Antarctic ice fish have evolved to thrive in extreme cold conditions, making them more abundant around the continent than any other fish species. These creatures have a set of anti-freezing proteins that allow them to survive in icy waters up to three kilometers deep. However, researchers from Canada and the United States have discovered that these fish have undergone mutations in their visual pigment, enhancing their ability to see in cold and icy conditions.
These mutations improve light reception, particularly in the red shades that are most common under the thick ice cover. However, warming temperatures are affecting their vision as their purple eyes become unstable and struggle to adapt to changing light conditions. As sea ice shrinks and light penetrates deeper into the water, ice fish may face challenges in their visual perception. While they can swim up to a kilometer in clear open water, under thick ice their vision is limited to only 30-60 meters. These changes in their environment and visual capabilities due to warming temperatures may impact the survival and behavior of these creatures in the future.
