Habitat‐related specialization of lateral‐line system morphology in a habitat‐generalist and a habitat‐specialist New Zealand eleotrid |
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| Authors: | J P Vanderpham S Nakagawa A M Senior G P Closs |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Vanderpham Consulting, Everett, WA, 98208, U.S.A;2. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia;3. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand;4. Charles Perkins Centre and School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia |
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| Abstract: | An investigation of intraspecific habitat‐related patterns of variation in oculoscapular lateral‐line superficial neuromasts (SN) identified a decrease in the ratio of total SNs to pores, and a trend towards decreased asymmetry in SNs in the habitat‐generalist common bully Gobiomorphus cotidianus from fluvial habitats compared to lacustrine habitats, suggesting habitat‐related phenotypic variability. A greater ratio of pores to SNs, as well as less variation in the total number and asymmetry of SNs observed in the fluvial habitat‐specialist redfin bully Gobiomorphus huttoni may provide further evidence of variations in the oculoscapular lateral‐line morphology of fluvial habitat G. cotidianus individuals serving as adaptations to more turbulent environments. |
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| Keywords: | neurology phenotypic variation plasticity sensory system |
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