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Notothen (Patagonotothen sima) — Nototheniidae

Notothen

Patagonotothen sima
Family: Nototheniidae

The Notothen (Patagonotothen sima) is a saltwater fish of the family Nototheniidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The notothen is a notothen (Nototheniidae) from the cold coastal waters of the southwestern Atlantic around southern South America. The species has a stocky body with a fairly blunt head and is adapted to cold water. It lives bottom-bound in shallow coastal waters, often among rocks and algae. As a bottom hunter it feeds on small crustaceans, worms and other invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Notothen?

The Notothen has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Notothen live?

The Notothen lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Notothen get?

The Notothen grows to a maximum of about 10 cm. On average the species is around 6 cm.

Is the Notothen dangerous to humans?

No, the Notothen is harmless to humans.

Is the Notothen edible?

The Notothen is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stompkop-notothen sourced
English name
Notothen sourced
Scientific name
Patagonotothen sima
Family
Nototheniidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Average length (cm)
6.0 sourced
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Patagonotothen

More from the family Nototheniidae

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