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Difference between revisions of "Antarctic toothfish"
Source of article predominately from Wikipedia article on Antarctic toothfish.
Westarctica (talk | contribs) (Created page with "The '''Antarctic toothfish''' (''Dissostichus mawsoni'') is a species of cod icefish native to the Southern Ocean. It is often mistakenly referred to as an Antarctica|An...") |
Westarctica (talk | contribs) (Source of article predominately from Wikipedia article on Antarctic toothfish.) |
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The '''Antarctic toothfish''' (''Dissostichus mawsoni'') is a species of cod icefish native to the [[Southern Ocean]]. It is often mistakenly referred to as an [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] cod, consistent with the misnaming of other notothenioid Antarctic fish as rock cods. However, notothenioid fishes are unrelated to cods, which are in another taxonomic order, the Gadiformes. The generic name Dissostichus is from the Greek dissos (twofold) and | [[File:Antarctic toothfish-water.jpg|thumb|right|Antarctic toothfish in the water]] | ||
The '''Antarctic toothfish''' (''Dissostichus mawsoni'') is a species of cod icefish native to the [[Southern Ocean]]. It is often mistakenly referred to as an [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] cod, consistent with the misnaming of other notothenioid Antarctic fish as rock cods. However, notothenioid fishes are unrelated to cods, which are in another taxonomic order, the Gadiformes. The generic name Dissostichus is from the Greek ''dissos'' (twofold) and ''stichu''s (line) and refers to the presence of two long lateral lines, which are very important to the species’ ecology. The common name "toothfish" refers to the presence of biserial dentition in the upper jaw, thought to give it a shark-like appearance. | |||
The habitat of the Antarctic toothfish is in subzero degree water below latitude 60°S. | The habitat of the Antarctic toothfish is in subzero degree water below latitude 60°S. | ||
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==Feeding ecology== | ==Feeding ecology== | ||
[[File:Seal-&-toothfish-Jessica-Meir N.jpg|thumb|right|Weddell seal eating a toothfish]] | |||
Over the continental shelf, Antarctic toothfish feed on shrimp (''Nauticaris spp.'') and small fish, principally another neutrally buoyant nototheniid, the [[Antarctic silverfish]]. This loosely schooling species is also a major prey of [[Adélie penguin|Adélie]] and [[emperor penguin|emperor penguins]], [[Weddell seal|Weddell seals]], and Antarctic [[minke whale|minke whales]]. Therefore, competition for prey among toothfish and these other mesopredators (middle trophic level predators) could be very important. The large Antarctic toothfish are eaten by [[sperm whale|sperm whales]], [[orca|killer whales]] and possibly [[colossal squid]]. Toothfish that are dwelling on the bottom, particularly those caught during the summer on the continental slope, eat mainly [[grenadier]]s (''Macrouridae'') but also feed on other smaller fish species. Antarctic toothfish have been caught to depths of 2200 meters, though based on commercial fishing effort, few occur that deep. | Over the continental shelf, Antarctic toothfish feed on shrimp (''Nauticaris spp.'') and small fish, principally another neutrally buoyant nototheniid, the [[Antarctic silverfish]]. This loosely schooling species is also a major prey of [[Adélie penguin|Adélie]] and [[emperor penguin|emperor penguins]], [[Weddell seal|Weddell seals]], and Antarctic [[minke whale|minke whales]]. Therefore, competition for prey among toothfish and these other mesopredators (middle trophic level predators) could be very important. The large Antarctic toothfish are eaten by [[sperm whale|sperm whales]], [[orca|killer whales]] and possibly [[colossal squid]]. Toothfish that are dwelling on the bottom, particularly those caught during the summer on the continental slope, eat mainly [[grenadier]]s (''Macrouridae'') but also feed on other smaller fish species. Antarctic toothfish have been caught to depths of 2200 meters, though based on commercial fishing effort, few occur that deep. | ||
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==Fishery and associated ecosystem== | ==Fishery and associated ecosystem== | ||
[[File:Toothfish-fishin.jpg|thumb|right|Crew members of the San Aspiring bring up a toothfish on a longline.]] | |||
A fishery for Antarctic toothfish, managed by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), has existed since 1997. The existence of this fishery in the Ross Sea, the area where most Antarctic toothfish are caught, is very contentious - the main argument proposed for this being the lack of accurate population parameters, such as original stock size, fecundity, and recruitment. Moreover, the main fishing grounds is presumed by some researchers to cover the area through which the entire stock of Antarctic toothfish pass. | A fishery for Antarctic toothfish, managed by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), has existed since 1997. The existence of this fishery in the Ross Sea, the area where most Antarctic toothfish are caught, is very contentious - the main argument proposed for this being the lack of accurate population parameters, such as original stock size, fecundity, and recruitment. Moreover, the main fishing grounds is presumed by some researchers to cover the area through which the entire stock of Antarctic toothfish pass. | ||