Journal
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
Volume 252, Issue 5, Pages 553-588Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.551
Keywords
bone; cartilage; development; morphology; pipefish; seahorse; teleost
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study provides a comprehensive description of the development of three syngnathid fish species and explores the origins and evolution of their body morphology. The results suggest that the convergent phenotypes in pipefishes and seahorses may have different ontogenetic means, and the characteristic features of seahorse body plan could result from developmental truncation.
BackgroundSyngnathids are a highly derived and diverse fish clade comprising the pipefishes, pipe-horses, and seahorses. They are characterized by a plethora of iconic traits that increasingly capture the attention of biologists, including geneticists, ecologists, and developmental biologists. The current understanding of the origins of their derived body plan is, however, hampered by incomplete and limited descriptions of the early syngnathid ontogeny. ResultsWe provide a comprehensive description of the development of Nerophis ophidion, Syngnathus typhle, and Hippocampus erectus from early cleavage stages to release from the male brooding organ and beyond, including juvenile development. We comparatively describe skeletogenesis with a particular focus on dermal bony plates, the snout-like jaw morphology, and appendages. ConclusionsThis most comprehensive and detailed account of syngnathid development to date suggests that convergent phenotypes (e.g., reduction and loss of the caudal fins), likely arose by distinct ontogenetic means in pipefishes and seahorses. Comparison of the ontogenetic trajectories of S. typhle and H. erectus provides indications that characteristic features of the seahorse body plan result from developmental truncation. Altogether, this work provides a valuable resource and framework for future research to understand the evolution of the outlandish syngnathid morphology from a developmental perspective.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available