The family Channichthyidae, commonly known as icefish, consists of fish species primarily found in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. These fish are unique because they lack hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood, which allows them to thrive in oxygen-rich, frigid environments. Icefish have adapted to their cold habitat with a special antifreeze protein that prevents their blood from freezing. They typically have a translucent body and can grow to various sizes, with some species reaching lengths of up to 1.5 meters. Their diet mainly consists of krill and other small marine organisms, contributing to the Antarctic ecosystem.