Information AboutNototheniidae |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT NOTOTHENIIDAE | |
| nototheniidaenototheniidae | |
| perciformes | |
The cod icefishes are a family, '''Nototheniidae''', of Perciform fishes, containing about 50 species in 12 genera. They are largely found in the Southern Ocean and off the coast of Antarctica . As the dominant Antarctic fish taxa, they occupy both sea bottom and water column ecological niches. Although lacking a Gas Bladder , they have undergone a depth-related diversification, such as increase in fatty tissues and reduced mineralization of the bones, resulting in a body density approaching neutral, to fill a variety of water column niches. As the chilly subantarctic waters averages –1 to 4 degrees Celsius, most Antarctic species have Antifreeze Proteins in their blood and other body fluids. Some species exhibit morphism, for example, the circum-Antarctic ''Trematomus newnesi'' exists as two morphs in the Ross Sea , the typical morph and a large mouth/broad headed morph. As the major fish resource in the Southern Ocean, nototheniids are under increasing pressure from commercial fishing. CLASSIFICATION
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