Spiny icefish

Spiny icefish
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

Chaenodraco wilsoni, the spiny icefish, is a species of crocodile icefish native to the Southern Ocean where it occurs in a circum-Antarctic distribution. It lives at depths of up to 800m (2640 ft), however, it is common in the shallower waters of the continental shelf, especially on banks less than 250 m deep. Postlarvae and pelagic juveniles are also found in the upper 100 m(330 ft). The larvae have a long pelagic phase, however, the adults live on the seabed.

This species grows to a length of 43 centimetres (17 in) TL; a more common length is 30 cm(12 in). This species preys on fishes and krill. It is in turn preyed on by penguins and seals. It is of minor importance to commercial fisheries.

This species is the only known member of its genus.