Curiosity
Fish With Gin-Clear Blood: More Studies Needed (PHOTO)
An ocellated ice fish swims in a fish tank at Tokyo Sea Life Park on Friday. The Ocellated Ice Fish lives in the freezing waters of the Antarctic Ocean, where it manages to keep its body doing all the things that other fish do, but with blood that is absolutely clear, researchers have told AFP
A rare Crocodile Icefish specimen found by fishermen in the Antarctic has been transferred to Sea Life Park in Tokyo. According to scientists, the fish is one of a few types of invertebrate creatures characterized by having transparent rather than red blood.
The icefish is lacking hemoglobin in its blood and since hemoglobin is what gives blood its characteristic red color, the icefish’s blood is uniquely clear. Another unique signature of icefish is that they possess hearts that are larger than normal to compensate for the lack of hemoglobin content in their bloodstreams.
Satoshi Tada, an education specialist at the centre, said very little is known about the fish, which was brought back to Japan by krill fishermen.
“Luckily, we have a male and a female, and they spawned in January,” he told AFP, adding that having more examples to study might help scientists unlock some of the fish’s secrets.
The Crocodile Icefish has become quite the topic of conversation at Sea Life Park because it also has another distinguishing feature. It is a fish that has no scales.
The Park’s latest acquisition of the icefish brings the number on display at the facility to one male and one female, enabling further study on these curious clear blooded sea creatures.
The icefish are currently being housed in the first aquarium ever built by the Japanese people in the late 19th century. Many fish scientists as well as future marine biologists have expressed an interest in visiting Tokyo’s Sea Life Park because of its history of having the rarest and most interesting assortment of sea creatures on display.
Tada told AFP: “Why is it the fish lost haemoglobin? More studies are needed on the question.”
Fish with gin-clear blood kept safe in Tokyo at Sea Life Park
http://www.examiner.com/article/fish-with-gin-clear-blood-kept-safe-tokyo-at-sea-life-park
Why Does this Fish Have Gin-Clear Blood?
http://news.yahoo.com/why-does-fish-gin-clear-blood-134434131.html
Fish With Gin-Clear Blood In Captivity [Video]
http://www.inquisitr.com/607552/fish-with-gin-clear-blood-in-captivity-video/#1GCrm8twh3uqhPA9.99
Japan aquarium shows mysterious clear-blood fish
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Travel/Chunk-HT-UI-TravelSectionPage-TravelStories/Japan-aquarium-shows-mysterious-clear-blood-fish/Article1-1038344.aspx