ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
We used X-rays and dissection of myotomes to quantify the axial morphology of four species of centrarchid fishes (Micropterus salmoides, Ambloplites rupestris, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and Lepomis macrochirus). Proceeding from dorsal to ventral, we designated the two epaxial and two hypaxial protions of the myomeres AB, BC, CD, and DE, respectively. For each of 11 myomeres, spaced at 10% increments along the length of the fish, a total of 14 variables described the length and orientation of each portion, the dorsalventral symmetry, and the overall height and longitudinal span of the entire myomere. Nine variables described the lengths, orientation, and symmetry of the vertebral centra, neural and hemal spines, and ribs. Analysis of variance revealed that, with one exception, all 23 morphological variables varied significantly both among species and among longitudinal locations within a species. However, the extent of longitudinal and interspecific variance differed considerably among different variables. Maximal myomeric height ranged from about 45% of the standard length (SL) in Lepomis to 27% SL in Micropterus. Longitudinal and interspecific increases in overall height of the trunk myomeres resulted primarily from greater lengths of CD. Compared to other portions of the myomere, the length of BC was most conservative both longitudinally and interspecifically. Dorsal-ventral symmetry of the myomeres and axial skeleton was greater in the caudal region than in the trunk in all species, and the myomeric morphology diverged least among species in the posterior caudal region. The overall longitudinal span of superficial myomeric landmarks varied from 6% to 18% SL, and, including the deep portions of the myomeres, the longitudinal span varied from about 7 to 10 vertebrae. Within each of the species, myomeric and skeletal variables were often not significantly correlated, but for the pooled data of all species there were usually highly significant correlations between myomeric and skeletal morphology. For example, strong correlations existed between BC and the underlying neural spines, and between CD and the underlying ribs and hemal spines. In contrast, the longitudinal spans of entire myomeres and underlying axial skeletal segments were only weakly associated. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
14 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052200207
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