Fin's Fish Guide
The Polar cod (Boreogadus saida) is a saltwater fish of the family Gadidae that grows up to 40 cm.
Arctic Ocean and adjacent cold parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, often just below or near the pack ice.
Description
The polar cod is a small, slender cod relative of the family Gadidae reaching about 40 cm. The brownish-silver body has, typical of the cod family, three dorsal fins and two anal fins, a deeply forked tail and a small chin barbel. The species is a true ice-sea fish: it lives in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent cold waters, often just under or among the pack ice, and produces antifreeze proteins to survive in water below freezing. In schools it feeds on zooplankton, mainly copepods and amphipods. The polar cod is a keystone species of the Arctic food web: it is crucial food for seabirds, seals, whales and larger fish.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Polar cod?
The Polar cod has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Small, slender cod relative of the far north with three dorsal fins, a deeply forked tail and a small chin barbel; produces antifreeze proteins.
Where does the Polar cod live?
The Polar cod lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Arctic Ocean and adjacent cold parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, often just below or near the pack ice.
How big does the Polar cod get?
The Polar cod grows to a maximum of about 40 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.
Is the Polar cod dangerous to humans?
No, the Polar cod is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Polar cod edible?
The Polar cod is rarely eaten.
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More from the family Gadidae
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Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Polar cod is one of 12,519 species in the app.