Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt, 1898
Patagonian toothfish
Dissostichus eleginoides
photo by INIDEP

Family:  Nototheniidae (Cod icefishes), subfamily: Pleuragrammatinae
Max. size:  215 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 9,600.0 g; max. reported age: 31 years
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 2144 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Southeast Pacific and Southwest Atlantic: southern Chile round the coast to Patagonia (Argentina) and the Falkland Islands. Southwest Pacific: Macquarie Island. Southern Ocean: South Georgia. Also known from sub-Antarctic islands and seamounts of the Indian sector.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-30; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 28-30; Vertebrae: 53-54. Lateral line scales 88-104 (upper), 61-77 (lower).
Biology:  At 12-15 cm TL, semi-pelagic juveniles become demersal at 150-400 m depth (Ref. 55957). Adults migrate to deeper habitats at depths greater than 1,000 m (Ref. 55957). Utilized as food fish (Ref. 4931).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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