Pseudochaenichthys
Kingdom
Phylum
Order
SPECIES
Pseudochaenichthys georgianus
Weight
2080
73
goz
g oz 
Length
50-60
19.7-23.6
cminch
cm inch 

Pseudochaenichthys is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. Its only member is Pseudochaenichthys georgianus, the South Georgia icefish, which is found in the Southern Ocean.

Appearance

Pseudochaenichthys, the South Georgia icefish, is a dark greyish-green species with blackish first dorsal and pelvic fins. The pelvic fins have white outer borders. The dorsal fin has 7 to 9 spines and 28 to 32 soft rays while the anal fin has 27 to 31 soft rays. There is a forward curving spine on the snout, a projecting lower jaw and there are 4 to 5 spines on the operculum. There are 3 lateral lines which do not have any bony plates on them. It has wide, fan shaped pelvic fins, the first and second dorsal fins are clearly separated and the caudal fin is rounded. This species grows to a total length of 60 centimetres (24 in) although a more typical total length is 50 cm (20 in). It is thought to attain sexual maturity at 42.5 cm (16.7 in). The maximum published weight of this species is 2.1 kg (4.6 lb).

Distribution

Geography

Pseudochaenichthys georgianus is known only from the waters off the northern Antarctic Peninsula and the Scotia Sea. It is a demersal species which occurs from surface waters to a depth of 475 metres (1,558 ft).

Habits and Lifestyle

Pseudochaenichthys georgianus adults feed mainly on krill, especially Antarctic krill (Euphasia superba) and fishes, mainly channichthyids and nototheniids). This species is a synchronous spawner and spawning takes place in autumn, with the eggs hatching from August to October.

Lifestyle

References

1. Pseudochaenichthys Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudochaenichthys

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