Recent origin of sub-Antarctic notothenioids

Abstract

Comparison of partial mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA sequences from non-Antarctic notothenioid fishes – an icefish Champsocephalus esox and two members of the genus Patagonotothen – and their sister species from the Southern Ocean suggests that their divergence took place 1.7 and 6.6–7 million years ago, respectively, i.e. much later than the formation of the Antarctic Polar Front (20–25 million years ago).