The term “neonata” or “nonnata” designates small jelly-like fishes that are just born. These belong to different fish species.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that there are many varieties of small fishes that keep their small size for all their life (latterini, for example); but generally you can find at market (although it’s forbidden by law) the following types of neonata fishes (their names vary in each region):
· sardines: mùccu, mùccu biàncu, majàtica, nunnàta, sfigghiàta;
· pagello: mùccu rùssu, lùvaru, nunnàtu;
· zerro, ed altri pesci: macchéttu, jancunéddu;
· rossetto: nunnàta di lùvaru, mazzunàra, russuliddu;
· red mullet: russuliddu; russettu.
The term “nunnàta”, used in the Tirrenic areas, comes from “nonnata” which is a hyperbole for “neonata”; “mucco” comes from the Arab term “sumuk” (fish) and it’s used in the Ionic and Mediterranean coasts of Sicily; “majàtica”, term from Messina, comes from “may” because in this month these fishes lay their eggs and it’s possible to catch them.
