Chaenodraco wilsoni

Chaenodraco wilsoni, the spiny icefish, is a species of crocodile icefish native to the Southern Ocean where it occurs in a circum-Antarctic distribution, with the northernmost records from the South Orkney Islands. It lives at depths of up to 800 m (2620 ft), however, it is common in the shallower waters of the continental shelf, especially on banks less than 250 m (820 ft) deep. Postlarvae and pelagic juveniles are also found in the upper 100 m (330 ft). The larvae have a long pelagic phase and live nearshore, however, the adults live on the seabed.

Chaenodraco wilsoni
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Suborder:	Notothenioidei
Family:	Channichthyidae
Genus:	Chaenodraco Regan, 1914
Species:	C. wilsoni
Binomial name
Chaenodraco wilsoni Regan, 1914

This species is pale gray with five dark cross-bars on the sides of its body, often with dark blotches in between. The ventrical area is white. There are stripes on the second dorsal fin formed by a series of small, dark spots.[1]

This species grows to a length of 43 centimetres (17 in) TL; a more common length is 30 cm (12 in). It matures at 23 cm (9 in).[1] This species preys on fishes and krill. A study in the Ross Sea in 1984 found Pleuragramma antarcticum and the krill species Euphasia crystallorphias in the stomachs of specimens collected.[1] It is in turn preyed on by penguins and seals. It is of minor importance to commercial fisheries, however, landings in 1979 exceeded 10,000 tonnes (11,203 tons).

In the Scotia Sea region, juveniles and subadults of this species are often caught together with krill (one of their major prey items) in late January and February. This species spawns in the austral summer and lays large eggs of up to 4.9 mm diameter. Fecundity of up to 862 eggs is known.

This species is the only known member of its genus.[2]