Species · GBIF taxon 2385957
Patagonian Toothfish
Dissostichus eleginoidesAlso known as Chilean Sea Bass, Mero, Antarctic Cod
Patagonian toothfish are massive, slow-growing deep-water predators adapted to the frigid realm of the Southern Ocean. Specialized antifreeze glycoproteins in their blood keep their bodily fluids liquid in water temperatures hovering near freezing. Reaching lengths over two meters and surviving for up to fifty years, adults inhabit dark seamounts and continental slopes where they hunt fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Deep SeaSubantarcticCarnivorous
Licensed reference(c) Francis Letourmy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Deep-sea Squid
- Subantarctic Fish
- Benthic Crabs
Predators
- Sperm Whale
- Southern Elephant Seal
- Orca
ThreatsIllegal and unregulated fishing, climate change
HabitatsDeep ocean, seamounts, continental shelves
Life span45–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyNototheniidae
- SpeciesDissostichus eleginoides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe from marine research submersibles at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its broad head, dark greyish-brown elongated body, and large fan-like pectoral fins.
- Support conservation
- Support marine protected areas in Subantarctic waters that safeguard deep-sea benthic habitats.
Responsible observation
- Research Submersibles: Observed in nature almost exclusively through specialized deep-sea survey equipment.
- Consumer Awareness: Support certified sustainable fisheries that combat illegal and unregulated deep-sea fishing.
Predator (c) Gabriel Barathieu, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Pcziko, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member Arthur Hodson Searle / Public domain · cc0
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