The Poor Cod, scientifically known as Trisopterus minutus, is a species of codfish belonging to the family Gadidae. It is a relatively small fish, reaching a maximum size of 40.0 cm. The Poor Cod is a common inhabitant of the North Atlantic Ocean, and can be found in depths ranging from 1.0 to 440.0 meters.
Description & Characteristics
The Poor Cod is characterized by its elongated body, which is compressed laterally, and its relatively small mouth. It possesses three dorsal fins, the first two of which are short and triangular, while the third is long and continuous. The anal fin is also long and continuous. The body of the Poor Cod is covered in small, cycloid scales. Its coloration varies depending on its habitat, but it typically ranges from brown to grey with darker spots and stripes.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Trisopterus minutus is a common inhabitant of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, where it is found from Norway and Iceland in the north to the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. It can also be found in the western Baltic Sea. The Poor Cod typically inhabits demersal environments, meaning it lives on or near the bottom of the seafloor. This species is found in a wide range of marine zones, including the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones, making it a versatile inhabitant of the ocean depths.
Taxonomy
The species Trisopterus minutus belongs to the Class: Teleostei, Order: Gadiformes, and Family: Gadidae. The Teleostei is the most diverse order of ray-finned fishes, and the Gadiformes are known as cod-like fishes. The family Gadidae includes many commercially important species, such as cod, haddock, and whiting.
Feeding
The Poor Cod, like many of its codfish relatives, is a voracious predator. Its diet consists primarily of a variety of invertebrates, including amphipods, copepods, krill, mysids, isopods, clams, crabs, shrimps, and worms. It also feeds on smaller fish, fish larvae, and zooplankton.
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