. albidus. Results of our analyses confirm differences which exist between M. albidus and M. bilinearis, found on the Atlantic coast of the United States. They are easily distinguishable by their differing number of gillrakers (8 to 13 on the first arch to 15 to 22 on the second), and because M. albidus possesses scales on the lower part of the cheek, preopercular, and interopercular. If, however, M. magnoculus is considered a synonym of M. albidus, we would find this species to have an inexplicable varying number of vertebrae, fin rays, and gillrakers. From our point of view, this shows the possible existence of a subspecies. Ginsburg (1954) himself points out that some M. albidus specimens possess a horizontal strip of scales on each side of the snout (supposedly referring to the lacrimal), while in our specimens they are lacking. Arai (1983) mentions M. Albidus specimens in Suriname with a different number of cervical ribs than stated by Inada (1981b). In this study, specimens from the Gulf of Mexico have been observed as having few scales on the front part of the nasal membrane, whereas normally none are found in M. albidus specimens. All this as well as the differences in spawning periods makes the existence of a trinomen, Merluccius albidus magnoculus Ginsburg, 1954, plausible, and which we therefore propose for the hake population of the Gulf of Mexico.

Western Atlantic: East coast of the United States from 40°N (Georges Bank, Long Island, Virginia, Florida), the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea to Suriname and French Guiana (5°N). M. albidus shares part of its geographical distribution (from Georges Bank to the coast of Virginia and perhaps to Florida) with M. Bilinearis (Mitchill, 1814).

Offshore silver hake inhabit soft grounds between 92 and 1 170 m, but they are more commonly found between 160 and 640 m. Since catches are similar during night and day, it is considered that this species does not perform vertical circadian migrations. Depth segregation takes place from 550 m by size and sex, where only large females are caught. Juveniles feed primarily on crustaceans; as they become adults they prey on Steindachneria argentea, Myctophidae, Stomiatoidei, Macrouridae, Trichiuridae, and juveniles of their own species. Lifespan is unknown, though it is thought that males rarely exceed 3 years of age; many females live at least 5 years. Spawning occurs near the bottom in depths between 330 m and 550 m from April to July in New England and from late spring to early autumn in the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean Sea. Fecundity is estimated at 340 000 eggs for a 68 cm standard length female.

The largest recorded male and female measured 40 and 70 cm, respectively; common to 30 cm (males) and 45 cm (females).