Bioluminescent-like squamation in the galeomorph shark Apristurus ampliceps (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)
In: Contributions to ZoologyE-mail: Humberto.Ferron@uv.es
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School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ United Kingdom
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Galeomorph sharks constitute the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse superorder of living selachians. Despite comprising several typically deep-water taxa, no bioluminescent species have been reported in this group so far. Interestingly, the study of shark squamation has been revealed in recent years to be a good proxy for inferring some ecological aspects of poorly known species. In particular, the high morphological specificity of the dermal denticles and the squamation patterns of all currently-known bioluminescent sharks could constitute a potential tool for predicting bioluminescence in both fossil and living taxa. Following this idea, we provide the first evidence supporting the possible existence of bioluminescence among galeomorph sharks by means of the quantitative study of Apristurus ampliceps squamation pattern. Classical morphometric analysis and multivariate statistical procedures have allowed us to determine that A. ampliceps squamation, composed mainly of bristle-shaped dermal denticles, is highly convergent with that of the bioluminescent shark Etmopterus spinax. The ecology of A. ampliceps, being a species that exclusively inhabits aphotic waters, is in agreement with such a morphofunctional interpretation, but finding photophores is imperative to confirm this prediction.
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Bioluminescent-like squamation in the galeomorph shark Apristurus ampliceps (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)
In: Contributions to ZoologyE-mail: Humberto.Ferron@uv.es
Search for other papers by Humberto G. Ferrón in
Current site
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PubMed
Search for other papers by María Victoria Paredes-Aliaga in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ United Kingdom
Search for other papers by Carlos Martínez-Pérez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Héctor Botella in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Galeomorph sharks constitute the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse superorder of living selachians. Despite comprising several typically deep-water taxa, no bioluminescent species have been reported in this group so far. Interestingly, the study of shark squamation has been revealed in recent years to be a good proxy for inferring some ecological aspects of poorly known species. In particular, the high morphological specificity of the dermal denticles and the squamation patterns of all currently-known bioluminescent sharks could constitute a potential tool for predicting bioluminescence in both fossil and living taxa. Following this idea, we provide the first evidence supporting the possible existence of bioluminescence among galeomorph sharks by means of the quantitative study of Apristurus ampliceps squamation pattern. Classical morphometric analysis and multivariate statistical procedures have allowed us to determine that A. ampliceps squamation, composed mainly of bristle-shaped dermal denticles, is highly convergent with that of the bioluminescent shark Etmopterus spinax. The ecology of A. ampliceps, being a species that exclusively inhabits aphotic waters, is in agreement with such a morphofunctional interpretation, but finding photophores is imperative to confirm this prediction.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Full Text Views | 745 | 153 | 28 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 898 | 137 | 11 |