Eleginops maclovinus

Description

Eleginops maclovinus, the Patagonian blenny, Falkland's mullet or rock cod, is a species of notothenioid fish found in coastal and estuarine habitats around southernmost South America, ranging as far north as Valparaíso on the Pacific side, and Uruguay on the Atlantic side. It is also found around the Falkland Islands, where it has been featured on a stamp. It is the only member of its genus, which is the only member of the family Eleginopsidae. Its English names refer to the vaguely blenny-, mullet-, or cod-like appearance, but it is not related to true blennies, mullets, or cods. Locally, it is often called róbalo, a name also used for the common snook. It is commonly fished in parts of its range. It is an omnivore, tending towards carnivore. In some parts of its range, it is especially fond of Paracorophium, but it is opportunistic, and its exact diet depends on the availability in the habitat where the individual fish lives. It reaches about 105 cm (3.44 ft) in length, and can live for 10 years. It is a protandric hermaphrodite, and males predominate in lengths below 52 cm (1.71 ft), while female predominate above. It has a diploid number of 48, and a fundamental number of 54.