Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T05:22:28.477Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Adaptive Modifications in Four Fish Species of the Genus Garra (Teleostei; Cyprinidae) in Basistha River, Assam, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2018

Jafrin F. Hussain*
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Laboratory, Resource Management and Environment Section, Life Sciences Division, IASST, Vigyan Path, Paschim Boragaon, Garchuk, Guwahati 781035, Kamrup, Assam,India
Sabitry Bordoloi
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Laboratory, Resource Management and Environment Section, Life Sciences Division, IASST, Vigyan Path, Paschim Boragaon, Garchuk, Guwahati 781035, Kamrup, Assam,India
*
*Authors for correspondence: Jafrin F. Hussain, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

This paper deals with the study of the surface morphology of barbels, upper lips, and adhesive discs in four hill stream fish species collected from Basistha River, a torrential river in Guwahati city, Assam, India. The four species belonging to the genus Garra namely, Garra gotyla (Gray, 1830), Garra gravelyi (Annandale, 1919), Garra stenorhynchus (Jerdon, 1849), and Garra nasuta (McClelland, 1838) were collected from the same torrential habitat. These fish revealed anatomical peculiarities in their barbels, lips, and adhesive discs which are believed to help them in adapting to such habitats. Organs exhibiting adaptive modifications (barbels, lips, and adhesive discs) were studied with the scanning electron microscope. The study primarily revealed the presence of type I and type II taste buds in the barbels, lips, and adhesive discs, and numerous unculi surrounded by microridges in the upper lips and adhesive discs. A cumulative, intercalated action of these organs enables these fish to adhere and adapt to rocky, torrential streams. Special ability to adapt to these habitats was reflected from the two types of taste buds (I and II) present in the barbels, and the clustering of excrescencies bearing unculi in the lips and adhesive discs of the fish.

Type
Micrographia
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Cite this article:Hussain JF, Bordoloi S (2018) Adaptive Modifications in Four Fish Species of the Genus Garra (Teleostei; Cyprinidae) in Basistha River, Assam, India. Microsc Microanal24(3): 310–317. doi: 10.1017/S1431927618000405

References

Abou-Zaid, DFA (2014) A comparative study of the distribution and morphology of the external taste buds in the siluroid fish, Malupterus electricus and Clarias lazera . Int J Adv Res 2(5), 10831095.Google Scholar
Bhatia, B (1950) Adaptive modifications in a hill stream catfish Glyptothorax telchitta (Hamilton). Proc Natl Inst Sci India XVI(4), 271285.Google Scholar
Boudriot, F and Reutter, K (2001) Ultrastructure of the taste buds in the blind cave fish Astyanax jordani (“Anoptichthys”) and the sighted river fish Astyanax mexicanus (Teleostei, Characidae). J Comp Neurol 434, 428444.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chen, Z, Zhao, S and Yang, J (2009) A new species of the genus Garra from Nujiang River Basin, Yunnan, China (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zool Res 30(4), 438444.Google Scholar
Das, D and Nag, TC (2004) Adhesion by paired pectoral and pelvic fins in a mountain-stream catfish, Pseudocheneis sulcatus (Sisoridae). Environ Biol Fishes 71, 15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, D and Nag, TC (2005) Structure of adhesive organ of the mountain-stream catfish, Pseudocheneis sulcatus (Teleostei: Sisoridae). Acta Zool 86(4), 231237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, D and Nag, TC (2006) Fine structure of the organ of attachment of the teleost, Garra gotyla gotyla (Ham). Zoology 109(4), 300309.Google Scholar
Dey, S, Baul, TSB, Roy, B and Dey, D (1989) A new rapid method of air-drying for scanning electron microscopy using tetramethylsilane. J Microsc 156(2), 259261.Google Scholar
Fishelson, L and Delarea, Y (2004) Taste buds on the lips and mouth of some blenniid and gobiid fishes: Comparative distribution and morphology. J Fish Biol 65(3), 651665.Google Scholar
Fishelson, L, Delarea, Y and Zverdling, A (2004) Taste bud form and distribution on lips and in the oropharyngeal cavity of cardinal fish species (Apogonidae, Teleostei), with remarks on their dentition. J Morphol 259(3), 316327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gaur, KS, Sharma, V, Sharma, MS and Verma, BK (2013) Food and feeding habits of the hill stream fish Garra gotyla gotyla (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the streams of South-Eastern Rajasthan. Ecol Environ Conserv 19(4), 10251030.Google Scholar
Gomahr, A, Palzenberger, M and Kotrschal, K (1992) Density and distribution of external taste buds in cyprinids. Environ Biol Fishes 33(1-2), 125134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grover-Johnson, N and Farbman, AI (1976) Fine structure of taste buds in the barbel of the catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . Cell Tissue Res 169(3), 395403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hara, TJ and Barbara, SZ (2007) Fish Physiology: Sensory Systems and Neuroscience. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Publishing House.Google Scholar
Hansen, A, Reutter, K and Zeiske, E (2002) Taste bud development in the zebrafish, Danio rerio . Dev Dyn 223(4), 483496.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hawkes, JW (1974) The structure of fish skin. I. General organization. Cell Tissue Res 149, 147158.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hora, SL (1921) Indian Cyprinoid fishes belonging to the genus Garra, with notes on related species from other countries. RecIndian Museum 22, 633687.Google Scholar
Hora, SL (1922) Structural modifications in the fish of mountain torrents. Rec Indian Museum 24(1), 3161.Google Scholar
Hora, SL (1930) Ecology, bionomics and evolution of the torrential fauna, with special reference to the organs of attachment. Phil Trans Roy Soc Lond B 218, 171282.Google Scholar
Hora, SL (1934) A note on the biology of the precipitating action of the mucus of Boro fish, Pisodonophis boro (Ham.-Buch). J Proc Asiat Soc Beng 29(4), 271274 1pl.Google Scholar
Hora, SL (1952) Presidential address delivered at the anniversary meeting of the National Institute of Sciences of India. Adapt Evol 18, 161170.Google Scholar
Jayaram, KC (1999) The Freshwater Fishes of the Indian Region. Delhi: Narendra Publishing House.Google Scholar
Joshi, SC, Bisht, I and Agarwal, SK (2012) Study of the unculi of Pseudocheneis sulcatus (McClelland) (Sisoridae) fish of Kumaun Himalaya. J Am Sci 8(2), 413418.Google Scholar
Kaushik, G and Bordoloi, S (2015) Adaptive modifications in lip and barbel of an endangered catfish Amblyceps arunchalensis Nath & Dey, 1989. Curr Sci 109(9), 15541556.Google Scholar
Kaushik, G and Bordoloi, S (2017) Ultrasurface structure of oromandibular area in a hill stream teleost Glyptothorax trilineatus Blyth, 1860. Acta Zool 98(4), 362369.Google Scholar
Kiyohara, S, Yamashita, S and Kitoh, J (1980) Distribution of taste buds on the lips and inside the mouth in the minnow, Pseudorasbora parva . Physiol Behav 24(6), 11431147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kullander, SO and Fang, F (2004) Seven new species of Garra (Cyprinidae: Cyprininae) from the Rakhine Yoma, Southern Myanmar. Ichthyol Explor Freshwaters 15(3), 257278.Google Scholar
Lalronunga, S, Lalnuntluanga, and Lalramliana, (2013) Garra dampaensis, a new ray-finned fish species (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Mizoram, North Eastern India. J Threatened Taxa 5(9), 43684377.Google Scholar
Murray, RG (1971) Ultrastructure of taste receptors. In: Handbook of Sensory Physiology IV Chemical Senses Part 2 Taste , Beidler LM (Ed.), pp. 3150. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Murray, RG (1973) The structure of taste buds. In: The Ultrastructure of Sensory Organs 1, Friedman I (Ed.), pp. 181. New York: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Nagar, KC, Sharma, MS, Tripathi, AK and Sansi, RK (2012) Electron microscopic study of adhesive organ of Garra lamta (Ham.). Int Res J Biol Sci 1(6), 4348.Google Scholar
Ovalle, WK and Shinn, SL (1977) Surface morphology of taste buds in catfish barbels. Cell Tissue Res 178, 375384.Google Scholar
Pinky, MS, Ojha, J and Mittal, AK (2002) Scanning electron microscopic study of the structures associated with lips of an Indian hill stream fish Garra lamta (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes). Eur J Morphol 40(3), 161169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reutter, K (1971) The taste-buds of Amiurus nebulosus (Lesueur). Morphological and histochemical investigations. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 120(2), 280308.Google Scholar
Reutter, K, Breipohl, W and Bijvank, GH (1974) Taste bud types in fish. Cell Tissue Res 153, 151165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reutter, K and Witt, M (1999) Comparative aspects of fish taste bud ultrastructure. In Advances in Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, Johnston, E, Muller-Schwarze, D and Sorensen, PW (Eds.), pp. 573581. Boston, MA: Springer.Google Scholar
Roberts, TR (1982) Unculi (horny projections arising from single cells), an adaptive feature of the epidermis of ostariophysan fish. Zool Scr 11(1), 5576.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saxena, SC (1959) Adhesive apparatus of a hill stream cyprinid fish Garra mullya (Sykes). Proc Natl Inst Sci India B25(4), 205214.Google Scholar
Saxena, SC and Chandy, M (1966) Adhesive apparatus in certain Indian hillstream fish. J Zool London 148, 315340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinha, AK, Singh, I and Singh, BR (1990) The morphology of the adhesive organ of the sisorid fish, Glyptothorax pectinopterus . Ichthyol Res 36(4), 427431.Google Scholar
Singh, N and Agarwal, NK (1991) The SEM surface structure of the adhesive organ of P. sulcatus McClelland (Family Sisoridae), from Garhwal Himalayan hill streams. Acta Ichthyol Piscatoria XXI(2), 2935.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, N, Agarwal, NK and Singh, HR (1994) SEM investigation on the adhesive apparatus of Garra gotyla gotyla (Family - Cyprinidae) from Garhwal Himalaya. In: Advances in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Singh HR (Ed.), vol. 1, pp. 281291. Delhi: Hindustan Publication Corporation.Google Scholar
Singh, H and Bisht, I (2014) Comparative study of lips in three hill stream fish (Botia almorhae, Homaloptera brucei and Schizothorax richardsonii) of Kumaun Region: A SEM investigation. Int J Sci Res 3(5), 715721.Google Scholar
Subba, BR and Pandey, MR (2014) Morphology of adhesive organ of a hill-stream fish Glyptothorax telchitta (Ham.) (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Saptakoshi River, Barahkshetra, Nepal. Lasbela Un J Sci Technol 3, 14.Google Scholar
Talwar, PK and Jhingran, AG (1991) Inland Fish of India and Adjacent Countries. New Delhi: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Tripathi, P and Mittal, AK (2012) Diversity of Lips and Associated Structures in Fish by SEM. In: Scanning Electron Microscopy, pp. 147–178. London, UK: IntechOpen.Google Scholar
Vishwanath, W, Lakra, WS and Sarkar, UK (2007) Fish of North-East India. Lucknow: NBFGR.Google Scholar
Zhang, E and Chen, YY (2002) Garra tengchongensis, a new cyprinid species from the upper Irrawaddy river basin in Yunnan, China (Pisces: Teleostei). Raffles Bull Zool 50(2), 459464.Google Scholar