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Pseudoalbinism and ambicoloration in hatchery-reared pleuronectids as malformations of asymmetrical formation

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  • Aquaculture
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Abstract

Morphological abnormalities in eye location and/or body coloration are commonly observed in hatchery-reared juveniles of many pleuronectid species, and have become one of the most serious problems in juvenile production for stock enhancement. In this study, these morphological abnormalities of six pleuronectid species—barfin flounder Verasper moseri, slime flounder Microstomus achne, stone flounder Platichthys bicoloratus, starry flounder Pl. stellatus, cresthead flounder Pseudopleuronectes schrenki, and marbled sole Ps. yokohamae—were successfully classified into four morphological types [normal, two types of pseudoalbinism (normal-eye position or top-eye position), and ambicoloration], following the same classification scheme proposed for other two pleuronectids. Based on our results, the characteristics of each morphological type are quite similar among species. It is confirmed that the normal type has the same ocular side and blind side characteristics as those of wild fish, not only in eye position and body coloration, but also in scales or dentition. The pseudoalbino types have the blind side characteristics of wild fish on both sides, with top-eye type in all characteristics, and normal-eye type in all other characteristics other than eye position. The ambicoloration type has all the ocular side characteristics of wild fish on both sides. Therefore, the pseudoalbinism and ambicoloration of hatchery-reared juveniles of pleuronectid species can be considered malformations of asymmetrical formation. Since this process normally occurs during metamorphosis, the term “metamorphosis-related malformation” is proposed for the abnormal formation of juveniles in pleuronectid species.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Emeritus Prof. M. Tanaka and Prof. Y. Yamashita, Kyoto University, for their valuable advice during the course of this study. We especially acknowledge Dr. T. Kayaba (Hokkaido Institute of Mariculture) and Mr. H. Kahata (Bekkai Fishermen’s Cooperative Association Herring Hatchery) for assisting us with the collection of hatchery-reared fish. Cordial thanks are extended to Mr. S. Imamura, Mr. T. Fukunaga (Fisheries Research Agency), and Mr. T. Furusawa (National Abundantly Productive Sea Promote Association), who offered valuable suggestions about this study. We also thank Mr. J. Hirokawa, Mr. K. Hattori, Mr. K. Maruyama, and Dr. K. Ohtuki (Notojima and Miyako Station of the Japan Sea-Farming Association) for their useful suggestions and for providing us with the opportunity to conduct this research. This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science to M.T. and M.A.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Fisheries and Environment in the Ariake and Yatsushiro Bay, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, Taira-machi, Nagasaki, 851-2231, Japan

    Masato Aritaki

  2. Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Masatomo Tagawa

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  1. Masato Aritaki
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  2. Masatomo Tagawa
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Correspondence to Masato Aritaki or Masatomo Tagawa.

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Aritaki, M., Tagawa, M. Pseudoalbinism and ambicoloration in hatchery-reared pleuronectids as malformations of asymmetrical formation. Fish Sci 78, 327–335 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-011-0441-9

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