poor cod

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{More footnotes|date=October 2022}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Poor cod

| image =Trisopterus minutus Gervais.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Fernandes, P. |author2=Cook, R. |author3=Florin, A. |author4=Lorance, P. |author5=Nielsen, J. |author6=Nedreaas, K. |year=2015 |title=Trisopterus minutus (Europe assessment) |volume=2015 |page=e.T49937576A45099389 |doi= |access-date=12 July 2024}}

| taxon = Trisopterus minutus

| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758){{FishBase|Trisopterus|minutus|month=February|year=2022}}

| synonyms = *Gadus minutus Linnaeus, 1758

• Brachygadus minutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Gadulus minutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Gadus tacaud Lacepède, 1800
• Morua capelanus Risso, 1827

}}

The poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) is a temperate marine fish belonging to the cod family (Gadidae). It is red brown in colour and has a pronounced chin barbel. It may grow up to a length of {{cvt|40|cm}}. It is usually found in small shoals at depths between {{convert|10|and|300|ft|0}} over muddy or sandy bottoms. Its distribution spans the eastern Atlantic, from Norwegian coasts to Portugal and along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Spawning takes place towards the end of winter. They are often regarded as a mini species and are commonly confused with pouting as they have a similar appearance. They are often seen as a menace for anglers and have little commercial value and so are not currently at any risk of extinction.

They feed on crustaceans, small fish and marine worm. They are eaten by seals, dolphins and larger fish. It is commercially harvested for the production of fish meal, and in southern Europe as food.