Chionodraco rastrospinosus

Description

The ocellated icefish (Chionodraco rastrospinosus) is a fish of the family Channichthyidae. It lives in the cold waters off Antarctica and is known for having transparent haemoglobin-free blood. C. rastrospinosus live in the Southern Ocean up to a depth of 1 km. They grow up to 52 centimetres (20 in) and average 30 centimetres (12 in). The adults feed on krill and other fish.Larvae are 17 mm long when they hatch, and grow by about 2 mm a week. The larval stage lasts for up to 18 months during which they feed mainly on krill. They become sexually mature at four years, and normally live up to about eight years, but sometimes as long as twelve. In the Antarctic autumn, adult C. rastrospinosus migrate to shallow waters to spawn at a depth of 200–300 m. The eggs are scattered and hatch six months later around April.