Cryothenia amphitreta

Cryothenia amphitreta
Cryothenia amphitreta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Nototheniidae
Genus: Cryothenia
Species: C. amphitreta

Cryothenia amphitreta is a species of fish found in the Antarctic region. It belongs to the Nototheniidae family (Cod icefishes). It is found in the pelagic and marine environment and the frigid polar climate. These fish can be found in the Ross Sea of Antarctica. The Cryothenia amphitreta has an abnormal body structure. The species' pelvis fins only reach halfway from the pelvis-fin base to the anal origin. The second dorsal-fin insertion particularly advanced compared to the anal origin. The lining of the mouth, gills cavaties, and the peritoneum are black. The Cryothenia amphitreta is a purple-gold-colored fish.

Discovery

In November 2004, a researcher by the name of Paul A. Cziko and a diving partner, Kevin Hoelfing, were diving off the coast of Antarctica. Paul A. Cziko, then a budding specialist with a bachelor's degree in animal biology and biochemestry, is now a doctoral student in CEEB. While diving they spotted an unusual fish and he was able to capture this unique fish. Two years later after measuring and comparing the fish to other various species of fish, Cziko realized he had identified a unique species of nototheniid fish. This fish's head is what sets it apart from the other species of fish. This nototheniid has a unique structure in its cranium that helps it detect changes in water pressure. These changes in water pressure can be as small as another fish swimming by. Although other nototheniid are known to have this same structure with only one opening, the Cryothenia amphitreta has two openings. Cziko suspects that these dual pressure sensing cavaties might help the fish locate prey better than a mono version can. Cziko named it Cryothenia amphitreta, Cryothenia means "from the cold," and amphitreta means "a cave with two openings."

References

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