The physiological and genetical adaptation of fishes to environmental temperatures has been studied by analyzing data concerning: (i) the oxygen binding properties of haemoglobin recorded during growth experiments on Atlantic cod, and (ii) the primary structure of haemoglobin (Hb) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of several fish species living in polar and temperate areas. The results on the oxygen binding properties of cod's haemoglobin indicate that for this species a temperature of around 12°C is the most favourable one, irrespective of the haemoglobin genotype, and are in line with recent evidence challenging the existence of significant evolutionary differences between cod stocks in North Atlantic. The primary structures of both Hb and LDH from species living under temperate environments show a higher variability as compared to that from polar species, although the difference in the recurrent patterns of hydrophobicity between the two areas is much larger for Hb. These results highlight the dominant role of physiological and genetical factors in shaping the adaptation to temperature at the individual and at the species level, respectively. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.