Ovarian morphology and early embryology of the pediculate fishes Antennarius and Histrio. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 114, article 4

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Date

1958

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Journal ISSN

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Publisher

New York : [American Museum of Natural History]

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Abstract

"The histo-morphology of the ovaries of the pediculates Histrio histrio, Antennarius scaber, and Ogcocephalus vespertilio is described. 2. The ovaries of all three species show similar characteristics: fusion of the two glands at their caudal ends, presence of ovigerous tissue on one side of the lumen only, and considerable quantities of smooth muscle in the walls. 3. The ovaries of Histrio and Antennarius consist of flattened sacs scrolled from the distal lateral tips ventrally towards the midline of fusion; the ovary of Ogcocephalus is scrolled along the longitudinal axis of each ovary, the long edges of the organ rolled ventrally. 4. The structure of the egg raft of Histrio is described. The mucoid material in which the ova are embedded is secreted by the epithelium lining the ovarian walls and covering the lamellae. At ovulation, the mucoid material is cast into the lumen along with the ova which have ruptured from the follicles. The form of the raft is a replica of the internal surfaces of the ovary. 5. Pores in the raft are formed by spaces caused by the junction of lamellae with the ovarian wall where no mucus-producing epithelium is present. When the raft is released, sea water enters the pores, presumably carrying sperm with it. Each ovum is then confined in its own mucoid-walled compartment, free to revolve in the sea water contained within the compartment. 6. The frequency of raft release by mature female Histrio was found to vary between once every three days and intervals of several weeks. 7. The explosive character of the release of the raft is discussed. The central portion of the raft, from the fused part of the ovary immediately above the oviduct, issues from the vent first, followed by the portion from one side of the ovary, followed in turn by the portion from the remaining side. The ovulation takes many hours to complete; the final release is affected by pressure of the mass within the ovary, contractions of the muscular ovarian wall, and contractions of the abdominal muscles. 8. A detailed description of the early embryology of Antennarius is given, with a short comparison with Histrio development. Development of these pelagic larvae shows several deviations from the classic pattern of vertebrate embryology. Up to the time of their death, nine days after having been spawned, the following features were noted to be lacking: vitelline circulation, hemoglobin and blood cells, and nephric tubules. No division of somites into somatopleure and splanchnopleure could be identified. No true proctodeum or stromadeum is developed, as there is no invagination of outside ectoderm in these areas. A simple slit appears in the outer covering. The yolk is absorbed by the liver. 9. The larvae possess large subdermal spaces and specialized structures in the outside ectoderm. The possible relationship of these structures to osmoregulatory functions is considered in the Discussion"--P. 369.

Description

p. 331-371 [28] p. of plates : ill. ; 27 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 370-371).

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