Artículos de revistas
Egg surface structure of the freshwater toadfish Thalassophryne amazonica (Teleostei: Batrachoididae) with information on its distribution and natural habitat
Fecha
2012Registro en:
NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY, SAO PAULO, v. 10, n. 3, pp. 593-599, JUL-SEP, 2012
1679-6225
10.1590/S1679-62252012000300013
Autor
Britz, Ralf
Toledo-Piza, Mônica
Institución
Resumen
The egg surface structure of Thalassophryne amazonica, a freshwater toadfish from the Amazon basin is described. Eggs of this species show a remarkable, highly unusual system of parallel ridges and intermittent grooves that originate at the equator of the egg and lead to the micropylar pit, at which they end in a spiralling pattern. A similar egg surface structure has so far been described only from a group of Asian anabantoid percomorphs, obviously not closely related to Thalassophryne. This egg surface pattern may enhance fertilization success by guiding sperm to the micropyle. We review museum records for T amazonica, present an updated map of its occurrence in the Amazon basin, and provide information on its habitat.