- published: 07 Sep 2014
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Arctogadus glacialis, known as the Arctic cod or as the polar cod, is an Arctic species of deepwater fish in the cod family Gadidae, related to the true cod (genus Gadus).
Apart from Arctic cod and polar cod, the fish has been called Greenland cod[citation needed]. Note, however, that all these common names are also used for other Arctic gadid species: Both "Arctic cod" and "polar cod" are used for Boreogadus saida, while "Greenland cod" most commonly refers to the species Gadus ogac.
Another Arctic gadid, the East Siberian cod (Arctogadus borisovi), which was until recently considered the closest relative of A. glacialis, has been found not to be distinct from it at all, but should be included in the same species. Arctogadus is thus a monotypic genus.
Arctic cod is silvery in appearance and can grow up to 30 cm in length. It lacks the chin barbels of other cod species (or this barbel is small).
The Arctic cod is widely distributed in the western part of the Arctic basin, also the northwest and northeast coasts of Greenland. Its range is between 85° and 72° north latitude. Arctic cod can be found at depths of up to 1000 m, and frequently under ice.