Lepidion microcephalus Cowper, 1956
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The small-headed cod (Lepidion microcephalus) or the long-finned cod is a deepwater fish belonging to the morid cod family (Moridae), and related to the true cods (genus Gadus). It is found in the Tasman Sea, including the Bass Strait. It is commercially harvested by both Australia and New Zealand. It has been found on the continental shelf, but typically its depth range is from 750 to 1,000 m (2,460 to 3,280 ft). It grows to 48 centimetres (19 in) in total length.
The second common name is because its first dorsal fin is made up of long, filamentous rays. The pelvic fin is long, thin, and scythe-like, and it has a pronounced chin barbel.
The colour is grey-brown with a faint red tint on the body and black-edged median fins.
Wikipedia contributors, Small-headed cod; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T23:00:50.561742+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Lepidion microcephalus Cowper, 1956
- Name authority
- Cowper, 1956
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Teleostei
- Order
- Gadiformes
- Family
- Moridae
- Genus
- Lepidion
- Extinction status
- Not supplied by this source
Source habitat flags: Marine: yes · Freshwater: no · Terrestrial: no. These do not form a complete habitat description.
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- gigaclassActinopterygii
- superclassActinopteri
- classTeleostei
- orderGadiformes
- familyMoridae Moreau, 1881
- genusLepidion Swainson, 1838
- speciesLepidion microcephalus Cowper, 1956
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Lepidion. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Giant codLepidion inosimae (Günther, 1887) | MoridaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Patagonian codlingLepidion ensiferus (Günther, 1887) | MoridaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Lepidion capensis Gilchrist, 1922 | MoridaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- Cowper, T. R. (1956). A new gadiform fish from the continental slope off southeastern Australia. Pacific Science, 10 (4): 407–409. Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:6P9MN. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.