Antarctic fish
| Antarctic notothenioids | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Icefish Chionodraco rastrospinosus from Family Channichthyidae | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Notothenioidei |
| Family: | Artedidraconidae Bathydraconidae Channichthyidae Harpagiferidae Nototheniidae |
Antarctic fish is a common name for a variety of fish that inhabit the Southern Ocean. They originate from the five different families that belong to the suborder Notothenioidei of the order Perciformes. They are from families Artedidraconidae (barbeled plunderfishes), Bathydraconidae (Antarctic dragonfishes), Channichthyidae (crocodile icefishes or white-blooded fishes), Harpagiferidae (spiny plunderfish), and Nototheniidae (cod icefishes). They are also called notothenioids, but this name is also used to describe the other three, non-Antarctic families and some of the non-Antarctic genera in the mainly Antarctic families belonging to the suborder.
Antarctic fish are best known for their uses in studying adaptive radiation, the ecological process that causes the rapid development of several different species from one common ancestor of this fishes. These studies have been done using genetics, phylogeny, study of paleontology, and combinations of these fields to determine the sister lineage of the Antarctic fish.
Though many different species comprise the Antarctic fish cluster, there are some common characteristics between fish. They generally have a set of rounded pectoral fins and rounded pelvic fins that maximize mobility in both the water column and on the seafloor. Their eyes are of medium size and are set towards the top of the head, indicating that they catch prey by moving into the water column from the seafloor. The mouth is large in comparison to size of the body. The spiny dorsal fin is placed halfway down the body and is detached from the soft dorsal fin. The soft dorsal fin extends down the body and ends shortly before the caudal fin. The anal fin mirrors the soft dorsal fin down the underside of the body before the caudal fin. The shape of the caudal fin varies based on family, but is generally either rounded, forked or truncate. Only Artedidraconids have chin barbels hanging from the lower jaw that drags through the sand and a hook shaped operculum. Otherwise, the operculum is rounded.
Coloring ranges from light gray to dark gray with large spotting. Some species are tan or green or even red.
Channichthyids are the largest of these fish at a maximum of 75 centimeters, with Harpagifer the smallest at 10 centimeters.
...
Wikipedia