Scale morphological variation across the flank in four Tonguefishes species collected from the Gulf of Oman (Pleuronectiforms; Cynoglossidae)
Abstract The scale morphology of pleuronectiforms in the Gulf of Oman remains insufficiently known. This study used light microscopy and morphological analysis to examine scale variation across the flank of four Tonguefishes species; Cynoglossus arel , C. bilineatus, C. lingua, and C. puncticeps . S...
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Published in | Acta zoologica (Stockholm) Vol. 104; no. 4; pp. 586 - 607 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.10.2023
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Abstract
The scale morphology of pleuronectiforms in the Gulf of Oman remains insufficiently known. This study used light microscopy and morphological analysis to examine scale variation across the flank of four Tonguefishes species;
Cynoglossus arel
,
C. bilineatus, C. lingua,
and
C. puncticeps
. Scales were extracted from six flank regions, three on the eyed and blind sides, respectively. The most differentiated species was
C. arel
, which showed significant differences in four size variables in five regions. In
Cynoglossus arel
and
C. lingua
, the scales of the eyed side were ctenoid, and those scales from the blind side were cycloid;
C. puncticeps
have ctenoid scales on both flank sides and
C. bilineatus
has cycloid scales on both sides. All species' scales on the blind side have fewer ctenial spines (except in
C. bilineatus
). This study indicated that scale morphology demonstrated considerable variation among the flank regions of the examined species. As a result, the scales from the head and the trunk regions of the eyed side and the scales from the head region of the blind side have a good power of species separation in this family. |
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ISSN: | 0001-7272 1463-6395 |
DOI: | 10.1111/azo.12443 |