Depth
Trisopterus · Bony Fish

Poor Cod

Trisopterus capelanus

30-400m
Depth Range
34cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
30-400m
Depth Range
34cm
Max Size
Demersal / Muddy
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Small groups
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Moderate
Sighting Likelihood
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
GenusTrisopterus
Speciescapelanus

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationSmall, stocky cod-like fish with a rounded body and a single barbel on the chin. Pale brown to yellowish body with a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Three dorsal fins and two anal fins.
  • SizeUp to 40 cm total length, commonly 15 to 25 cm.
  • Social HabitGregarious, forming aggregations in caves, under overhangs, and around wrecks during the day.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, caves, wrecks, and deep crevices. Shelters in dark spaces by day and disperses at night to feed.
  • Depth10 to 200 m, most common between 20 and 100 m.
  • Feeds OnSmall crustaceans, worms, and fish caught near the bottom at night.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from Norway to Senegal, including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionA small relative of the Atlantic cod that gathers in caves and wrecks by day and disperses at night to feed. Often found in large groups inside wrecks at Maltese dive sites. The dark spot at the pectoral fin base and the chin barbel are the best field marks.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Lives on muddy and sandy bottoms between 30 and 400 metres across the Mediterranean. Well documented around Malta at depths below recreational limits. An important prey item for larger demersal fish.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Soft muddy and sandy seabeds on continental shelves and upper slopes. Often found in areas with moderate current delivering planktonic food.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Poor Cod species card

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Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Trisopterus capelanus may be encountered will be added as sighting data is collected.

IUCN Red ListLeast Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes.

Source: IUCN Red List
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