Blood-volume In the Hemoglobinless Antarctic Teleost Chionodraco-hamatus (Lonnberg)

• Published in: Journal of Experimental Zoology
• Main Authors: R. ACIERNO, J. A. MACDONALD, B. TOTA, AGNISOLA, CLAUDIO
• Other Authors: R., Acierno, J. A., Macdonald, Agnisola, Claudio, B., Tota
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1995
• Subjects: Antarctic; Hemmingsen; Antarc*; Icefish
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11588/499634; https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1402720510

Blood volume in the hemoglobinless Antarctic icefish Chionodraco hamatus (Channichthyidae) has been determined by the Evans blue dye dilution technique. A mean blood volume of 127.0 +/- 5.0 mi kg(-1) body weight was found, a value even higher than that previously found in another icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus (mean blood volume, 89.7 mi kg(-1) body weight; Hemmingsen and Douglas [1970] Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 33:733-744; Twelves [1972] Br. Antarct. Surv. Bull. 31:85-92). This extraordinary hypervolemia appears unique among teleosts and may compensate for the absence of hemoglobin in the icefish. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.