Head to head
Emerald Rockcod vs Antarctic Silverfish
Emerald Rockcod
VS Antarctic Silverfish
Both small fish carry antifreeze-protected blood and live in Antarctic coastal waters, but they occupy very different parts of the water column.
| Emerald Rockcod | Antarctic Silverfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Trematomus bernacchii | Pleuragramma antarcticum |
| Water column | Lives near the seafloor | Spends life in the open water column |
| Movement | Stays within a small home range | Ranges more broadly through open water |
| Ecological role | A frequently studied model species | A key prey species for many predators |
| Blood | Contains natural antifreeze proteins | Contains natural antifreeze proteins |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Unknown | Unknown |
| Habitat | Ocean, polar | Ocean, polar |
Emerald Rockcod vs Antarctic Silverfish: common questions
Which one stays closer to the seafloor?
The emerald rockcod stays closer to the seafloor, spending almost its entire life within a small home range there, unlike the Antarctic silverfish, which lives mainly in the open water column.
Which one is a more important prey species for larger predators?
The Antarctic silverfish plays the larger role here, feeding an enormous range of predators from penguins to whales, though the emerald rockcod is also eaten by various Antarctic predators.
Do both have antifreeze in their blood?
Yes, both species produce natural antifreeze glycoproteins that circulate in their blood, preventing ice crystals from forming in the sub-zero Southern Ocean water they inhabit.