Coldest fish

Coldest fish

Last updated: October 1, 2017 at 19:24 pm

Fishes of the family Nototheniidae, including Arctic and Antarctic cod are adapted to living in the coldest water on Earth (-1.94°C / 28.5°F). Their blood contains proteins called antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) that keep them from freezing. The proteins affect crystal growth and allow blood to flow freely thus keeping the fish alive. Chi-Hing “Christina” Cheng (University of Illinois) has spent two decades studying the Antarctic notothenioids, which make up more than 90 percent of the biomass of the Southern Ocean.

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Icefish larvae in Antarctica. Photo by Uwe Kils (GNU General Public License)

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