Scientists drilled into an iceberg off the coast of Greenland and found a fish beneath it with glowing green antifreeze flowing through its veins. A study by scientists has shown that young pied snail fish (Liparis gibbus) contain the "

Just as antifreeze helps regulate car engine temperatures in extreme conditions, some species have evolved similar protection.. This is especially true for those who live in cold conditions similar to the icy waters of Greenland..

[see_also ids\u003d"

“Antifreeze proteins stick to the surface of smaller ice crystals and slow or prevent them from turning into larger, more dangerous ice crystals.. Fish from both the North and South Poles independently developed these proteins,” said study co-author David Gruber..

Antifreeze proteins were first discovered in some Antarctic fish 50 years ago.. Unlike some cold-blooded reptiles and insects, fish cannot survive if their bodily fluids freeze.. This can lead to the formation of ice grains in their cells and, in fact, turn the fish into ice cream..

The scientists note that the fact that similar proteins evolved independently in unrelated fish indicates how important they are for the survival of these creatures..

The tiny tadpole-like creature was discovered by scientists in 2019 while investigating the diversity of water creatures near icebergs clustered off the coast of Greenland.. The discovery of a glowing green and red snail fish surprised scientists.

“The snail was one of the few fish species that lived among icebergs, in crevices. It is amazing that such a tiny fish could live in such an extremely cold environment without freezing,” said Gruber..

Arctic fish also rarely exhibit biofluorescence, that is, the ability to convert blue light into green, red, or yellow light, as there are long periods of darkness at the poles, especially in winter..

This ability is usually found in fish that live in warmer waters.. This is the first known case of an Arctic fish exhibiting this ability..

The researchers further examined the biofluorescent properties of the snailfish and found " This adaptation helps these creatures avoid becoming frozen "

High levels of antifreeze production help fish adapt to sub-zero ambient temperatures. But this ability also raises the question of how these fish can survive in a warmer ocean that is rising due to global warming..