#crocodile icefish

[life-on-our-planet]

The family Channichthyidae are more commonly known as icefish, and they are the only known vertebrates that lack hemoglobin in their blood as adults. As a result their blood is white and their skin appears translucent.

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[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Beloved Blackfin Icefish

The blackfin icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus), also known as the Scotia Sea icefish, is a species of fish found in the Southern Ocean, around the Antarctic shelf. They typically reside along the bottom of the ocean closer to the sore, at depths no greater than 770 m (0.47 mi). These waters stay at around -2 °C (28 °F) all year.

Male blackfish are slightly smaller than female blackfish; the former reaches 34–40 cm (13-15 in) in length while the latter reaches 48–49 cm (18-19 in). The blackfin icefish is noted for its unique appearance. It is a scaleless fish, with a white or grey body sporting darker strikes all down its sides.

Part of this color comes from their blood, which lacks hemoglobin and is translucent in color. The icefish family are the only vertebrates in the world that lack hemoglobin. This lack severely reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of their blood; as a trade-off their blood is thinner to reduce viscosity and carries 'anti-freeze' proteins which allow the fish to survive below-freezing waters.

Spawning typically takes place in the autumn or winter. Females may only reproduce every other year due to the high energy costs of egg production. Male C. aceratus dig shallow depressions in the sand, and females lay clutches of up to 10,000 eggs. These eggs can take anywhere from 2-6 months to hatch, and during this time the males do most if not all of the guarding of the nest. After hatching, juveniles may take anywhere from 5-7 years to become fully mature.

The diet of Scotia Sea icefish consists primarily of krill, mackerel icefish, and crustaceans. Juveniles typically consume more krill than fish, and are more often found swimming in the water column, while adults stay along the ocean floor and ambush their prey. It is unknown whether they have any natural predators.

Conservation status: The IUCN considers the blackfin icefish as Vulnerable. Its primary threats are fatalities from fishing by-catch and climate change, which is increasing the temperature of its natural habitat.

Photos

Uwe Kils

Thomas Desvignes

Bill Baker

[breadslice2257]

Hello, everyone!

After weeks of work and lots of help from friends and family, I finally finished my coloring book! If you're interested in weird animals, or if you just like coloring in general, please consider buying it! In addition to the PDF there's also a digital version available if you prefer to color in an art program!

Thank you!

15 Animals You've Never Seen in a Coloring Book Before (Maybe)

Unknown, underrepresented, uncharismatic, or perhaps even plain ugly by some interpretations, this coloring book features 15 animals that yo

[chunkfunkgunk-offishal]

crocodile icefish pls they are my favorite bony fish. if u want a cartilaginous fish greenland sharks are my fav of those 👀👀👀

Today on CHUNK! FUNK! GUNK! We rate

the CROCODILE ICEFISH:

1/10 Chunk

10/10 Funk

0-1/10 Gunk

Today is the crocodile icefish! (also called the white-blooded fish because apparently they don’t have hemoglobin in their blood) Awhile ago I did the other half of this anonymous user’s request, so today I finally finish their ask!

They are very bony, low chunk. The crocodile icefish is super funky though, getting style points from its cool frill and see-through bits. Also, it doesn’t have red blood cells, which is very weird and I’m kind of jealous. Extreme funk. I couldn’t find much in my brief research about their slime or mucous secretion, so I am left to assume that if they have any, it’s probably not that remarkable. Low gunk.

Overall: 8/10

It reminds me of something I would see in the game Subnautica! Also they’re really cute. Look at its little face.

What a guy (=´∀｀)

[xiaomao-ai-wo]

Fish boys!!!!

(Is it Buddy and Chase again? Absolutely.)

[lavender-tea-dragon]

FremiMay Day 6: Mermaid!

Chose a crocodile icefish for Fremi! :D They're funky, live in Antarctica, and have a nice pale-blue color palette, so I thought it'd fit him well! ^^

[fish-daily]

crocodile icefish? :3c search pulled up no results of u havin done it before

fish 164 - crocodile icefish

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

Daily fish fact #235

Crocodile icefish (family Channichthyidae)!

Crocodile icefish, or white-blooded fish, are the only known vertebrates to lack hemoglobin in their blood as adults! They can manage fine via having larger blood vessels and large volumes of blood so the plasma in their veins can carry oxygen instead, as well as generally living in a cold environment where there is plenty oxygen. The coolness of their environment also makes their metabolism slow, which means they require less oxygen than warmer species!