Pelagic cod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pelagic cod Fossil range: Thanetian to Present[1] |
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.gif/180px-Melanonus_gracilis_(Pelagic_cod).gif) Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Melanonus gracilis Günther, 1878 |
The pelagic cod, Melanonus gracilis, is a small deepwater melanonid fish found in the Southern Ocean in sub-Antarctic and temperate waters, and occasionally in the tropics, at depths of between 150 and 3,600 m. Its length is between 15 and 19 cm.
The pelagic cod is a small elongate cod with a long tapering spear-shaped caudal fin. The head is blunt and has no chin barbel. There are three parts to the dorsal fin and two parts to the anal, but the hind parts of both of these fins are joined to the small caudal fin. Its colour is uniformly dark brown to black.
[edit] References
- ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560.
- Melanonus gracilis (TSN 550806). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 19 March 2006.
- "Melanonus gracilis". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
