In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 1 ( 2021-1-20), p. e0239639-
Abstract:
The phenomenon of a massive vertebral deformity was recorded in the radiating Labeobarbus assemblage from the middle reaches of the Genale River (south-eastern Ethiopia, East Africa). Within this sympatric assemblage, five trophic morphs—generalized, lipped, piscivorous and two scraping feeders—were reported between 1993 and 2019. In 2009, a new morph with prevalence of ~10% was discovered. The new morph, termed ‘short’, had an abnormally shortened vertebral column and a significantly deeper body. This type of deformity is common in farmed Atlantic salmon and other artificially reared fish, but is rare in nature. In the Genale Labeobarbus assemblage, the deformity was present exclusively within the generalized and lipped morphs. The short morph had between seven and 36 deformed (compressed and/or fused) vertebrae. Their body depth was positively correlated with number of deformed vertebrae. In another collection in 2019, the short morph was still present at a frequency of 11%. Various environmental and genetic factors could contribute to the development of this deformity in the Genale Labeobarbus , but based on the available data, it is impossible to confidently identify the key factor(s). Whether the result of genetics, the environment, or both, this deep-bodied phenotype is assumed to be an anti-predator adaptation, as there is evidence of its selective advantage in the generalized morph. The Genale monstrosity is the first reported case of a massive deformity of the vertebral column in a natural population of African fishes.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.g010
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0239639.s003
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3