naked dragonfish Gymnodraco acuticeps

Gymnodraco acuticeps probably occurs throughout Antarctica and is also found at the South Shetland Islands at depths from 0 to 663 meters (usually found in the first 50 meters) [1,4].


These are eggs of Gymnodraco acuticeps. G. acuticeps can grow up to 42 centimeters in length, and spawning occurs in September, with egg hatching in spring [1,5].

Gymnodraco acuticeps eats other fish (including Pleuragramma antarcticum, Pagothenia borchgrevinki, and Trematomus nicolai), amphipods, fish eggs, polychaetes, and krill [1,2].

Dragonfishes are a small, diverse group of Antarctic fishes living at great depths near the Antarctic continent with some species adapted to living under the ice [3].

1: Fishes of the Southern Ocean. O Gon & PC Heemstra, eds. Grahamstown, South Africa : JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, 1990. pp. 372-373; 2: Polar Biology 4:155-160, 1985; 3: FAO Species Identification Sheets for Fishery Purposes : Southern Ocean (Fishing Areas 48, 58 and 88) (CCAMLR Convention Area). W Fischer & JC Hureau, eds. Rome : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1985; 4: Antarctic Science 11(3):293-304, 1999; 5: Ross Sea Ecology : Italiantartide Expeditions (1987-1995). FM Faranda, L Guglielmo, A Ianora, eds. Berlin : Springer, 2000. pp. 457-468

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