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Haematological studies on Aethotaxis mitopteryx DeWitt, a high-Antarctic fish with a single haemoglobin

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Summary

The haematological parameters (haematocrit, erythrocyte number, haemoglobin concentration, MCHC, MCH, oxygen-carrying capacity, pH, p1/2, Φ, pCO2, pO2) of the Antarctic fish Aethotaxis mitopteryx DeWitt are reported. The erythrocyte number (0.39 × 1012/1) and the haemoglobin concentration (27.8 g/l) were found to be among the lowest values known for red-blooded Antarctic fishes. Among the species of the family Nototheniidae, this is the only one found so far to have a single haemoglobin in its blood. The results have been analysed in comparison with those of other Antarctic species, in an effort to establish correlations between the physiology of this pelagic-benthopelagic fish and its ecology. From the haematological parameters in this study and the functional properties of haemoglobin outlined in the following paper, it is suggested that A. mitopteryx has an extremely sluggish mode of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Polarökologie, Universität Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40-60, W-2300, Kiel, Germany

    Andreas Kunzmann

  2. Institute of Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology, C.N.R., Via Marconi 10, I-80125, Naples, Italy

    Angela Fago, Rossana D'Avino & Guido di Prisco

Authors
  1. Andreas Kunzmann
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  2. Angela Fago
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  3. Rossana D'Avino
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  4. Guido di Prisco
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Additional information

Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation

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Kunzmann, A., Fago, A., D'Avino, R. et al. Haematological studies on Aethotaxis mitopteryx DeWitt, a high-Antarctic fish with a single haemoglobin. Polar Biol 12, 141–145 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239975

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239975

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