The genus Sinocyclocheilus (golden-line barbel) includes 25species of cave-dwelling blind fish (cavefish)and more than 30 surface-dwelling species with normal vision.Cave environments are dark and generally nutrient-p...The genus Sinocyclocheilus (golden-line barbel) includes 25species of cave-dwelling blind fish (cavefish)and more than 30 surface-dwelling species with normal vision.Cave environments are dark and generally nutrient-poor with few predators.Cavefish of several genera evolved convergent morphological adaptations in visual,pigmentation,brain,olfactory,and digestive systems. We compared brain morphology and gene expression patterns in a cavefish Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus with those of a closely related surface-dwelling species S.angustiporus.Results showed that cavefish have a longer olfactory tract and a much smaller optic tectum than surface fish.Transcriptomics by RNA-seq revealed that many genes upregulated in cavefish are related to lysosomes and the degradation and metabolism of proteins,amino acids,and lipids.Genes down- regulated in cavefish tended to involve "activation of gene expression in cholesterol biosynthesis" and cholesterol degradation in the brain.Genes encoding Srebfs (sterol regulatory element- binding transcription factors)and Srebf targets,including enzymes in cholesterol synthesis,were downregulated in cavefish brains compared with surface fish brains.The gene encoding Cyp46a1, which eliminates cholesterol from the brain,was also downregulated in cavefish brains,while the total level of cholesterol in the brain remained unchanged.Cavefish brains misexpressed several genes encoding proteins in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis,including Trh,Sst,Crh,Pomc,and Mc4r.These results suggest that the rate of lipid biosynthesis and breakdown may both be depressed in golden-line cavefish brains but that the lysosome recycling rate may be increased in cavefish;properties that might be related to differences in nutrient availability in caves.展开更多
Eye degeneration is a common troglomorphic character of cave-dwelling organisms. Comparing the morphology and molecular biology of cave species and their close surface relatives is a powerful tool for studying regress...Eye degeneration is a common troglomorphic character of cave-dwelling organisms. Comparing the morphology and molecular biology of cave species and their close surface relatives is a powerful tool for studying regressive eye evolution and other adaptive phenotypes. We compared two co-occurring and closely-related species of the fish genus Sinocyclocheilus, which is endemic to China and includes both surface- and cave-dwelling species. Sinocyclocheilus tileihornes, a cave species, had smaller eyes than Sinocyclocheilus angustiporus, a surface species. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the cave- fish had shorter cones and more disorderly rods than did the surface-dwelling species. Using quantitative PCR and in situ hybri- dization, we found that rhodopsin and a long-wavelength sensitive opsin had significantly lower expression levels in the cavefish. Furthermore, one of two short-wavelength-sensitive opsins was expressed at significantly higher levels in the cavefish. Changes in the expression ofopsin genes may have played a role in the degeneration of cavefish eyes [Current Zoology 59 （2）： 170-174, 2013].展开更多
Cave animals are an excellent model system for studying adaptive evolution.At present,however,little is known about the mechanisms that enable surface colonizers to survive in the challenging environment of caves.One ...Cave animals are an excellent model system for studying adaptive evolution.At present,however,little is known about the mechanisms that enable surface colonizers to survive in the challenging environment of caves.One possibility is that these species have the necessary genetic background to respond with plastic changes to the pressures of underground habitats.To gain insight into this process,we conducted a comparative study with the fish species Telestes karsticus,which occurs in a hydrological system consisting of an interconnected stream and a cave.Results showed that T.karsticus resided year-round and spawned in Sušik cave,making it the first known cavefish in the Dinaric Karst.Cave and surface populations differed in morphological and physiological characteristics,as well as in patterns of gene expression without any evidence of genetic divergence.To test whether observed trait differences were plastic or genetic,we placed adult fish from both populations under light/dark or constant dark conditions.Common laboratory conditions erased all morphometric differences between the two morphs,suggesting phenotypic plasticity is driving the divergence of shape and size in wild fish.Lighter pigmentation and increased fat deposition exhibited by cave individuals were also observed in surface fish kept in the dark in the laboratory.Our study also revealed that specialized cave traits were not solely attributed to developmental plasticity,but also arose from adult responses,including acclimatization.Thus,we conclude that T.karsticus can adapt to cave conditions,with phenotypic plasticity playing an important role in the process of cave colonization.展开更多
The stress response is essential for animal self-defense and survival. However, species may exhibit stress response variation depending on their specific environmental and selection pressures. Blind cavefish dwell in ...The stress response is essential for animal self-defense and survival. However, species may exhibit stress response variation depending on their specific environmental and selection pressures. Blind cavefish dwell in cave environments, which differ markedly in stressors and resource availability compared to surface aquatic environments. However, whether blind cavefish exhibit differences in stress response as an adaptation to their cave environments remains unclear. Here, we investigated differences in stress response in six closely related Triplophysa species, including three blind cavefish (T. longibarbata, T. jiarongensis, and T. rosa) and three normal-sighted river fish (T. nasobarbatula, T. dongsaiensis, and T. bleekeri). Results showed that blind cavefish exhibited a range of distinct behavioral responses compared to sighted river fish, including greater levels of activity, shorter duration of freezing, absence of erratic movements or thrashing behavior, and opposite behavioral trends over time. Furthermore, the cavefish species demonstrated attenuated increases in metabolic rate in response to stressors related to novel environments. Cave-dwelling T. rosa also exhibited lower basal hypothalamic-pituitary-inter-renal (HPI) axis-related gene expression levels and stress hormone concentrations compared to river-dwelling T. bleekeri. These results suggest that blind cavefish may have lost their behavioral stress response, potentially mediated by a reduction in basal activity of the HPI axis, thus enabling the conservation of energy by reducing unnecessary expenditure in energy-limited caves.展开更多
The sizes of Astyanax mexicanus blind cavefish populations of North-East Mexico are demographic parameters of great importance for investigating a variety of ecological,evolutionary,and conservation issues.However,few...The sizes of Astyanax mexicanus blind cavefish populations of North-East Mexico are demographic parameters of great importance for investigating a variety of ecological,evolutionary,and conservation issues.However,few estimates have been obtained.For these mobile animals living in an environment difficult to explore as a whole,methods based on capture-mark-recapture are appropriate,but their feasibility and interpretation of results depend on several assumptions that must be carefully examined.Here,we provide evidence that minimally invasive genetic identification from captures at different time intervals(three days and three years)can give insights into cavefish population size dynamics as well as other important demographic parameters of interest.We also provide tools to calibrate sampling and genotyping efforts necessary to reach a given level of precision.Our results suggest that the El Pachón cave population is currently very small,of an order of magnitude of a few hundreds of individuals,and is distributed in a relatively isolated area.The probable decline in population size in the El Pachón cave since the last census in 1971 raises serious conservation issues.展开更多
In this study,the lateral line systems in Chinese cavefish eyeless Sinocyclocheilus tianlinensis and eyed Sinocyclocheilus macrophthalmus were investigated to reveal their morphological changes to survive in harsh env...In this study,the lateral line systems in Chinese cavefish eyeless Sinocyclocheilus tianlinensis and eyed Sinocyclocheilus macrophthalmus were investigated to reveal their morphological changes to survive in harsh environments.Compared with the eyed cavefish S.macrophthalmus(atypical),the lateral line system in the eyeless cave-fish S.tianlinensis(typical)has certain features to adapt to the dark cave environments:the superficial lateral line system in the eyeless species possesses a higher number of superficial neuromasts and more hair cells within an individual neuromast,and the trunk lateral line canal system in S.tianlinensis exhibits larger canal pores,higher canal diameter and more pronounced constrictions.Fluid–structure interaction analysis suggested that the trunk lateral line canal system in the eyeless S.tianlinensis should be more sensitive than that in the eyed S.macrophthalmus.These morphological features of the lateral line system in the eyeless S.tianlinensis probably enhance the functioning of the lateral line system and compensate for the lack of eyes.The revelation of the form–function relationship in the cavefish lateral line system provides inspiration for the design of sensitive artificial flow sensors.展开更多
The adaptive evolution of visual systems has been observed in many cavefish.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations,which include regressive changes such as eye degeneration...The adaptive evolution of visual systems has been observed in many cavefish.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations,which include regressive changes such as eye degeneration.Here,we analyzed phylogenetic and expression patterns of 6 eye-related genes(crx,foxg1b,opn1sw2,otx2,rho and sox2)in 12 Sinocyclocheilus species from China,including 8 stygobionts and 4 stygophiles,and examined photoreceptor cell morphology of these species.Those eye-degenerated species of Sinocyclocheilus were polyphyletic and showed different degrees of photoreceptor defects in responses to cave environments.The eye loss and degeneration are the result of convergent evolution.Although S.anophthalmus grouped with the eye-normal species,it displayed not only a high degree of eye degeneration but also significant expression differences in eyerelated genes compared with the eye-normal species.The gene foxg1b,which was determined to be under positive selection,might play an important role in the process of eye degeneration in S.anophthalmus based on differential expression.Eye-related gene expression and selection may have contributed to the polyphyly of the cave species.We examined gene expression and duplication in 6 eye-related genes and revealed that these genes displayed considerable diversity in relative expression in Sinocyclocheilus fishes.Otx2 and sox2 were significantly up-regulated in individual cave species,while the other 4 genes(crx,foxg1b,opn1sw2 and rho)were significantly down-regulated.These findings provide a valuable resource for elucidating molecular mechanisms associated with visual system evolution in cavefish.展开更多
Changes in gene expression were examined by microarray analysis during development of the eyed surface dwelling(surface fish)and blind cave-dwelling(cavefish)forms of the teleost Astyanax mexicanus De Filippi,1853.The...Changes in gene expression were examined by microarray analysis during development of the eyed surface dwelling(surface fish)and blind cave-dwelling(cavefish)forms of the teleost Astyanax mexicanus De Filippi,1853.The cross-species microarray used surface and cavefish RNA hybridized to a DNA chip prepared from a closely related species,the zebrafish Danio rerio Hamilton,1822.We identified a total of 67 differentially ex-pressed probe sets at three days post-fertilization:six upregulated and 61 downregulated in cavefish relative to surface fish.Many of these genes function either in eye development and/or maintenance,or in programmed cell death.The upregulated probe set showing the highest mean fold change was similar to the human ubiquitin specific protease 53 gene.The downregulated probe sets showing some of the highest fold changes corresponded to genes with roles in eye development,including those encoding gamma crystallins,the guanine nucleotide binding pro-teins Gnat1 and Gant2,a BarH-like homeodomain transcription factor,and rhodopsin.Downregulation of gam-ma-crystallin and rhodopsin was confirmed by in situ hybridization and immunostaining with specific antibodies.Additional downregulated genes encode molecules that inhibit or activate programmed cell death.The results suggest that cross-species microarray can be used for identifying differentially expressed genes in cavefish,that many of these genes might be involved in eye degeneration via apoptotic processes,and that more genes are downregulated than upregulated in cavefish,consistent with the predominance of morphological losses over gains during regressive evolution.展开更多
Sinocyclocheilus is a cave-dwelling cyprinid genus endemic to southwest China. Several species possess a conspicuous horn on their head, which has been suggested as a constructive troglomorphic trait but lacks substan...Sinocyclocheilus is a cave-dwelling cyprinid genus endemic to southwest China. Several species possess a conspicuous horn on their head, which has been suggested as a constructive troglomorphic trait but lacks substantial evidence. We used non- invasive, high spatial resolution synchrotron X-ray microtomography to investigate the three-dimensional （3D） morphology of the horn of Sinocyclocheilus hyalinus, one of eight such troglobiotic species. 3D renderings demonstrated the osteological components, which were comprised of a rear wall comprised of the supraoccipital bone, a remaining frontal wall with numerous fenestrae, and the bottom continuous with the parietal and epiotic. A horn cavity occurred within the horn. The fenestrae in the frontal wall were continuous in the horn cavity and showed elaborate channeling, and were, connected to the cranial cavity by soft tissue. We tentatively called this configuration the ＂otocornual connection＂ due to its anatomic and putative functional similarity to the otolateralic connection in clupeids and loricariids, which provide an indirect pathway to enhance perception of underwater sound signals. This study provides a functional morphology context for further histological and physiological investigations of such horn structures in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish, and we suggest that the horn might enhance acoustic perception to compensate for visual loss in subterranean life, which warrants future physiological examination as lab-reared S. hyalinus become available.展开更多
阿庐金线鲃(Sinocyclocheilus aluensis Li et Xiao,2005)曾为狭孔金线鲃(S.angustiporus Zheng et Xie,1985)的同物异名。该文在比对采自云南泸西县城郊龙潭的金线鲃标本和狭孔金线鲃模式标本后发现,两者间存在明显且稳定的形态差异,因...阿庐金线鲃(Sinocyclocheilus aluensis Li et Xiao,2005)曾为狭孔金线鲃(S.angustiporus Zheng et Xie,1985)的同物异名。该文在比对采自云南泸西县城郊龙潭的金线鲃标本和狭孔金线鲃模式标本后发现,两者间存在明显且稳定的形态差异,因此,阿庐金线鲃应为有效种。阿庐金线鲃背鳍起点位于腹鳍起点垂直线之后,可与狭孔金线鲃(背鳍起点与腹鳍起点正相对或稍前)相区别,且前者眼径及眼球径较小,而眼间距较宽(阿庐金线鲃分别为头长的22.4%～29.7%、16.0%～23.6%及21.0%～32.3%,狭孔金线鲃分别为头长的26.4%～38.9%、21.3%～29.0%及19.7%～22.6%)。展开更多
基金financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China NSFC31372191(F.W.M.),NSFC31471961 (Y.H.Z.) NIH grants NIH R01 OD011116(J.H.P.) R24RR032670 (J.H.P.).
文摘The genus Sinocyclocheilus (golden-line barbel) includes 25species of cave-dwelling blind fish (cavefish)and more than 30 surface-dwelling species with normal vision.Cave environments are dark and generally nutrient-poor with few predators.Cavefish of several genera evolved convergent morphological adaptations in visual,pigmentation,brain,olfactory,and digestive systems. We compared brain morphology and gene expression patterns in a cavefish Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus with those of a closely related surface-dwelling species S.angustiporus.Results showed that cavefish have a longer olfactory tract and a much smaller optic tectum than surface fish.Transcriptomics by RNA-seq revealed that many genes upregulated in cavefish are related to lysosomes and the degradation and metabolism of proteins,amino acids,and lipids.Genes down- regulated in cavefish tended to involve "activation of gene expression in cholesterol biosynthesis" and cholesterol degradation in the brain.Genes encoding Srebfs (sterol regulatory element- binding transcription factors)and Srebf targets,including enzymes in cholesterol synthesis,were downregulated in cavefish brains compared with surface fish brains.The gene encoding Cyp46a1, which eliminates cholesterol from the brain,was also downregulated in cavefish brains,while the total level of cholesterol in the brain remained unchanged.Cavefish brains misexpressed several genes encoding proteins in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis,including Trh,Sst,Crh,Pomc,and Mc4r.These results suggest that the rate of lipid biosynthesis and breakdown may both be depressed in golden-line cavefish brains but that the lysosome recycling rate may be increased in cavefish;properties that might be related to differences in nutrient availability in caves.
文摘Eye degeneration is a common troglomorphic character of cave-dwelling organisms. Comparing the morphology and molecular biology of cave species and their close surface relatives is a powerful tool for studying regressive eye evolution and other adaptive phenotypes. We compared two co-occurring and closely-related species of the fish genus Sinocyclocheilus, which is endemic to China and includes both surface- and cave-dwelling species. Sinocyclocheilus tileihornes, a cave species, had smaller eyes than Sinocyclocheilus angustiporus, a surface species. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the cave- fish had shorter cones and more disorderly rods than did the surface-dwelling species. Using quantitative PCR and in situ hybri- dization, we found that rhodopsin and a long-wavelength sensitive opsin had significantly lower expression levels in the cavefish. Furthermore, one of two short-wavelength-sensitive opsins was expressed at significantly higher levels in the cavefish. Changes in the expression ofopsin genes may have played a role in the degeneration of cavefish eyes [Current Zoology 59 （2）： 170-174, 2013].
基金supported by the Tenure Track Pilot Programme of the Croatian Science FoundationEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Project TTP-2018-07-9675 Evolution in the Dark,with funds from the Croatian-Swiss Research Programme
文摘Cave animals are an excellent model system for studying adaptive evolution.At present,however,little is known about the mechanisms that enable surface colonizers to survive in the challenging environment of caves.One possibility is that these species have the necessary genetic background to respond with plastic changes to the pressures of underground habitats.To gain insight into this process,we conducted a comparative study with the fish species Telestes karsticus,which occurs in a hydrological system consisting of an interconnected stream and a cave.Results showed that T.karsticus resided year-round and spawned in Sušik cave,making it the first known cavefish in the Dinaric Karst.Cave and surface populations differed in morphological and physiological characteristics,as well as in patterns of gene expression without any evidence of genetic divergence.To test whether observed trait differences were plastic or genetic,we placed adult fish from both populations under light/dark or constant dark conditions.Common laboratory conditions erased all morphometric differences between the two morphs,suggesting phenotypic plasticity is driving the divergence of shape and size in wild fish.Lighter pigmentation and increased fat deposition exhibited by cave individuals were also observed in surface fish kept in the dark in the laboratory.Our study also revealed that specialized cave traits were not solely attributed to developmental plasticity,but also arose from adult responses,including acclimatization.Thus,we conclude that T.karsticus can adapt to cave conditions,with phenotypic plasticity playing an important role in the process of cave colonization.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32070438)。
文摘The stress response is essential for animal self-defense and survival. However, species may exhibit stress response variation depending on their specific environmental and selection pressures. Blind cavefish dwell in cave environments, which differ markedly in stressors and resource availability compared to surface aquatic environments. However, whether blind cavefish exhibit differences in stress response as an adaptation to their cave environments remains unclear. Here, we investigated differences in stress response in six closely related Triplophysa species, including three blind cavefish (T. longibarbata, T. jiarongensis, and T. rosa) and three normal-sighted river fish (T. nasobarbatula, T. dongsaiensis, and T. bleekeri). Results showed that blind cavefish exhibited a range of distinct behavioral responses compared to sighted river fish, including greater levels of activity, shorter duration of freezing, absence of erratic movements or thrashing behavior, and opposite behavioral trends over time. Furthermore, the cavefish species demonstrated attenuated increases in metabolic rate in response to stressors related to novel environments. Cave-dwelling T. rosa also exhibited lower basal hypothalamic-pituitary-inter-renal (HPI) axis-related gene expression levels and stress hormone concentrations compared to river-dwelling T. bleekeri. These results suggest that blind cavefish may have lost their behavioral stress response, potentially mediated by a reduction in basal activity of the HPI axis, thus enabling the conservation of energy by reducing unnecessary expenditure in energy-limited caves.
基金supported by a CNRS MITI (Mission pour les Initiatives Transverses et Interdisciplinaires) grant “Expérimentation en Milieux Extrêmes” to S.R.collaborative grants from Agence Nationale de la Recherche (BLINDTEST)Institut Diversité Ecologie et Evolution du Vivant to S.R. and D.C
文摘The sizes of Astyanax mexicanus blind cavefish populations of North-East Mexico are demographic parameters of great importance for investigating a variety of ecological,evolutionary,and conservation issues.However,few estimates have been obtained.For these mobile animals living in an environment difficult to explore as a whole,methods based on capture-mark-recapture are appropriate,but their feasibility and interpretation of results depend on several assumptions that must be carefully examined.Here,we provide evidence that minimally invasive genetic identification from captures at different time intervals(three days and three years)can give insights into cavefish population size dynamics as well as other important demographic parameters of interest.We also provide tools to calibrate sampling and genotyping efforts necessary to reach a given level of precision.Our results suggest that the El Pachón cave population is currently very small,of an order of magnitude of a few hundreds of individuals,and is distributed in a relatively isolated area.The probable decline in population size in the El Pachón cave since the last census in 1971 raises serious conservation issues.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos.51575027,51975030 and 31972868)the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(No.3152017)the Academic Excellence Foundation of BUAA for PhD Students,and partly supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘In this study,the lateral line systems in Chinese cavefish eyeless Sinocyclocheilus tianlinensis and eyed Sinocyclocheilus macrophthalmus were investigated to reveal their morphological changes to survive in harsh environments.Compared with the eyed cavefish S.macrophthalmus(atypical),the lateral line system in the eyeless cave-fish S.tianlinensis(typical)has certain features to adapt to the dark cave environments:the superficial lateral line system in the eyeless species possesses a higher number of superficial neuromasts and more hair cells within an individual neuromast,and the trunk lateral line canal system in S.tianlinensis exhibits larger canal pores,higher canal diameter and more pronounced constrictions.Fluid–structure interaction analysis suggested that the trunk lateral line canal system in the eyeless S.tianlinensis should be more sensitive than that in the eyed S.macrophthalmus.These morphological features of the lateral line system in the eyeless S.tianlinensis probably enhance the functioning of the lateral line system and compensate for the lack of eyes.The revelation of the form–function relationship in the cavefish lateral line system provides inspiration for the design of sensitive artificial flow sensors.
基金This work was financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China:NSFC31872218(FWM),NSFC31972868(YHZ)NSFC31372191(FWM),and NSFC31270419(ZSH)+1 种基金Funding agencies had no role in the design,collection,analysis,and interpretation of datain the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication。
文摘The adaptive evolution of visual systems has been observed in many cavefish.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations,which include regressive changes such as eye degeneration.Here,we analyzed phylogenetic and expression patterns of 6 eye-related genes(crx,foxg1b,opn1sw2,otx2,rho and sox2)in 12 Sinocyclocheilus species from China,including 8 stygobionts and 4 stygophiles,and examined photoreceptor cell morphology of these species.Those eye-degenerated species of Sinocyclocheilus were polyphyletic and showed different degrees of photoreceptor defects in responses to cave environments.The eye loss and degeneration are the result of convergent evolution.Although S.anophthalmus grouped with the eye-normal species,it displayed not only a high degree of eye degeneration but also significant expression differences in eyerelated genes compared with the eye-normal species.The gene foxg1b,which was determined to be under positive selection,might play an important role in the process of eye degeneration in S.anophthalmus based on differential expression.Eye-related gene expression and selection may have contributed to the polyphyly of the cave species.We examined gene expression and duplication in 6 eye-related genes and revealed that these genes displayed considerable diversity in relative expression in Sinocyclocheilus fishes.Otx2 and sox2 were significantly up-regulated in individual cave species,while the other 4 genes(crx,foxg1b,opn1sw2 and rho)were significantly down-regulated.These findings provide a valuable resource for elucidating molecular mechanisms associated with visual system evolution in cavefish.
基金supported by grants from the National Insitute of Health(EY-014619)the National Science Foun-dation(IBN-052384).
文摘Changes in gene expression were examined by microarray analysis during development of the eyed surface dwelling(surface fish)and blind cave-dwelling(cavefish)forms of the teleost Astyanax mexicanus De Filippi,1853.The cross-species microarray used surface and cavefish RNA hybridized to a DNA chip prepared from a closely related species,the zebrafish Danio rerio Hamilton,1822.We identified a total of 67 differentially ex-pressed probe sets at three days post-fertilization:six upregulated and 61 downregulated in cavefish relative to surface fish.Many of these genes function either in eye development and/or maintenance,or in programmed cell death.The upregulated probe set showing the highest mean fold change was similar to the human ubiquitin specific protease 53 gene.The downregulated probe sets showing some of the highest fold changes corresponded to genes with roles in eye development,including those encoding gamma crystallins,the guanine nucleotide binding pro-teins Gnat1 and Gant2,a BarH-like homeodomain transcription factor,and rhodopsin.Downregulation of gam-ma-crystallin and rhodopsin was confirmed by in situ hybridization and immunostaining with specific antibodies.Additional downregulated genes encode molecules that inhibit or activate programmed cell death.The results suggest that cross-species microarray can be used for identifying differentially expressed genes in cavefish,that many of these genes might be involved in eye degeneration via apoptotic processes,and that more genes are downregulated than upregulated in cavefish,consistent with the predominance of morphological losses over gains during regressive evolution.
基金supported by the fund of State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution(GREKF13-06)
文摘Sinocyclocheilus is a cave-dwelling cyprinid genus endemic to southwest China. Several species possess a conspicuous horn on their head, which has been suggested as a constructive troglomorphic trait but lacks substantial evidence. We used non- invasive, high spatial resolution synchrotron X-ray microtomography to investigate the three-dimensional （3D） morphology of the horn of Sinocyclocheilus hyalinus, one of eight such troglobiotic species. 3D renderings demonstrated the osteological components, which were comprised of a rear wall comprised of the supraoccipital bone, a remaining frontal wall with numerous fenestrae, and the bottom continuous with the parietal and epiotic. A horn cavity occurred within the horn. The fenestrae in the frontal wall were continuous in the horn cavity and showed elaborate channeling, and were, connected to the cranial cavity by soft tissue. We tentatively called this configuration the ＂otocornual connection＂ due to its anatomic and putative functional similarity to the otolateralic connection in clupeids and loricariids, which provide an indirect pathway to enhance perception of underwater sound signals. This study provides a functional morphology context for further histological and physiological investigations of such horn structures in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish, and we suggest that the horn might enhance acoustic perception to compensate for visual loss in subterranean life, which warrants future physiological examination as lab-reared S. hyalinus become available.
文摘阿庐金线鲃(Sinocyclocheilus aluensis Li et Xiao,2005)曾为狭孔金线鲃(S.angustiporus Zheng et Xie,1985)的同物异名。该文在比对采自云南泸西县城郊龙潭的金线鲃标本和狭孔金线鲃模式标本后发现,两者间存在明显且稳定的形态差异,因此,阿庐金线鲃应为有效种。阿庐金线鲃背鳍起点位于腹鳍起点垂直线之后,可与狭孔金线鲃(背鳍起点与腹鳍起点正相对或稍前)相区别,且前者眼径及眼球径较小,而眼间距较宽(阿庐金线鲃分别为头长的22.4%～29.7%、16.0%～23.6%及21.0%～32.3%,狭孔金线鲃分别为头长的26.4%～38.9%、21.3%～29.0%及19.7%～22.6%)。
