Aspects of the biology of the icefish Dacodraco hunteri (Notothenioidei, Channichthyidae) in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

On the basis of five specimens, the icefish Dacodraco hunteri (Notothenioidei, Channichthyidae) is documented for the first time in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Meristic counts and morphometric measurements are provided for this small, streamlined, laterally compressed species. D. hunteri has a weakly...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar biology 1999, Vol.21 (3), p.194-196
Main Author: EASTMAN, J. T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Biological and medical sciences
Channichthyidae
Dacodraco hunteri
Dracodraco hunteri
Fish
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Marine biology
Notothenioidei
Pleuragramma antarcticum
Seawater
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Water column
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Summary:On the basis of five specimens, the icefish Dacodraco hunteri (Notothenioidei, Channichthyidae) is documented for the first time in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Meristic counts and morphometric measurements are provided for this small, streamlined, laterally compressed species. D. hunteri has a weakly ossified skeleton with considerable cartilage in the skull. It has a partially persistent notochord and reduced amounts of bone in the vertebral column since the centra are incompletely constricted. Its weight in seawater averages only 1.28% of its weight in air and, as one of the lightest notothenioids, D. hunteri is probably a permanent inhabitant of the water column. The diet consists of relatively large specimens of the pelagic nototheniid fish Pleuragramma antarcticum.
ISSN:0722-4060
1432-2056
DOI:10.1007/s003000050352