Abstract
Ontogenetic growth and development in the anemonefish Amphiprion melanopus (Pomacentridae) is very rapid when compared to other tropical and temperate fish species. A. melanopus hatched with a highly differentiated digestive tract and the ability to capture and ingest prey items. Their alimentary tract changes rapidly throughout the larval period. Concurrent with yolksac absorption at three days after hatching was the development of the stomach followed by calcification of the jaw structures. This period of acute structural change may be a critical period in their development. Metamorphosis coincided with settlement at 8 days after hatching and was marked by calcification of fins and acquirement of adult coloration. The rapid development found in this species may be a specialisation to enhance the return of larvae to a patchy and highly specific settlement habitat.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avila, E.M. & J.V. Juario. 1987. Yolk and oil globule utilization and developmental morphology of the digestive tract epithelium in larval rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus (Bloch). Aquaculture 65: 319–331.
Bagarinao, T. 1986.Yolk resorption, onset of feeding and survival potential of larvae of three tropical marine fish species reared in the hatchery. Mar. Biol. 91: 449–459.
Blaxter, J.H.S., D. Danielssen, E. Moksness & V. Oiestad. 1983. Description of the early development of the halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus and attempts to rear the larvae past first feeding. Mar. Biol. 73: 99–107.
Blaxter, J.H.S. 1988. Pattern and variety in development. pp. 1–58. In: W.S. Hoar & D.J. Randall (ed.) Fish Physiology, vol. 11A, Academic Press, New York.
Bell, L.J., J.T. Moyer & K. Numachi. 1982. Morphological and genetic variation in Japanese populations of the anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii. Mar. Biol. 72: 99–108.
Coughlin, D.J. 1991. Ontogeny of feeding behaviour of firstfeeding Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 48: 1896–1904.
Coughlin, D.J. 1994. Suction prey capture by clown fish larvae (Amphiprion perideraion). Copeia 1994: 242–246.
Daintith, M. 1993. Aquaculture source book. Live feeds for marine aquaculture: a training guide. University of Tasmania, Launceston. 33 pp.
Dingerkus, G. & L.D. Uhler. 1977. Enzyme clearing of alcian blue stained whole small vertebrates for demonstration of cartilage. Stain Technology 52: 229–232.
Doherty, P.J., S. Planes & P. Mather. 1995. Gene flow and larval duration in seven species of fish from the Great Barrier Reef. Ecology 76: 2373–2391.
Drost, M.R. 1987. Relation between aiming and catch success in larval fishes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 304–315.
Fisher, R., D.R. Bellwood & S.D. Job. 2000. The development of swimming abilities in reef fish larvae. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. (in press).
Fukuhara, O. 1985. Functional morphology and behaviour of early life stages of red sea bream. Bull. Japan. Soc. Sci. Fish. 51: 731–743.
Fukuhara, O. 1986. Morphological and functional development of Japanese flounder in early life stage. Bull. Japan. Soc. Sci. Fish. 52: 81–91.
Fukuhara, O. 1988. Morphological and functional development of larval and juvenile Limanda yokohamae (Pisces: Pleuronectidae) reared in the laboratory. Mar. Biol. 99: 271–281.
Gosztonyi, A.E. 1984. The use of enzyme-based laundry 'presoaks' for clearing small vertebrates for alizarin red staining of bony tissues. Stain Technology59: 305–307.
Govoni, J.J. 1980. Morphological, histological and functional aspects of alimentary canal and associated organ development in larval Leiostomus xanthurus. Revue Canadienne de Biologie 39: 69–80.
Govoni, J.J.,G.W. Boehlert & Y. Watanabe. 1986. The physiology of digestion in fish larvae. Env. Biol. Fish. 16: 59–77.
Green, B.S. & M.I. McCormick. 1999. Influence of larval feeding history on the body condition of Amphiprion melanopus. J. Fish Biol. 55: 1233–1285.
Hjort, J. 1914. Fluctuations in the great fisheries of northern Europe reviewed in the light of biological research. Rapp. P-v Reun. Cons. Int. Explor. Mer. 20: 1–228.
Hofer, R. 1991. Digestion. pp. 413–425. In:I.J. Winfield & J.S. Nelson (ed.) Cyprinid Fishes: Systematics, Biology and Exploitation, Chapman & Hall, London.
Houde, E.D. 1974. Effects of temperature and delayed feeding on growth and survival of larvae of three species of subtropical marine fishes. Mar. Biol. 26: 271–285.
Houde, E.D. & C.E. Zastrow. 1993. Ecosystem-and taxonspecific dynamic and energetics properties of larval fish assemblages. Bull. Mar. Sci. 53: 290–335.
Hunter, J.R. 1972. Swimming and feeding behaviour of larval anchovy, Engraulis mordax. U.S. Fish. Bull. 70: 821–838.
Hunt von Herbing, I., T. Miyake, B.K. Hall & R.G. Boutilier. 1996a. Ontogeny of feeding and respiration in larval atlantic cod Gadus morhua (Teleostei, Gadiformes): I. Morphology. J. Morph. 227: 15–35.
Hunt von Herbing, I., R.G. Boutilier, T. Miyake & B.K. Hall. 1996b. Effects of temperature on morphological landmarks critical to growth and survival in larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Mar. Biol. 124: 593–606.
Job, S.D. & D.R. Bellwood. 1996. Visual acuity and feeding in larval Premnas biaculeatus. J. Fish Biol. 48: 952–963.
Job, S.D. & D.R. Bellwood. 2000. Light sensitivity in larval fishes: implications for vertical zonation in the pelagic zone. Limnol. Oceanogr. (in press).
Jones, G.P., M.J. Milicich, M.J. Emslie & C. Lunow. 1999. Self-recruitment in a coral reef fish population. Nature 402: 799–802.
Juario, J.V., M.N. Duray, V.M. Duray, J.F. Nacario & J.M.E. Almendras. 1985. Breeding and larval rearing of the rabbitfish Siganus guttatus (Bloch). Aquaculture 44: 91–101.
Kaji, T., M. Tanaka, Y. Takahashi, M. Oka & N. Ishibashi. 1996. Preliminary observation on development of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Scombridae) in the laboratory, with special reference to the digestive system. Mar. Freshwater Res. 47: 261–269.
Kurokawa, T., H. Kagawa, H. Ohta, H. Tanaka, K. Okuzawa & K. Hirose. 1995. Development of digestive organs and feeding ability in larvae of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 52: 1030–1036.
Liem, K.F. 1991. A functional approach to the development of the head of teleosts: implications on constructional morphology and constraints. pp. 231–249. In: N. Schmidt-Kittler & K. Vogel (ed.) Constructional Morphology and Evolution, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Markle, D.F., P.M. Harris & C.L. Toole. 1992. Metamorphosis and an overview of early-life-history stages in Dover sole Microstomus pacificus. U.S. Fish. Bull. 90: 285–301.
MacKenzie, B.R. & W.C. Leggett. 1991. Quantifying the contribution of small-scale turbulence to the encounter rates between larval fish and their zoo-planktonic prey: effects of wind and tide. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 73: 149–160.
McCormick, M.I. 1993. Development and changes at settlement in the barbel structure of the reef fish, Upeneus tragula (Mullidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 37: 269–282.
Munday, P.L & G.P. Jones. 1998. The ecological implications of small body size among coral-reef fishes. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an annual review 36: 373–411.
Naas, K.E., T. Naess & T. Harboe. 1992. Enhanced first feeding of halibut larvae (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) in green water. Aquaculture 105: 143–156.
Potthoff, T. & J.A. Tellock. 1993. Osteological development of the snook, Centropomus undecimalis (Teleostei, Centropomidae). Bull. Mar. Sci. 52: 669–716.
Potthoff, T., S. Kelly, V. Saksena, M. Moe & F. Young. 1987. Description of larval and juvenile yellowtail damselfish, Microspathodon chrysurus, Pomacentridae, and their osteological development. Bull. Mar. Sci. 40: 330–375.
Sale, P.F. 1978. Coexistence of coral reef fishes - a lottery for living space. Env. Biol. Fish. 3: 85–102.
Shand, J. 1994. Changes in retinal structure during development and settlement of the goatfish Upeneus tragula. Brain, Behav. Evol. 43: 51–60.
Taylor, W.R. & G.C. Van Dyke. 1985. Revised procedures for staining and clearing small fishes and other vertebrates for bone and cartilage study. Cybium 9: 107–119.
Thorisson, K. 1994. Is metamorphosis a critical interval in the early life of marine fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 40: 23–36.
Walford, J. & T.J. Lam. 1993. Development of the digestive tract and proteolytic enzyme activity in seabass (Lates calcarifer) larvae and juveniles. Aquaculture 109: 187–205.
Windsor, L. 1994. Tissue processing. pp. 4.2-1–4.2-42. In: A.E. Woods & R.C. Ellis (ed.) Laboratory Histopathology: A Complete Reference, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Green, B.S., McCormick, M.I. Ontogeny of the Digestive and Feeding Systems in the Anemonefish Amphiprion Melanopus. Environmental Biology of Fishes 61, 73–83 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011044919990
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011044919990