Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt 1898

Other Names: Chilean sea bass, Macquarie Island toothfish

Patagonian Toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides. Source: US Food and Drug Administration. License: Public Domain

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Dissostichus eleginoides in Fishes of Australia, accessed 25 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/4880

Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt 1898

More Info

Distribution	Widespread in continental slope waters from off Chile and Argentina south of 30–35°S, to Subantarctic islands and continental shelf areas of the Southern Ocean.
Feeding	Opportunistic carnivores. Juveniles feed in the water column on krill in coastal waters. As they grow and migrate to deeper waters, they prey more on fishes.
Biology	Reach a length of over 2.2 m, and live to more than 50 years. Patagonian Toothfish spawn from July to September,, possibly releasing their eggs in continental slope depths of 800-1000 metres.
Fisheries	Fished commercially around Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean, Australian EEZ - 1500km south east of Tasmania. Patagonian Toothfish is taken by automated longline and bottom trawl, and most of the catch is exported to the USA, China and Japan.
Etymology	Dissostichus is from the Greek disso meaning 'twice', 'one or other', and stix, stichos meaning 'line' or 'row' in reference to the two lateral lines. The specific name eleginoides is derived from the genus Eleginops for an assumed resemblance to that genus.
Author	Dianne J. Bray

Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt 1898

References

Collins MA, Brickle P, Brown J and Belchier M (2010) The Patagonian toothfish: biology, ecology and fishery. In: M Lesser (ed.) Advances in Marine Biology 58: 229-289.
Dewitt, H.H., P.C. Heemstra & O. Gon, 1990. Nototheniidae. p. 279-331. In O. Gon & P.C. Heemstra (eds) Fishes of the Southern Ocean. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa.