A re-description of the little known rabbit fish Siganus lineatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) (Pisces:Siganide) with notes on siganid fishes of the Vembanad Lake

Siganus lineatus (Cuv. and Val) is reported from the coast of peninsular India for the first time and a detailed description of it is given based on morphology and meristic characters. It differs from the other allied species of the genus Siganus Forskal in having an oval body without spots and having fifteen parallel longitudinal golden yellow bands, relatively larger last dorsal spine, maxillary position far below the level of the orbit and cheek with distinct rows of scales. S. javus (Linnaeus) and S. canaliculatus (Park) were also obtained from the Vembanad Lake. Short notes on the habitat, occurrence, abundance, seasonal and geographic distribution in relation to fluctuating hydrological conditions of the Vembanad Lake are incorporated together with a key for their identification.

Development of hexagrammids (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) in the northeastern Pacific Ocean

Larvae of Oxylebius pictus, Zaniolepis sp., Ophiodon elongatus, Hexagrommos stelleri, H. decagrammus, H. lagocephalus, H. octogrammus, and Pleurogrammus monopterygius are described and illustrated from field collections which were supplemented by laboratory reared specimens of some species. Larvae hatch at a rather large size (3-9 mm), are heavily pigmented, and undergo direct development to an epipelagic prejuvenile stage. Larvae or the five genera are separable on the basis of body shape, pigmentation, and meristic characters. Larvae or the four species of Hexagrammos, which are quite similar in appearance, are separable on the basis of a combination of several pigmentation characters. Developmental evidence indicates that Oxylebius and Zaniolepis are similar to each other and are more similar to presumed primitive coUids than the other included genera. Ophiodon is dissimilar to the other four genera. Pleurogrammus and Hexagrommos have similar appearing larvae. Among the species of Hexagrammos a progression or increasing larval pigmentation can be seen from H. stelleri to H. decagrammus, H. lagocephalus, and H. octogrammus. (PDF file contains 50 pages.)

A biologically active peptide in the skin of lampreys (Eudontomyzon danfordi vladykovi). [Translation from: Z.Naturforsch. (B), 26(10), 1021-1023, 1971. ]

In recent years interest in the production and description of kinin-type substances has been greatly intensified. So, for example, bradykinin, phyllokinin, physalaemin, ranatensin and caerulein could be extracted from the skin of amphibians as well as. eledoisin out of the salivary glands of Eledon moschata. An examination of lampreys seemed to us particularly profitable in the search for the incidence of further kinins. Ammocoetes of different sizes and also adults of both sexes of the species Eudontomyzon danfordi vladykovi were studied in this research. This species is found in many tributaries of the Danube. Skin extracts were tested on on isolated rat uterus, rat duodenum, guinea pig ileum and rabbit jejunum, further tests were done in order to determine a peptide character of the biologically active substance.

Eggs, Larvae and Young of The Striped Bass, Roccus saxatilis

Detailed descriptions of the early development of the striped bass, Roccus saxitilis (Walbaum), with emphasis on variation in size and morphology, sequence of fin formation, changes in body form, and attainment of the full complement of maristic numbers, are presented and illustrated for the first time. The egg is spherical, transparent, non-adhesive and relatively large. It is pelagic and buoyant, although it sinks in quiet fresh water. When unfertilized, it averages 1.3 mm, in diameter, but is 3.4 mm. when fertilized and water-hardened. The granular yolk sac, green when alive and whitish-yellow when preserved, averages 1.2 mm., and the single amber-colored oil globule is about 0.6 mm. in diameter. Newly hatched striped bass prolarvae, which range from 2.9-3.7 mm. in total length, are relatively undeveloped and nearly transparent, with no mouth opening, unpigmented eyes, and a greatly enlarged yolk sac with the large oil globule projecting beyond the head. When 5-6 mm. long the yolk sac and oil globule are assimilated and the postlarvae I show advanced development of the internal anatomy. Although the fish is still transparent, scattered melanophores are found on the head and body and chromatophores in the eyes and the ventro-posterior edge of the body. Postlarvae transform to young between 7 and 10 mm. in length when the finfolds are lost except in the dorsal, anal and caudal regions. The largest fish in this group possess a well-formed skeleton with a full complement of 25 vertebrae. Between 10 and 20 mm. in length all fish are fully transformed, muscular tissue renders most of the internal structure obscure, and the myotomes, which generally correspond in number with the vertebrae, are no longer visible. At fish lengths of 20-30 mm. scales are found on all specimens, and with the exception of the pectoral fin-rays, a full complement of meristic structures is present in all other fins. At this stage the body is pigmented uniformly with small spots. Linear regressions between several dependent variables and the , independent variable of standard length indicate that the rate of development of head, eye. and snout to anus lengths is proportional to the length of the larvae and young. Body depth and standard length are non-linear among newly-hatched larvae. Hatchery-reared striped bass demonstrated a slow rate of growth, and were regarded as "stunted," when compared to growth rates observed in another study and field collections. Observations were also made on abnormal eggs and teratological larvae and young. Blue-sac disease is tentatively identified and described for the first time in larvae and pugnosed larvae and young are also described for the first time in striped bass.

Antibacterial marine bacterium deter luminous vibriosis in shrimp larvae

Inhibitory activity of a marine pigmented bacterium - Alteromonas sp. - isolated from Penaeus monodon Fabricius larva against pathogenic and environmental isolates of Vibrio harveyi was studied. All the isolates were inhibited to varying degrees by Alteromonas sp. in vitro. The antibacterial substance produced by the Alteromonas sp. was soluble in organic solvent and closely bound to the external surface of bacterial cells. The antibacterial Alteromonas sp., when allowed to colonize on shrimp larvae, suppressed the activity of V. harveyi M3 and reduced mortality of P. monodon larvae in vivo.

Larval development of the southern sea garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir) and the river garfish (H. regularis) (Beloniformes: Hemiramphidae) from South Australian waters

Larval development of the southern sea garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir) and the river garfish (H. regularis) is described from specimens from South Australian waters. Larvae of H. melanochir and H. regularis have completed notochord flexion at hatching and are characterized by an elongate body with distinct rows of melanophores along the dorsal, lateral, and ventral surfaces; a small to moderate head; a heavily pigmented and long straight gut; a persistent pre-anal finfold; and an extended lower jaw. Fin formation occurs in the following sequence: caudal, dorsal and anal (almost simultaneously), pectoral, and pelvic. Despite the similarities between both species and among hemiramphid larvae in general, H. melanochir larvae are distinguishable from H. regularis by 1) having 58–61 vertebrae (vs. 51–54 for H. regularis); 2) having 12–15 melanophore pairs in longitudinal rows along the dorsal margin between the head and origin of the dorsal fin (vs. 19–22 for H. regularis); and 3) the absence of a large ventral pigment blotch anteriorly on the gut and isthmus (present in H. regularis). Both species can be distinguished from similar larvae of southern Australia (other hemiramphids and a scomberosocid) by differences in meristic counts and pigmentation.

Developmental characters of Psettina Iijimae (Jordan and Starks), bothid flat fishes - Pisces

Post larval stages of Psettina Iijimae ranging from 1.8 mm NL to 44.6 mm SL collected during Naga Expedition and International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) are described. The characteristics which help to identify larval stages of Psettina are: the presence of pigmented urohyal appendage in early stages which is progressively reduced during flexion stages and which disappears in later postflexion stages, the meristics, the spines on urohyal and posterior basipterygial processes and the absence of spines on cleithra. The P. iijimae can be distinguished by the presence of spines on the median fin rays which differentiate near the baseosts along the dorsal and ventral body wall much before the fin rays. The larvae of P.iijimae were more abundant in the Gulf of Thailand compared to South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

Induced breeding, embryonic and larval development in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) in the agro-climatic conditions of Maharashtra

Heteropneustes fossilis was induced bred for the first time in the agro-climatic conditions of Maharashtra, India. The embryonic development was completed within 16-18h after fertilisation. Head and tail ends were distinguishable after 3h and 11-12 somites were visible after 6-7h. The eggs started hatching after 14h of incubation. Average hatching time was 16-18h at 26 degrees C. In first day old pro-larva, notochord was deflected upwards, eyes were darkly pigmented and alimentary canal appeared. In fourth day old post-larva intestinal coiling could be seen and yolk was absorbed. Aerial respiration started by 8th day. The 10 day old post-larva was free swimming and fed voraciously attaining a length of 20 mm in 30 days.

Morphological, biochemical and growth characteristics of Serratia strains isolated from sardine (Sardinella longiceps)

Two aerobic, gram-negative asporogenous, red-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strains were isolated from oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps). Their morphological, biochemical and growth characteristics are reported. The pigment was identified to be a prodigiosene. The strains were found to resemble Serratia plymuthica. Effect of temperature and certain carbohydrates on pigmentation was also studied. Iron was found to inhibit pigmentation, and mannitol or sorbitol removed such inhibition.

Serological studies on oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) and mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta)

An antiserum was raised in a rabbit against 0 panel red cells of mackerel. The erythrocytes of oil sardine and mackerel were tested against human blood typing sera anti A and B and also the test serum of rabbit which revealed the presence of antigens A and B. In addition, an antigen common to both the fishes and human A, B and 0 panel red cells was noted but not identifiable. The blood group B did not manifest itself clearly either in oil sardine or mackerel. The blood groups A, AB and 0 indicated the existence of genetically different groups of oil sardine and mackerel. Isoagglutinin tests revealed the presence of a reciprocal relationship with antigens A and B in both these fishes.