【Ecology】
Saffron cod (Komai) is found in the northern Sea of Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido, in the Sea of Okhotsk, and in the North Pacific. It inhabits the bottom layer at depths of less than 200 meters. It resembles Pacific cod (Madara) and Alaska pollack (Sukesoudara), but is smaller, with a body length of 30–40 cm. Its body is slender and elongated, with a thick head and large eyes and mouth. The lower jaw is shorter than the upper jaw, and there are short barbels at the tip of the lower jaw. The belly is silvery-white with a slight yellowish tint. The back has dark, irregular markings. It possesses a substance (antifreeze proteins) in its blood that prevents freezing, allowing it to survive in water temperatures below 0°C.

 

【Common names in various languages】

・French: Navaga

・German: Fernöstliche Navaga

・Italian: Saffron cod

・Spanish: Bacalao azafrán

・Portuguese: Safron cod

・Korean: 코마이