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Ecology and Evolution Nov 2023The Neretva dwarf goby (Gobiiformes, Gobionellidae) is an endemic fish native to the freshwaters of the Adriatic Basin in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, a...
The Neretva dwarf goby (Gobiiformes, Gobionellidae) is an endemic fish native to the freshwaters of the Adriatic Basin in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Due to its limited distribution range, specific karst habitat and endangered status, laboratory studies on reproductive biology are scarce but crucial. Herein, we investigated the sound production and acoustic behaviour of the endangered during reproductive intersexual laboratory encounters, utilising an interdisciplinary approach. We also performed dissections and micro-computed tomography (μCT) scanning of the pectoral girdle to explore its potential involvement in sound production. Finally, comparative acoustic analysis was conducted on sounds produced by previously recorded soniferous sand gobies to investigate whether acoustic features are species-specific. The endemic is a soniferous species. Males of this species emit pulsatile sounds composed of a variable number of short (~15 ms) consecutive pulses when interacting with females, usually during the pre-spawning phase in the nest, but also during courtship outside the nest. Pulsatile sounds were low-frequency and short pulse trains (~140 Hz, <1000 ms). Male visual behaviour rate was higher when co-occurring with sounds and females entered the male's nest significantly more frequently when sounds were present. Characteristic body movements accompanied male sound production, such as head thrust and fin spreading. Furthermore, μCT scans and dissections suggest that shares certain anatomical similarities of the pectoral girdle (i.e. osseous elements and arrangement of muscles) to previously studied sand gobies that could be involved in sound production. Multivariate comparisons, using sounds produced by eight soniferous European sand gobies, effectively distinguished soniferous (and sympatric) species based on their acoustic properties. However, the discrimination success decreased when temperature-dependent features (sound duration and pulse repetition rate) were excluded from the analysis. Therefore, we suggest both spectral and temporal features are important for the acoustic differentiation of sand gobies.
PubMed: 38020677
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10673 -
BMC Veterinary Research Aug 2023The purpose of this study was to explore whether domestication could lead to evolutionary changes towards flightlessness in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos...
Morphological, radiographic, three-dimensional computed tomographic, and histological features of the primary upstroke and downstroke muscles and bones in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis, Linnaeus, 1758), reflecting the evolutionary transition...
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to explore whether domestication could lead to evolutionary changes towards flightlessness in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) compared to the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) as a nonflying and flying biological model, respectively. Bones of the pectoral girdle (scapula, clavicle, and coracoid) and the foramen triosseum were comparatively assessed using anatomical, radiographic, and 3D computed tomographic (CT) studies. Additionally, the muscles pectoralis and the supracoracoideus were histologically and immunohistochemically assessed.
RESULTS
Among the differences observed, radiographically, the distance between the paired clavicles was significantly wider (p < 0.05) in the domestic duck (mean ± SD 1.43 ± 0.23 cm) compared with the cattle egret (0.96 ± 0.13 cm). Unlike cattle egrets, there was no connection between the sternum and the hypocladium of furcula in domestic ducks. The scapula, clavicle, coracoid, sternum, and humerus were considerably longer in domestic ducks than in cattle egrets. The foramen triosseum appeared significantly (p < 0.01) wider in domestic ducks (0.7 ± 1.17 cm) compared to cattle egrets (0.49 ± 0.03 cm). Histologically, compared to cattle egrets, the muscle fibers in domestic ducks were loosely connected and contained fewer nuclei and perimysial/endomysial spaces. A higher myoglobin expression was evident in cattle egrets compared with domestic ducks.
CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study indicate that the bones and muscles of the pectoral girdle generally show specific morphological and structural changes reflective of the loss of prerequisites associated with flight behavior in domestic ducks due to domestication effects compared to cattle egrets.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Ducks; Birds; Humerus; Scapula; Myocardium
PubMed: 37626319
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03649-6 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Nov 2018Blackleg is an infectious disease of cattle and rarely other ruminants, produced by Clostridium chauvoei and characterized by necrotizing myositis. In most cases of...
Blackleg is an infectious disease of cattle and rarely other ruminants, produced by Clostridium chauvoei and characterized by necrotizing myositis. In most cases of blackleg, the large muscles of the pectoral and pelvic girdles are affected, with other skeletal muscles and the heart involved less frequently. We studied 29 blackleg cases selected from the archives of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, 1991-2015. Immunohistochemistry was also evaluated to detect C. chauvoei in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of cattle. Nineteen animals had gross and/or microscopic lesions in both skeletal muscle and heart, 9 had lesions in the skeletal musculature alone, and 1 in the heart alone. Gross lesions in the skeletal musculature involved the following muscle groups: hindquarters ( n = 8), forequarters ( n = 5), neck ( n = 5), lumbar area ( n = 3), brisket ( n = 2), diaphragm ( n = 2), abdominal wall ( n = 1), thoracic wall ( n = 1), and tongue ( n = 1). Of the 20 animals that had lesions in the heart, 11 had pericarditis and myocarditis; 7 had pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis; and 1 each had pericarditis and myocarditis. Immunohistochemistry was 100% sensitive to detect C. chauvoei in FFPE skeletal muscle and/or heart of cattle with blackleg. Simultaneous lesions in skeletal musculature and heart were relatively common in blackleg cases in California; the most affected skeletal muscles were those of the hindlimbs.
Topics: Animals; California; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium chauvoei; Female; Hindlimb; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Myocarditis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 30358517
DOI: 10.1177/1040638718808567 -
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007) Oct 2022The holotype of Junggarsuchus sloani, from the Shishugou Formation (early Late Jurassic) of Xinjiang, China, consists of a nearly complete skull and the anterior half of...
The holotype of Junggarsuchus sloani, from the Shishugou Formation (early Late Jurassic) of Xinjiang, China, consists of a nearly complete skull and the anterior half of an articulated skeleton, including the pectoral girdles, nearly complete forelimbs, vertebral column, and ribs. Here, we describe its anatomy and compare it to other early diverging crocodylomorphs, based in part on CT scans of its skull and that of Dibothrosuchus elaphros from the Early Jurassic of China. Junggarsuchus shares many features with a cursorial assemblage of crocodylomorphs, informally known as "sphenosuchians," whose relationships are poorly understood. However, it also displays several derived crocodyliform features that are not found among most "sphenosuchians." Our phylogenetic analysis corroborates the hypothesis that Junggarsuchus is closer to Crocodyliformes, including living crocodylians, than are Dibothrosuchus and Sphenosuchus, but not as close to crocodyliforms as Almadasuchus and Macelognathus, and that the "Sphenosuchia" are a paraphyletic assemblage. D. elaphros and Sphenosuchus acutus are hypothesized to be more closely related to Crocodyliformes than are the remaining non-crocodyliform crocodylomorphs, which form several smaller groups but are largely unresolved.
Topics: Animals; Fossils; Head; Phylogeny; Skull; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 35699105
DOI: 10.1002/ar.24949 -
PloS One 2012The pectoral and pelvic girdles support paired fins and limbs, and have transformed significantly in the diversification of gnathostomes or jawed vertebrates (including...
BACKGROUND
The pectoral and pelvic girdles support paired fins and limbs, and have transformed significantly in the diversification of gnathostomes or jawed vertebrates (including osteichthyans, chondrichthyans, acanthodians and placoderms). For instance, changes in the pectoral and pelvic girdles accompanied the transition of fins to limbs as some osteichthyans (a clade that contains the vast majority of vertebrates--bony fishes and tetrapods) ventured from aquatic to terrestrial environments. The fossil record shows that the pectoral girdles of early osteichthyans (e.g., Lophosteus, Andreolepis, Psarolepis and Guiyu) retained part of the primitive gnathostome pectoral girdle condition with spines and/or other dermal components. However, very little is known about the condition of the pelvic girdle in the earliest osteichthyans. Living osteichthyans, like chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fishes), have exclusively endoskeletal pelvic girdles, while dermal pelvic girdle components (plates and/or spines) have so far been found only in some extinct placoderms and acanthodians. Consequently, whether the pectoral and pelvic girdles are primitively similar in osteichthyans cannot be adequately evaluated, and phylogeny-based inferences regarding the primitive pelvic girdle condition in osteichthyans cannot be tested against available fossil evidence.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
Here we report the first discovery of spine-bearing dermal pelvic girdles in early osteichthyans, based on a new articulated specimen of Guiyu oneiros from the Late Ludlow (Silurian) Kuanti Formation, Yunnan, as well as a re-examination of the previously described holotype. We also describe disarticulated pelvic girdles of Psarolepis romeri from the Lochkovian (Early Devonian) Xitun Formation, Yunnan, which resemble the previously reported pectoral girdles in having integrated dermal and endoskeletal components with polybasal fin articulation.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
The new findings reveal hitherto unknown similarity in pectoral and pelvic girdles among early osteichthyans, and provide critical information for studying the evolution of pelvic girdles in osteichthyans and other gnathostomes.
Topics: Animal Fins; Animals; Biological Evolution; China; Extremities; Fishes; Fossils; Paleontology; Pelvis; Phylogeny; Vertebrates
PubMed: 22509388
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035103 -
Journal of Anatomy Aug 2021Therizinosaurs are unusual theropods from the Upper Cretaceous of Asia and North America. North American representatives include Falcarius utahensis from central Utah,... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Therizinosaurs are unusual theropods from the Upper Cretaceous of Asia and North America. North American representatives include Falcarius utahensis from central Utah, Nothronychus mckinleyi from west central New Mexico, and N. graffami from southern Utah. Nothronychus was quite large, with well-developed forelimbs and pectoral girdle. In many respects, however, these structures were typical for conventional carnivorous theropods, although therizinosaurs have been hypothesized to be herbivorous using anatomical and functional inferences. There is no indication of increased range of motion within the forelimbs, as might be predicted for derived non-avian theropods. The muscular anatomy of the pectoral girdle and forelimb of Nothronychus is reconstructed using visible muscle scars, data from extant birds and crocodilians, and models for other theropods. The osteology and inferred musculature is a mosaic of primitive and derived characters for theropods. A fossa pneumotricipitales may have been present in the proximal humerus. There was a well-developed fossa brachialis in the distal humerus. The epicleidium of the furcula is deflected, reflecting either taphonomic deformation or possibly accommodation of M. supracoracoideus in a triosseal canal, but such a development has yet to be described in any non-avian theropod. In many respects, the other muscular results were quite similar to those inferred for dromaeosaurs.
Topics: Animals; Dinosaurs; Forelimb; Muscle, Skeletal; Range of Motion, Articular
PubMed: 33665832
DOI: 10.1111/joa.13418 -
Journal of Anatomy Jun 2019Sharpey's fibers are considered the anatomical structures integrated to the muscles. Since these fibers leave marks at the microscopic level, their presence and...
Sharpey's fibers are considered the anatomical structures integrated to the muscles. Since these fibers leave marks at the microscopic level, their presence and distribution are used as evidence of muscle attachment in extinct and extant forms. In recent years, studies have been focusing on muscle-bone and tendon-bone interaction mostly on mammals. The main objective of this work is to contribute to the morphological and histological knowledge of muscle attachment in other amniotes, such as reptiles, and their variation related to different locomotor habits. In this way, a study was performed on terrestrial and aquatic turtles. The musculature related to the movement of the humerus, and pectoral girdle in Chelonoidis chilensis, Phrynops hilarii and Hydromedusa tectifera was analyzed. Dissections were performed mapping the origins and insertions of each muscle and undecalcified thin sections were performed in specific muscular attachment sites. We found some differences which were not previously reported, related to the insertion of the m. pectoralis, the m. coracobrachialis magnus and the origin of the m. tractor radii. The osteohistology revealed the presence of Sharpey's fibers in the cortex of all the bone elements analyzed. Patterns were established in relation to the orientation and density of Sharpey's fibers, which were used for the categorization of each muscle attachment site. The comparative micro-anatomical study of these areas did not reveal any important differences between terrestrial and freshwater turtles in muscles involved with the rotation, abduction and adduction of the humerus. In this way, the preliminary results suggest an absence of correlation between the distribution and density of Sharpey's fibers between different habitat forms, at least in the bones and species analyzed.
Topics: Animals; Bone and Bones; Muscle, Skeletal; Tendons; Turtles
PubMed: 30901084
DOI: 10.1111/joa.12975 -
Developmental Biology Apr 2002Hox and Pax transcription factors are master regulators of skeletal and organ morphogenesis. Some skeletal malformations encountered in Hoxa5 mutants are shared by the...
Hox and Pax transcription factors are master regulators of skeletal and organ morphogenesis. Some skeletal malformations encountered in Hoxa5 mutants are shared by the undulated (un) mice, which bear a point mutation in the Pax1 gene. To investigate whether Hoxa5 and Pax1 act in common pathways during skeletal development, we analyzed Hoxa5;un compound mutants. Our genetic studies show that Hoxa5 and Pax1 cooperate in the vertebral patterning of the cervicothoracic transition region and in acromion morphogenesis. The dynamics of expression of Hoxa5 and Pax1 in the pectoral girdle region suggest that both genes function in a complementary fashion during acromion formation. Whereas Pax1 is required for the recruitment of acromion precursor cells, Hoxa5 may provide regional cues essential for the correct formation of the acromion by ensuring Pax1 expression at the proper time and position during morphogenesis of the pectoral girdle. Hoxa5 also has a distinctive role in specifying the fate of perichondrial and chondrogenic cell lineages in a Sox9-dependent way.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Patterning; Bone Development; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes, Homeobox; Homeodomain Proteins; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Morphogenesis; Muscle, Skeletal; Paired Box Transcription Factors; Phenotype; Phosphoproteins; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 11900462
DOI: 10.1006/dbio.2002.0596 -
The Journal of Experimental Biology Sep 2020Some fishes rely on large regions of the dorsal (epaxial) and ventral (hypaxial) body muscles to power suction feeding. Epaxial and hypaxial muscles are known to act as...
Some fishes rely on large regions of the dorsal (epaxial) and ventral (hypaxial) body muscles to power suction feeding. Epaxial and hypaxial muscles are known to act as motors, powering rapid mouth expansion by shortening to elevate the neurocranium and retract the pectoral girdle, respectively. However, some species, like catfishes, use little cranial elevation. Are these fishes instead using the epaxial muscles to forcefully anchor the head, and if so, are they limited to lower-power strikes? We used X-ray imaging to measure epaxial and hypaxial length dynamics (fluoromicrometry) and associated skeletal motions (XROMM) during 24 suction feeding strikes from three channel catfish (). We also estimated the power required for suction feeding from oral pressure and dynamic endocast volume measurements. Cranial elevation relative to the body was small (<5 deg) and the epaxial muscles did not shorten during peak expansion power. In contrast, the hypaxial muscles consistently shortened by 4-8% to rotate the pectoral girdle 6-11 deg relative to the body. Despite only the hypaxial muscles generating power, catfish strikes were similar in power to those of other species, such as largemouth bass (), that use epaxial and hypaxial muscles to power mouth expansion. These results show that the epaxial muscles are not used as motors in catfish, but suggest they position and stabilize the cranium while the hypaxial muscles power mouth expansion ventrally. Thus, axial muscles can serve fundamentally different mechanical roles in generating and controlling cranial motion during suction feeding in fishes.
Topics: Animals; Bass; Biomechanical Phenomena; Feeding Behavior; Muscle, Skeletal; Suction
PubMed: 32948649
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.225649 -
Anatomy & Cell Biology Mar 2023Agenesis or congenital hypoplasia of skeletal muscles occurs infrequently but may occur with specific conditions such as Poland syndrome. The trapezius muscle can vary...
Agenesis or congenital hypoplasia of skeletal muscles occurs infrequently but may occur with specific conditions such as Poland syndrome. The trapezius muscle can vary in the extent of its bony attachments or may have additional slips, however congenital absence or hypoplasia is extremely rare. There are only a few reports of partial or complete absence of the trapezius muscle. Two cases of bilateral absence of the trapezius were both in males and were accompanied by the absence of additional muscle in the pectoral girdle. Herein, we describe a case of a 56-year-old male cadaver with bilateral hypoplasia of the trapezius. The muscle was largely represented by atrophied muscle fibers with an abundance of fibrotic or fatty connective tissue. This subject had very minor hypoplasia of the left pectoralis major muscle, but the remaining muscles of the pectoral girdle were normal. The spinal accessory nerve terminated in the sternocleidomastoid muscle on both sides, failing to reach the trapezius. We interpret these findings to be consistent with a minor variant of Poland syndrome.
PubMed: 36263506
DOI: 10.5115/acb.22.139