Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia Blackfin Icefish Chaenocephalus
aceratus In the freezing waters around Antarctica, the
temperature can fall to nearly 28°F (–2°C). This is below the
temperature at which the blood of most fish would freeze. The
blackfin icefish has a natural antifreeze in its blood that
helps it survive in these conditions. It has no red blood cells
and so appears a ghostly white. This makes its blood thinner so
that it can flow freely in the cold temperatures. The blackfin
icefish is a sluggish hunter of small fish and krill and needs
little oxygen.