New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Temperate

Crested bellowfish

Notopogon lilliei Regan, 1914
Max Length
27 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
80–600 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
30.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Crested bellowfish (Notopogon lilliei), first described by Regan, 1914 is a medium-sized fish in the family Centriscidae (order Syngnathiformes). Adults typically reach 27.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 80 to 600 metres. It occurs in Temperate waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.The species is important as a food fish and considered a sustainable seafood option under current management. As a member of the Centriscidae, it shares life-history and morphological traits with its relatives in the group.

Scientific Name
Notopogon lilliei
Authority
Regan, 1914
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
27 cm
Depth Range
80–600 m
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
30.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 19. : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Crested bellowfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 80 - 600 m , usually 150 - 300 m . Temperate; 23°S - 49°S, 13°W - 174°W Southwest Pacific: Australia and New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.5±0.5

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01479 × L2.93 (TL)
Max TL
27cm
Dorsal Spines
7
Dorsal Rays
15
Anal Rays
18

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
30.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Regan, 1914

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Crested bellowfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 17.4 g
Omega-3 (total) 750 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Crested bellowfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Crested bellowfish ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.