Icichthys australis Haedrich, 1966
Southern driftfish
Icichthys australis
photo by Reyes, P.

Family:  Centrolophidae (Medusafishes)
Max. size:  81 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 2141 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: Tasmania. Pacific and Atlantic: New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. Southern Ocean: South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, and the Kerguelen Islands. Juveniles found both north and south of the Antarctic Convergence and are probably circumpolar between 50°-60°S.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 38-44; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 25-29. Pelvic fin very small with fleshy peduncle. Caudal fin weakly forked (Ref. 27363). Uniformly brown to blackish (Ref. 4410). Tips of each fin and gill membrane tinged with black (Ref. 27363).
Biology:  A rare (Ref. 5205) oceanic species.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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