The bald notothen was first formally described in 1907 as Trematomus borchgrevinki by the Belgian-born British ichthyologist George Albert Boulenger with the type localities given as at the surface at Duke of York Island and at Cape Adare.

[1] The specific name honours Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink who commanded the British Southern Cross Antarctic Expedition (1898–1900), during which types were collected.

[2] The bald notothen attains a maximum total length around 28 cm (11 in), it is yellow with dark spots and irregular crossbars.

The bald notothen is adapted to life in the water column as the shape and flatness of the trunk may streamline the fish and reduce drag.

There are silvery reflective layers, called strata argentea below the skin which provide camouflage when the fish is seen against the background of platelet ice.