Biodiversity Project Geraldine Rulloda

Young Icefish Scientific Name: Chaenocephalus Aceratus Latin Name: Leucosoma Chinensis Type: Fish Diet: Omnivore Average Lifespan: The estimated age range is 1-5 years for males and 1-4 years for females. Size: Seldom more than 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. Weight: A maximum of 2kg Family Species: Channichthyidae

Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum[biology]: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata[a category in biological classification ranking below a phylum & above a class] Superclass: Gnathostomata Superclass: Pisces Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes

History of Icefish The first icefish was discovered in 1927 by zoologist Ditlef Rustad, who pulled up a strange, pale fish during an expedition to Antarctic waters. The fish he pulled up was eventually named the blackfin icefish [Chaenocephalus aceratus].

Facts about Icefish They live in icy cold water, and have icy looking blood. These crocodile icefishes belong to the family of Channichthyidae. There are many species [33, according to WoRMS] of icefish in the family of Channichthyidae. These fish all have heads that look a little like crocodile. Another fairly unique trait for icefish that they don’t have scales. This can aid their ability to absorb oxygen through the ocean water.

Adaptation Icefish are amazing fish that live in the southern ocean, they are mostly found around Antarctica. Icefish can survive freezing temperatures from -2 to 4 degrees Celsius[ 28.4 to 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit]. These fish probably could not survive anywhere else, since they’ve spend millions of years adapting in this freezing cold water.

Where does the Icefish live? Icefish are mainly found in the Southern Ocean and are mostly found around Antarctica. Since these waters are cold , other fish have trouble living here. Therefore icefish makes out 95% of all marine life in this region. Icefish are not found in other locations in the planet.

What does an Icefish look like? Ice fish are sometimes called “Crocodile Icefish” because of the shape of their snout. The color of icefish is usually white, gray, silver, black or red. They have transparent blood because they have lack of red blood cells and hemoblobin. Hemoblobin is a protein in the blood that transports oxygen. Icefish are the only known vertebrates in the world that do not have hemoblobin. They absorb their oxygen directly through their skin from water. These fish have anti-freeze proteins that circulate through their bodies to keep them from freezing. Icefish have the same simple structure like all fish do with gills, two dorsal fin that are supported by long, flexible spine, a tail fin, and wide pectoral fins.

What do an Icefish eat? Most of the 16 species of Icefish feed on krill, fish, and crabs. They also eat the foods that plankton whales eat.

Pictures of Icefish

Prey’s of Icefish

Questions What is the name of the family that the Icefish belongs to? Give 2 examples of what they eat. What is the unique trait for icefish? How many species of icefish are there? What is the Latin name for icefish? When was the first icefish discovered? Where could we find the icefishes? How long is the average lifespan for males & females icefish. Give some amazing facts about icefish.

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