The small-headed cod (''Lepidion microcephalus'') or the long-finned cod is a deepwater fish belonging to the morid cod family ( Moridae), and related to the true

cod Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus '' Gadus'', belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and one species that belongs to genus ''Gadus'' is commonly not call ...

s (genus ''Gadus''). It is found in the Tasman Sea, including the

Bass Strait Bass Strait () is a strait separating the island state of Tasmania from the Australian mainland (more specifically the coast of Victoria, with the exception of the land border across Boundary Islet). The strait provides the most direct waterwa ...

. It is commercially harvested by both

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and New Zealand. It has been found on the

continental shelf A continental shelf is a portion of a continent that is submerged under an area of relatively shallow water, known as a shelf sea. Much of these shelves were exposed by drops in sea level during glacial periods. The shelf surrounding an island ...

, but typically its depth range is from . It grows to in total length. The second common name is because its first dorsal fin is made up of long, filamentous rays. The

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

is long, thin, and scythe-like, and it has a pronounced chin barbel. The colour is grey-brown with a faint red tint on the body and black-edged median fins.

References

* * * Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) small-headed cod Fauna of Victoria (Australia) Marine fish of Tasmania Marine fish of New Zealand small-headed cod {{Gadiformes-stub