Question: At which of the following place Deep-sea scientists discovered an Ice-fish Breeding Colony?
a) Arctic Sea
b) Mediterranean Sea
c) Weddell Sea (Antarctica)
d) Sea of Japan
Answer: (c)
Related Facts:-
- Deep-sea scientists discovered an Ice-fish Breeding Colony in Antarctica’s ice-covered Weddell Sea.
- It is a breeding colony of 60 million fish, a unique and previously unknown ecosystem that covers an area the size of Malta.
- This fascinating discovery shows how little knowledge we the humans have about the ocean depths.
- The vast colony, believed to be the world’s largest, is home to the remarkable icefish having scientific name Neopagetopsis ionah.
- The species was discovered in February 2021, however, their breeding nests were recently discovered.
- The blood of icefish is transparent in color and is the only vertebrates to have no red blood cells.
- Their blood does not have hemoglobin to carry oxygen.
- It is an evolutionary adaptation as these fish absorb oxygen through their skin.
- Icefish are found at depths of 90 m to 200 m.
- To survive at such low temperatures, it has evolved an anti-freeze protein in its transparent blood that stops ice crystals from growing.
By – Rajesh Tripathi
Links:-
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/13/world/icefish-colony-discovery-scn/index.html