Zoological Science

This study was designed to examine the effect of thermal acclimation on the lipid composition of fat depot organs the liver and kidneys of larval sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. We found that 21°C-acclimated larvae possessed lower total lipid amounts in the liver (39% lower) and kidneys (30% lower) than 13°C-acclimated larvae. Relatively lower lipid contents in the liver and kidneys of 21°C-acclimated lamprey primarily resulted from a reduction in stored lipid reserve, triacylglycerol, but not the structural lipid, phospholipid. Compared to 21°C-acclimated larvae, 13°C-acclimated larvae were found to possess fewer saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and more unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs) in renal triacylglycerol and phospholipid classes, while there were no significant differences in the SFAs and USFAs of hepatic triacylglycerol, phospholipid, cholesteryl ester, fatty acid, and monoacylglycerol classes. Fewer SFAs, found in the kidney triacylglycerol of 13°C-acclimated lamprey, were due to lower 12:0 and 14:0 fatty acids, but those in the renal phospholipid class were characterized by fewer 14:0, 15:0, and 16:0 fatty acids. More USFAs in renal triacylglycerol, as indicated by a higher unsaturation index, primarily resulted from higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:2ω6, 18:3ω3, and 18:4ω3); whereas, in the renal phospholipid class, this was a result of higher monoenes (18:1, 20:1, and 22:1ω9) and ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:4ω3). These data suggest that the influence of thermal acclimation on the lipid composition of lamprey fat depot organs depends on tissue and lipid class.

The adult of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis has cupular organs, i.e., putative hydrodynamic sensors, at the atrial epithelium. The cupular organ consists of support cells and sensory neurons, and it extends a gelatinous matrix, known as a cupula, toward the atrial cavity. These characteristics are shared with sensory hair cells in the vertebrate inner ear and lateral line neuromasts in fish and amphibians, which suggests an evolutionary link between the cupular organ and these vertebrate hydrodynamic sensors. In the present study, we have isolated and investigated two transposonmediated enhancer detection lines that showed GFP expression in support cells of the cupular organs. Using the enhancer detection lines and neuron marker transgenic lines, we describe the position, morphology, and development of the cupular organs. Cupular organs were found at the atrial epithelium, but not in the branchial epithelium. We found that cupular organs are also present along the dorsal fold and the gonoducts. The cells lining the pre-atrial opening in juveniles are presumably precursor cells of the cupular organ. To our knowledge, the present study is the first precise description of the ascidian cupular organ, providing evidence that may help to resolve discrepancies among previous studies on the organ.

The cyclopoid copepod Neoergasilus japonicus (Harada, 1930) is recorded from three endangered or threatened fish species from southeast Mexico: the tailbar cichlid Vieja hartwegi (Taylor and Miller, 1980); the Angostura cichlid V. breidohri (Werner and Stawikowski, 1987); and the sieve cichlid C. grammodes (Taylor and Miller, 1980). This ectoparasitic copepod is considered, together with most other members of Neoergasilus, an Eastern Asian form. N. japonicus is one of the most widespread parasitic Asian copepods, as it has rapidly invaded Europe and North America, including Mexico. We estimated the prevalence, mean abundance, and intensity of infection of N. japonicus in these cichlid teleosts; our data agree with previous works stating the high prevalence of this ectoparasite. This copepod has a wide range of hosts among freshwater fish taxa, but this is only the second published report from cichlids in the Neotropical region. The three cichlids surveyed, V. hartwegi, V. breidohri, and C. grammodes, are new hosts of this copepod. Its occurrence in Mexico is attributed to different events of introduction by human agency. This is the southernmost record of N. japonicus in continental America. It is a matter of concern that this copepod is parasitizing endangered or threatened endemic cichlids in the Neotropical region. Because its high infective efficiency and ability to shift hosts, this Asian parasite is expected to spread farther southwards into Central and South America.

The large-male mating advantage and size-assortative mating are two different size-based patterns, which deviate from random mating in toads. These two pairing patterns may arise due to female choice, male—male competition, male choice, or a combination of these. This study investigated the mating system of Minshan's toad (Bufo minshanicus) from three populations along an altitudinal gradient during two breeding reasons in the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Our study shows that males found in amplexus with females were larger on average than non-amplectant males in two sites with higher operational sex ratios. Similarly, in those sites, males and females found in amplexus maintained an optimal size ratio. These data suggest that male—male competition leads to size-assortative mating in the lack of mate choice (female and male mate choice) by Minshan's toad, as larger males performed higher frequencies for taking-over other low quality ones with amplectant females.

The male Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, builds a bubble nest on the water surface to care for offspring during the reproductive period. To our knowledge, this study is the first to determine the composition of the bubble nest and to compare the pharyngeal organs of male and female Siamese fighting fish to determine the relationship between the pharyngeal organ and the ability to make bubble nests. Dot blots of the bubble nest probed with periodic acid-Schiff's (PAS) staining and Ponceau S solution revealed that the contents of the nest are glycoprotein rich. Dissection of the heads of Siamese fighting fish showed that the pharyngeal organ is located in the position through which inhaled air passes. The epithelial structure of the pharyngeal organ of the Siamese fighting fish, like that of other teleosts, has numerous wrinkles and papillae. Mucous goblet cells were observed on the epithelium of pharyngeal organs in male and female fish. The pharyngeal organ was found to be larger in male than in female fish. In addition, the epithelium of the pharyngeal organ in male fish has a greater number of mucous goblet cells than that in female fish. In Siamese fighting fish, this sexual dimorphism of the pharyngeal organ suggests that the male fish secretes more glycoprotein-rich mucus to build the bubble nest. Future work will focus on the type of mucous cells found in the epithelium of the pharyngeal organ that contributes to bubble formation and will determine the components of the mucus in the bubble nest.

We simultaneously investigated eye and head movements and postural adjustment during orienting by measuring load force exerted by four limbs in cats. When light is moved from the fixation point to the target position, the head first begins moving towards the target position, and the eye moves in the opposite direction due to the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Later, the eye moves quickly in the target direction by saccade, synchronous with the remaining rapid head orientation movement. Head movement is classified as either ‘head rotation’ or ‘head translation’. During head rotation, the load force in ipsilateral limb to the target position decreased, and that in the contralateral limb increased. During head translation, on the contrary, load force in the ipsilateral limb increased and that in the contralateral limb decreased. This phenomenon was observed in fore- and hindlimbs. The latencies of head movement are very similar with those of the load force change in many trials, and in case in which the head movement has short latency, the amount of load force change is larger. In contrast, when head movement has long latency, the amount of load force change is smaller. In a previous study, we recorded two types of neurons from ponto-medullary reticular formation. The firing of these neurons was related with head movement. The cervical reticulospinal neuron (C-RSN) in ponto-medullary reticular formation got off collateral to both neck and forelimb motoneurons. These types were named phasic neuron (PN) and phasic sustained neuron (PSN). We discuss the relation between load changes and the two types of neurons and postural adjustment during orienting.

Low osmolality initiates sperm motility during the external fertilization of aquatic anuran amphibians. It is thought that this process occurs also in urodeles, but this has not been fully examined in these species. We report here that fertilization was achieved in the externally fertilizing hynobiid, Hynobius lichenatus, by direct insemination onto the egg jelly surface without initial exposure of the sperm to a hypoosmotic solution. To identify the factors in addition to low osmolality that initiate sperm motility in Hynobius, we suspended the sperm of this amphibian in egg jelly extract (JE), and about 90% began to move within 1 min. This indicated the presence of a substance in JE that promotes motility initiation, as is also the case in the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster. To examine whether this JE factor is homologous to the sperm motility-initiating substance (SMIS) in the newt, we tested for possible inter-sepcies cross-reactivity of the JE. The percentage of moving Cynops sperm was increased to 67% in Hynobius JE at 5 min, and 65% of the Hynobius sperm began to move in Cynops JE within 1 min, indicating that JE is indeed cross-reactive between these species of salamander and newt. Concomitantly, pretreatment of Hynobius JE with Fab fragments of a Cynops SMIS monoclonal antibody resulted in a decreased number of moving Hynobius sperm. Immunoblotting further suggested that the substance in Hynobius JE responsible for motility initiation has an 18 kDa molecular mass, with an isoelectric point at 7.5.

Orobdella whitmani has three syntype localities, Mt. Kinkazan, Gifu Pref., Mt. Kodaijiyama, Kyoto Pref. and Mt. Kimposan, Kumamoto Pref. The specimens from Mt. Kimposan can be distinguished from those from Mt. Kinkazan and Mt. Kodaijiyama by an annulation of somite XXVI, and possession of a tubular gastroporal duct. Specimens from Mt. Kimposan are described as representing a new species, Orobdella esulcata. Orobdella whitmani is redescribed with designation of a specimen from Mt. Kinkazan deposited at The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, as the lectotype.

Two new species of carnivorous sponges of the genus Abyssocladia are described. These sponges were collected from Myojin Knoll, Izu-Ogasawara (Izu-Bonin) Arc, in southern Japan. Detailed morphological observation based on specimen both in situ and preserved revealed functional differentiation of spicule distribution. Abyssocladia natsushimae sp. nov. is distinct within the genus in its mop-like gross morphology, large body size, and soft tissue packed with numerous microspined microstrongyles. Abyssocladia myojinensis sp. nov. is characterized by possession of both typical abyssochelae and palmate abyssochelae. This is the first record of the genus from Japan.

A new genus Songius is established and two new species — Songius rugosus from Qixia Mountain and Laoshan Forest Park, Jiangsu, and Tiantangzhai, Dabie Mountain, Anhui, and Songius bicruris from Tiantangzhai — are described. A novel surface structure of the pygidial tergum was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The genus is established on the basis of the distinctive appearance of the modification of the surface structure of the pygidial tergum.