Notothenia microlepidota

Description

Notothenia microlepidota, the black cod or small-scaled cod, is a species of notothen native to the Pacific waters around New Zealand and Macquarie Island. This species can reach a total length of 70 cm (28 in). It is a commercially important species. The juveniles are silvery in appearance with a pronounced tail fork. The adult has a less pronounced fork in the tail, with body colors of silver, yellow, and reddish brown. The scales are very small, and the two lateral lines have a considerable overlap. Being a Subantarctic species, the black cod has special adaptations such as antifreeze proteins in its blood, as well as adipose tissues to offset its lack of a swim bladder, giving it neutral buoyancy. Sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria, is occasionally called black cod, as well, but it is not a true cod. In New Zealand, Maori cod is also known as "black cod".