Development of sensory organs and changes of behavior in larvae of the sutchi catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Abstract Larvae of the sutchi catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus hatch with morphologically immature features, but sensory organs develop rapidly as the fish grow. By 1 day old, yolk-sac larvae showed notochord flexion, and by 2 days old larvae were observed to have consumed a large part of th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Tokyo
2010
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/2093/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/2093/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/2093/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/2093/1/2010_fisheries_science_sensory_organs.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract Larvae of the sutchi catfish Pangasianodon
hypophthalmus hatch with morphologically immature features,
but sensory organs develop rapidly as the fish grow.
By 1 day old, yolk-sac larvae showed notochord flexion,
and by 2 days old larvae were observed to have consumed
a large part of the yolk sac. At this stage, larvae had welldeveloped eyes, olfactory organs with ciliated receptor
cells, inner ears with semicircular canals, and numerous
taste buds, and they commenced ingestion of rotifers,
Artemia nauplii, and artificial compound feed. Two-dayold
larvae had many free neuromasts on the surface of the
head and flanks and clearly showed rheotaxis. By 20 days
old, free neuromasts in postflexion larvae had sunk under
the skin. At this later stage, larvae swam against a water
current and schooled along the side of the fish tank. Rapid
development of sensory organs and notochord flexion
would be an adaptation for survival in conditions of
flowing water, as in the Mekong River. In this study, we
show that development of the lateral line in the postflexion
stage seems to be closely related to larval behavior,
suggesting that these developments could be essential for
sutchi catfish larvae survival. |
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