where was it discovered? Near an iceberg off Greenland. What’s unique about it? It shares a characteristic that automobiles have. In automobiles, antifreeze regulates engine temperature in extreme temperatures. It is the same thing that the fish with antifreeze in its veins does, a fish that is also biofluorescent.
Unique fish of its kind
This is an evolution of certain species. Especially those living in frigid habitats such as the polar waters of Greenland.
“Antifreeze proteins adhere to the surface of ice crystals. They slow or prevent them from growing into larger, more dangerous crystals.” David Gruber points out. “Fish at the north and south poles independently evolved these proteins,” he added.
Gruber found the tiny tadpole-like creature in 2019 during an expedition. He was exploring iceberg habitats off the coast of Greenland. He was dumbfounded to see the biofluorescent fish glowing in the icy habitat.
It is the only polar fish with biofluorescence. It has two different types of gene families that encode antifreeze. It has the highest expression of antifreeze proteins of all animals studied for this trait. This is a mind-boggling level of antifreeze production.
Difficult survival
This helps this species adapt to a subzero environment. But, at the same time, it raises a question about how the fish will fare in the future. Especially as ocean temperatures rise as a result of global warming. Cold-water-loving species may be driven out of their habitat. Why? Because species adapted to warmer waters would move there.
“There is a rapid warming of the waters in the Arctic. Fish with antifreeze in their veins will have to compete with species from warmer waters. These can now migrate north and survive at higher latitudes. In the future, antifreeze proteins may no longer provide an advantage,” the scientists stress.
