Pike icefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pike icefish |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: |
Notothenioidei
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| Family: |
Channichthyidae
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| Genus: |
Champsocephalus
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| Species: |
C. esox
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| Binomial name | |
| Champsocephalus esox (Günther, 1861)
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| Synonyms | |
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Chaenichthys esox Günther, 1861 |
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The pike icefish, also known as Champsocephalus esox, is a special type of fish. It belongs to a group called crocodile icefish. These fish are known for living in very cold waters.
Pike icefish live deep in the ocean. They are usually found between 50 and 250 meters (about 164 to 820 feet) below the surface. You can find them near Patagonia, the Falklands, and sometimes around South Georgia.
About the Pike Icefish
Pike icefish are a type of demersal fish. This means they live and feed near the bottom of the sea. They can grow up to 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long.
What It Eats
The pike icefish mainly eats other fish and small creatures called krill. Krill are tiny shrimp-like animals that live in cold ocean waters. A study in South Georgia in 1981 looked at what these fish ate. They found that one pike icefish had eaten 90% krill and 10% fish. The krill it ate was mostly Euphasia superba.
How It Looks
The pike icefish has a whitish body. Its tail fin, called the caudal fin, is dark brown. It also has dark brown stripes or blotches on its body. These dark marks can sometimes connect with yellowish areas. This fish does not have scales on its body. The only place it has scales is along its lateral line. The lateral line is a special sense organ that helps fish detect movement and vibration in the water.
Fishing for Pike Icefish
Pike icefish are not a very important fish for large-scale commercial fishing. In 2008, only about 90 tonnes (around 99 tons) of these fish were caught. Fishermen usually catch them using a method called trawling. This happens from January to March. They are not caught during the winter months.
This species is unique because it is the only crocodile icefish found north of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone. This zone is a very cold area of the ocean. Only three pike icefish have ever been reported south of the CCALMR area.
See also
In Spanish: Champsocephalus esox para niños
