A histochemical study of the swimming musculature of Antarctic fish

Abstract

The swimming musculature of three species of Antarctic nototheniid fish and one Antarctic zoarcid species was studied histochemically. Three fibre types were present in the myotomes of all fish examined. White fibres were extremely large (mean diameters up to 230 µ). Pectoral fin muscles (adductor) from the nototheniid fish were composed of oxidative fibres used for slow speed swimming. Differences between species is related to the way of life of each species.

Keywords:

• histochemical
• musculature
• Antarctica
• muscle fibres
• myotomes
• nototheniids
• zoarcids