Latin name

Champsocephalus esox

Other name

Champsocephalus esox

Identification

The species was given its Latin name because of its resemblance to the common pike (Esox lucius).

The body is short (12-13% of standard body length), pronotal. The rostral spike at the tip of the snout is absent. The tip of the lower jaw is on the same vertical line as the tip of the upper jaw. The head is relatively low, its height clearly less than the length of the snout. The muzzle is long, 34-48% of the length of the head. The mouth is large, the posterior edge of the upper jaw reaching the level of the anterior third of the orbit or the centre of the pupil. The eye is small, the diameter of the orbit is 13-14% of the length of the head. The interorbital space is moderately wide (16-26% of head length). The outer edges of the frontal bones above the eyes are smooth, without crenulation (not serrated) and not raised. The lower part of the first gill arch has 10-18 gill stamens; the total number of vertebrae is 57-60, including 27-29 trunk vertebrae and 29-31 caudal vertebrae. The body has two lateral lines (dorsal and medial) without bony segments. 

Features of fish fins

The first dorsal fin has 9-10 flexible barb rays, the second dorsal fin has 32-37 membered rays, the anal fin has 31-35 membered rays and the pectoral fin has 22-24 rays.

The pelvic fins are moderately long, with the middle rays being the largest (16-20% of standard body length) and not reaching the beginning of the base of the anal fin. Both dorsal fins are low and barely separated by a very narrow interdorsal space. The caudal fin is notched.

Fish colouring

The entire body is whitish with indistinct vertical brown stripes (sometimes discontinuous) along the sides of the body. Dorsal fins brown, anal fin grey with a whitish border along the outer edge. Pectoral fins yellowish brown. Pelvic fins pale in proximal part and yellow-brown in posterior half. Caudal fin dark brown.

Distribution

The area is characterised as periantarctic, notal, Falkland-Patagonian. It is distributed at the periphery of Antarctica in the temperate zone in the Falkland-Patagonian region (Falkland Islands and Argentine Patagonia) and in the Strait of Magellan, and occasionally occurs in the area of South Georgia Island. It is virtually absent south of the Antarctic Convergence Zone, except for a few cases of the species around South Georgia Island. 

Habitat

Bottom dwelling, temperate species. It is found at depths of 50-250m.

Size

Medium sized fish. The largest known standard length is 35cm. Maximum published weight is 270.00g.

Behavior

Adopts a gregarious benthic-pelagic lifestyle. Unlike the mackerel icefish, it does not form aggregations.

Food and feeding habits

Predator, predominantly ichthyophagous in its main range. Fish caught around South Georgia have only Antarctic krill in their stomachs.

Reproduction

There is no information on the reproduction of this species.

Fishing

Commercial species.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.