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Antarctica fish and squid both combine to form essential components of the pelagic and benthic marine ecosystems. Predatory animals like whales, seals and sea-birds feed on the fish and squids of Antarctica. The Antarctica fish fauna includes groups like Antarctic cods, the Notothenioids, snail fishes or Liparidae and eel-pouts or Zoarcidae. The Antarctica Fish and Squid are found in almost all these groups.
The Channichyidae or ice-fish are found in the Antarctic fish fauna. Their uniqueness lies in the fact that they do not posses any hemoglobin. Another very important species of Antarctica fish, fauna is the mackerel ice-fish, whose scientific name is Champsocephalus gunnari. The Antarctic Nototheniied fish living near the icy regions have evolved themselves with an antifreeze glycoprotein in the body fluids to protect them from freezing.
Antarctica squids like Brachioteuthis and Mesonycoteuthis have suckers on their arms and tentacles for catching preys. Commercial fishing in the southern regions is posing a threat to these rare varieties of Fish and Squids in Antarctica. Among the other varieties of fishes, the most hunted are the Patagonian tooth fish, resulting in a decrease in the number of albatrosses and petrels every year. Fishing can easily be considered one of the favorite pastimes at Antarctica.
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