Fun Blue Cod Facts For Kids
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A blue cod (Parapercis colias) is a voracious fish species that belongs to the Pinguipedidae family. They are spotted in various parts of New Zealand, including the Marlborough Sounds, southern Cook Strait, South Island, and around the Chatham Islands.
They are also famous by the names Boston blue cod, New Zealand cod, toragisu in Japan, and chung daegu in Korea. They are one of the primary subjects of commercial fishing in New Zealand, and a good amount is exported to various countries each year.
Not only are they caught commercially, but are also a very popular recreational fish species, especially in the South Island, due to their abundance.
Apart from South Island, they are available in greater quantities in southern Cook Strait, and around the Chatham Islands, comparing to the rest of their ranges.
They are vulnerable to over-fishing, though listed as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
As they are a desired recreational fish species, and also helps in generating a good amount of revenue by the means of commercial fishing, they are regulated by the New Zealand Ministry of fisheries' Quota Management System (QMS), to maintain their sustainability.
Read on to know more about this marine fish.
You can also learn about more interesting fish by reading up more articles on the ghost knifefish and rainbow trout.
Blue Cod Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a blue cod?
A blue cod (Parapercis colias) is a bottom-dwelling species of fish, from the Parapercis genus of the Pinguipedidae family. The blue cod is endemic to New Zealand and is also known as rawaru.
What class of animal does a blue cod belong to?
The blue cod belong to the Pinguipedidae family of the Actinopterygii class of the Animalia kingdom.
How many blue cod are there in the world?
A great number of blue cods are caught every year. Being a bottom-dwelling fish and due to excessive fishing, the population trend of the blue cod fluctuates a lot. According to the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the strength of the blue cod population is decreasing, though the exact statistics are unknown.
Where does a blue cod live?
The blue cod population is native to New Zealand, and found in large numbers, especially in the South Island. Apart from that, they are spotted in the Marlborough sounds, Southern Cook Strait, Wanganui, Kermadec island, and around the Chatham Islands.
What is a blue cod's habitat?
A blue cod is a bottom-dwelling fish, and adults are found at a depth of up to 492 ft (150 m). They prefer to swim inshore, around the reefs, sandy sea beds, and rocky bottoms, with a water temperature of up to 64 F (18 C).
The blue cod species prefers undersea areas, which have a good density of sponges and microalgae.
Who do blue cods live with?
The blue cod species is infamous as a violent, and territorial species. In general, they don't school like fluke fish. However, in some ranges, small groups of blue code have been observed.
How long does a blue cod live?
Due to frequent fishing, it is very hard to determine the maximum life expectancy of blue cods. According to marine biologists, their lifespan typically ranges between 10-15 years, before they are caught. However, there have been recorded specimens, which were nearly 32 years old!
How do they reproduce?
A blue cod's sexual maturity is directly proportional to its growth in size, and also depends on its habitat, as well.
For example, fish that live in Southland gain their sexual maturity, after reaching a length of 10-11 in (26-28 cm), whereas fish living in Marlborough Sounds gain their sexual maturity after reaching a length of 8-10 in (21-26 cm).
The mating season of the blue cods takes place between early spring and mid-summer. It has been observed that the eggs may drift away up to 46 mi (74 km), from the place it was laid. It takes approximately four to five days for the eggs to hatch.
What is their conservation status?
The blue cod fish are categorized under the Least Concern species category by the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The commercial catching of the blue cods is regulated by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries' Quota Management System (QMS).
Blue Cod Fun Facts
What do blue cod look like?
The blue cod (Parapercis colias) fish are one of the most fascinating creatures on the New Zealand coast. Their coloration primarily depends on their sex and growth, as well.
For example, the fries are born with paler coloration with two dark stripes on the sides of their body, which starts to fade away with growing age. Adults have bluish-gray coloration with whitish underparts. Males are identified by their greenish sides.
Females are comparatively more mottled than males and sexual dimorphism is visible in their species, where males are slightly larger than females. These peculiar fish are born with the reproductive system of both sexes and females can transform themselves into males if required.
How cute are they?
Perhaps, no one would remark them as cute! Their grumpy-looking faces and fierce behavior makes them look rather unappealing and uncanny.
How do they communicate?
Very little is known about the communication system between the blue cod fish. However, a male blue cod is known to be fierce and highly territorial.
How big is a blue cod?
A blue cod is typically 11.8- 15.7 in (30-40 cm) in length, however, specimens have been found, which were nearly 23.6 in (60 cm) in length. A blue cod is nearly four times larger than a South American darter which can grow up to 4 in (10 cm) in length.
How fast can a blue cod swim?
A blue cod is known as a medium-paced swimmer. They swim by utilizing their pectoral fins. However, according to marinologists, they are capable of making quick, sudden moves, using their tails. Though, the exact speed at which they swim is yet unmeasured.
How much does a blue cod weigh?
Generally, a blue cod-fish weighs around 1.7-3.3 lb (0.8-1.5 kg). However, specimens weighing up to 6.6 lb (3 kg), have been captured. They are lighter than African lungfish.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no sex-specific names given to these fish, however, an adult blue cod is also known as Boston blue cod, New Zealand cod, and toragisu.
What would you call a baby blue cod?
Similar to other juvenile fish, a baby blue cod is also known as fry. They swim in the shallow water, around the New Zealand coast.
What do they eat?
A blue cod is an omnivorous fish like swai fish. By nature, they are voracious creatures, who can devour a great quantity of food. Their food chart includes crustaceans, small fish, mollusks, and small octopuses, though they can devour any type of digestible food. In some areas, approximately 52 different species were spotted which they preyed upon.
Are they aggressive?
Male blue cods are indeed aggressive and territorial. Though there isn't enough data to determine if they try to harm divers or not.
Would they make a good pet?
It is extremely difficult to keep them as pets like stake fish. They have their own desired water specifications to live and need a good quantity of food to live.
Did you know...
Blue cod fishing is very interesting. They are caught using large-sized hooks. The ones caught by pot are most sustainable. The winter is the primary fishing time for the recreational fishermen, and for the commercial fisheries, as well. The recreational fisheries are also monitored by the QMS.
The blue cod's flesh is very much desired due to its low oil content and good quality fillets can be cut from their flesh. Its flesh is white to light pink. Their delicious flesh is enjoyed the most when pan-fried and accompanied by a heavy-bodied white wine.
How did the blue cod get its name?
One thing that everyone should keep in mind is that the blue cod is not a codfish! Due to some physical similarities, people have been calling them blue cod for ages, and that is being continued, even today.
People in the past, have listed them as coalfish, as well. In the present day, their name is so well known that we doubt it will ever change!
Keeping blue cod
There is almost no information available regarding keeping blue cods in aquariums. Commercial fishing is done in good quantities every year and exported to various fish markets throughout the world. Though, it's known that they require a water temperature of 45.9-64.6°F (7.7-18.1°C) and a salinity level of 34.2-35.5 PPS to live.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these mandarinfish facts and glowlight rasbora facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable blue cod coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
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