Two white-blooded fish, two paths: Icefish and noodlefish independently lose red blood cell function

Antarctic icefish are famous for living without red blood cells, but they are not alone. A species of needle-shaped warm-water fish called Asian noodlefish also lacks hemoglobin and red blood cells. Like the icefish, its veins are filled with translucent white blood, said H. William Detrich, professor emeritus of marine and environmental sciences, who collaborated with Chinese scientists on a paper on these strange aquatic creatures published in Current Biology.