A note on the development of the embryos of anglerfish Lophius piscatorius

Embryo development over a 5 day period are shown and described from a rare find of anglerfish Lophius piscatorius spawn that was obtained at the Shetland Islands, U.K. The stage of development shown is earlier than that previously available for the species.     

The chorion ultrastructure of ova of Lophius spp.

The chorion surface ultrastructure of unfertilized eggs of black anglerfish Lophius budegassa and white anglerfish Lophius piscatorius was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Species‐specific differences were observed.     

Polymorphic dinucleotide microsatellites for the Mediterranean angler species (Lophiidae)

A microsatellite‐enriched genomic library was obtained from black‐bellied angler Lophius budegassa and six polymorphic dinucleotide markers were successfully optimized. These markers showed levels of polymorphism ranging from 0.363 to 0.662 and allele numbers ranging from three to seven. These markers were also found to successfully amplify in the closely related Lophius piscatorius (angler) and thus appear to be useful for genetic stock structure analysis in both species.     

A new set of highly polymorphic microsatellites for the white and black anglerfish (Lophiidae)

A microsatellite‐enriched genomic library was obtained using individuals of the black anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) and eight polymorphic microsatellites were successfully optimized. The genetic analysis of 50 black anglerfish individuals captured in the Cantabrian coasts revealed high polymorphism with a mean of number of alleles per locus of N_a = 10.5 (5–28 alleles) and a mean expected heterozygosity of 0.740 (0.521–0.962). This microsatellite set was also functional with a sample from the white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorious) showing a high polymorphism.     

Embryonic development and effect of water temperature on hatching of Lophius litulon

Environmental Biology of Fishes - Most Lophiiformes including Lophius species are considered to spawn egg masses called an “egg veil” or “egg ribbon” composed of numerous...     

Near-surface captures of post-juvenile anglerfish in the North-east Atlantic—an unsolved mystery

Thirty four well-grown (length range 24–103 cm) individuals of the demersal anglerfish Lophius piscatorius were captured close to the surface at widely scattered locations in the North-east Atlantic, some over considerable depths (to 2600 m).     

Food selection by a sit-and-wait predator,the monkfish,Lophius upsicephalus,off Namibia (South West Africa)

Synopsis We investigated prey selection by the monkfish, Lophius upsicephalus. This sit-and-wait predator preferentially selected prey types that would be expected to react to the lure of the illicium. Prey size selection was dependent on predator size, with larger predators feeding on a wider range of prey sizes.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of separated pelagic eggs from Lophius litulon (Lophiiformes; Lophiidae)

Free‐floating eggs of Lophius litulon were collected using plankton nets after their release from a pelagic egg mass. The eggs were identified based on molecular analysis and several morphological characteristics. These rare, separated eggs have not been reported previously and represent the first such finding for Lophiiformes.     

Discrepancies in phylogeographical patterns of two European anglerfishes (Lophius budegassa and Lophius piscatorius)

In order to investigate the relative importance of historical processes and life-history traits in shaping the present-day genetic structure of European anglerfishes, 382 Lophius piscatorius and 134 Lophius budegassa were sequenced on the 5' end of the mitochondrial control region. Both species showed a limited genetic structure and some evidence of a demographic expansion that probably occurred not at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, but earlier in the Pleistocene. The main discrepancy between the two anglerfishes concerned the genetic structure between Atlantic and Mediterranean populations, with weak but significant differentiation observed only in L. budegassa. This genetic structure was congruent with the existence of a phylogeographical break previously reported in several marine species across the Almeria-Oran front. The contrast observed between both anglerfishes was supposed to be induced by a possible more ancient (re)colonisation of the Mediterranean Sea by L. budegassa. Finally, the limited genetic structure and lack of isolation by distance observed in both species suggested high larval dispersal capacities that probably overwhelm the influence of the bathymetric distribution range on migrations of adults and juveniles.     

Large vertical movements by a goosefish,Lophius americanus,suggests the potential of data storage tags for behavioral studies of benthic fishes

The extensive periodic vertical movements of up to 14 h and 209 m observed in this study for an individual goosefish, Lophius americanus, challenges previous assumptions about the benthic and highly sedentary behavior of the species as well as of other lophiids. Researchers should consider conducting similar data storage tagging studies with other benthic fishes to test assumptions of sedentary behavior.     

New findings of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophius litulon</Emphasis> (Lophiidae) off the Southern Kurils

Data on new captures of juveniles of the yellow anglerfish Lophius litulon off the Southern Kurils are presented. Outer morphological characters of the specimens caught in waters off the Southern Kurils are described in comparison with those of specimens from other regions of the north-western part of the Pacific Ocean. Probable pathways of penetration of anglerfish (Lophiidae) to Russian Far East waters are discussed.     

Isolation of mycobacteria from frozen fish destined for human consumption

Mycobacteria were isolated from defrost water and tissue of sole (Solea solea), hake (Merluccius merluccius), cod (Gadus morhua), ling (Genypterus blacodes), and monkfish (Lophius piscatorius) on L?wenstein-Jensen medium after incubation at different temperatures. Samples of frozen fish were obtained under sterile conditions inside a refrigeration chamber (-18 to -22 degrees C) in a wholesale market from which these products are distributed to shops for retail sale and human consumption.     

STUDIES ON INSULIN BIOSYNTHESIS : Subcellular Distribution of Leucine-H3 Radioactivity During Incubation of Goosefish Islet Tissue

Islet tissue from the goosefish (Lophius piscatorius) was incubated in the presence of leucine-H³. The tissue was then separated into subcellular fractions and the radioactivity determined in total acid alcohol-soluble proteins, insoluble proteins, and insulin. At any time, microsomal protein had a higher activity than secretion granule protein. Pulse-chase experiments further suggest the microsomes as primary sites of protein synthesis. The data are evidence for microsomal synthesis of insulin and for its subsequent transfer into the secretion granules.     

Stephanostomum lophii sp. nov. (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae), intestinal parasite of Lophius piscatorius, with reference to seasonal fluctuations of metacercariae in intermediate second hosts (Gadidae)

We describe the adult and metacercaria of a new species of digenetic trematode, Stephanostomum lophii sp. nov., an intestinal parasite of the angler fish, Lophius piscatorius . The species is distinguished from the similar Stephanostomum kovalevi by the numerous peristomial spines in the latter and from S. baccatum by the oral sucker being larger than the ventral sucker and by the fact that the principal intermediate hosts are gadids, not pleuronectids as in the case of Stephanostomum baccatum . We also report the prevalence of S. lophii metacercariae in various potential angler fish prey species caught off the coast of Galicia (NW Spain).     

Comparative electrophoretic examination of the two European species of angler-fish (Lophiidae): Lophius piscatorius (L.) and Lophius budegassa (Spinola) and assessment of their genetic relationship

1. A multilocus electrophoretic examination of the genetic relationships between the two European species of angler-fish was carried out using starch gel electrophoresis. 2. At 4 gene loci fixation for different alleles separated Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa while at an additional 5 loci, frequencies of shared alleles were significantly heterogeneous. 3. A mean genetic distance of I = 0.771 was calculated, corresponding to a mean genetic distance of D = 0.260 between these species. 4. This research identifies 7 polymorphic loci in L. piscatorius and 5 in L. budegassa which will potentially serve as genetic markers for examination of population structure.     

Prosomatostatin processing in anglerfish brain, gut and pancreas

The distribution of somatostatin immunoreactive forms in three tissues of the anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius L.) was analyzed by a combination of gel permeation, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography and amino acid analysis. The data indicate that prosomatostatins I and II are expressed in both neural and gastro-intestinal tissues and that their post-translational processing gives rise to somatostatin-14 I, somatostatin-28 II and to some of its hydroxylysine23-derivative, respectively. It is concluded that, in contrast to the mammals, production of two somatostatins in the Teleostean fish requires two structurally distinct precursors whose processing operates in a fixed pattern rather than in a tissue-specific manner.     

Two Species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Marine Fishes off Namibia,Including S. Beukelaardori n. sp.

Stephanostomum kovalevae Parukhin, 1968 from the intestine of Lophius vomerinus off Swakopmund, Namibia, is redescribed. It is characterised by its large number (c. 73-88) of circum-oral spines, its relatively very long hindbody and the vitellarium reaching close to or just overlapping the ventral sucker. S. beukelaardori n. sp., from the intestine of Zenopsis conchifera off Walvis Bay, Namibia, is described. It belongs to the group of species where the vitellarium reaches the ventral sucker, and which has c. 32-38 circum-oral spines. It is closest to S. casum (Linton, 1910), but differs in lacking the lining of prominent spines in the ejaculatory duct, probably in egg-size and in both forebody and hindbody lengths.     

Isolation of Mycobacteria from Frozen Fish Destined for Human Consumption

Mycobacteria were isolated from defrost water and tissue of sole (Solea solea), hake (Merluccius merluccius), cod (Gadus morhua), ling (Genypterus blacodes), and monkfish (Lophius piscatorius) on Löwenstein-Jensen medium after incubation at different temperatures. Samples of frozen fish were obtained under sterile conditions inside a refrigeration chamber (−18 to −22°C) in a wholesale market from which these products are distributed to shops for retail sale and human consumption.     

The occurrence of the Japanese species Dinosoma lophiomi Toman, 1973 (Digenea: Hemiuridae) in Lophius piscatorius (Teleostei) from the western Mediterranean

Hemiurid worms from the stomach of the angler Lophius piscatorius off Corsica are described and considered to belong to a Japanese species, Dinosoma lophiomi Toman, 1973, which was originally described from an Indo-Pacific lophiid host. The apparent disjunctive distribution of this species and apparent differences in the terminal genitalia between the European and Japanese specimens are discussed. This is the first record of Dinosoma Manter, 1934 from the Mediterranean Sea. The validity of diagnostic features of Adinosoma Manter, 1947 is commented upon, and lists of records of species of Dinosoma and digeneans from L. piscatorius in the Western Mediterranean are included.     

Plasma chemical composition in the goosefish (Lophius piscatorius, L)

124 specimens of Lophius piscatorius , L. have been studied (22 males, 90 immature females and 12 sexually mature females) from the Mediterranean coast between October 1968 and February 1971. The plasma values of total proteins, Cl^-, K⁺, Na⁺, plasma iron, total iron binding capacity and plasma copper have been determined. These values are related to weight, length, sex and sexual maturity, depth of trawl and season of the year. The electrolyte content is somewhat lower than given for this species. A clear seasonal variation is observed, with a decrease in the plasma electrolyte. The iron and copper plasma and TIBC values agree with the few values previously recorded and it is thought that they will be of interest due to the scarcity of data on fish.