Tadpole cod
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| Tadpole Cod | ||||||||||||||
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| Guttigadus globosus'' |
The Tadpole cod (Guttigadus globosus) is a deepwater fish found in the oceanic islands off New Zealand and in the mid South Atlantic at depths ranging from 1200 - 1600 m.
The tadpole cod is a member of the family Moridae, the Morid cods, related to the true cods (of genus Gadus, family Gadidae). Like the familiar Atlantic cod, it has small whiskers on its mouth (barbels), which is presumably why it was given the name cod. Specimens have been measured up to 18 cm. It has no commercial value, and is not currently believed to be endangered. Not much is known about this species, being discovered in 1986.
The tadpole cod is distinct from the tadpole fish, Raniceps raninus. This fish was formerly classified in the family Ranicipitidae, called the Tadpole cods, as its sole member. The family was placed in a different order of fish, the Ophidiiformes (cusk-eels and brotulas). However it is now regarded as a member of the same family as cods, Gadidae.