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Comparative histology of the adult electric organ among four species of the genus Campylomormyrus (Teleostei: Mormyridae)

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Abstract

The electric organ (EO) of weakly electric mormyrids consists of flat, disk-shaped electrocytes with distinct anterior and posterior faces. There are multiple species-characteristic patterns in the geometry of the electrocytes and their innervation. To further correlate electric organ discharge (EOD) with EO anatomy, we examined four species of the mormyrid genus Campylomormyrus possessing clearly distinct EODs. In C. compressirostris, C. numenius, and C. tshokwe, all of which display biphasic EODs, the posterior face of the electrocytes forms evaginations merging to a stalk system receiving the innervation. In C. tamandua that emits a triphasic EOD, the small stalks of the electrocyte penetrate the electrocyte anteriorly before merging on the anterior side to receive the innervation. Additional differences in electrocyte anatomy among the former three species with the same EO geometry could be associated with further characteristics of their EODs. Furthermore, in C. numenius, ontogenetic changes in EO anatomy correlate with profound changes in the EOD. In the juvenile the anterior face of the electrocyte is smooth, whereas in the adult it exhibits pronounced surface foldings. This anatomical difference, together with disparities in the degree of stalk furcation, probably contributes to the about 12 times longer EOD in the adult.

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Acknowledgments

We thank S. Abelt, H. Höft and D. Bernau for technical assistance. Financial support is acknowledged from the University of Potsdam and the Leibniz-SAW project GENART. Further, financial support is acknowledged from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TI 349/1-1 and TI 349/1-2).

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All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, Haus 26, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany

    Christiane Paul & Ralph Tiedemann

  2. Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie et de Foresterie, Université Marien Ngouabi, B.P. 69, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

    Victor Mamonekene

  3. Unit of General Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, Haus 26, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany

    Marianne Vater

  4. Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Seestrasse 79, 6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland

    Philine G. D. Feulner

  5. Faculty of Biology, AG Active Sensing, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany

    Jacob Engelmann

  6. Unit of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin, Philippstr. 13, Haus 16, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Frank Kirschbaum

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  1. Christiane Paul
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Correspondence to Frank Kirschbaum.

Electronic supplementary material

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359_2015_995_MOESM1_ESM.xlsx

Online Resource 1: five EOD characteristics for 82 specimens of four Campylomormyrus species (C. compressirostris, C. numenius, C. tamandua and C. tshokwe) measured via a custom-made MATLAB script (XLSX 16 kb)

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Paul, C., Mamonekene, V., Vater, M. et al. Comparative histology of the adult electric organ among four species of the genus Campylomormyrus (Teleostei: Mormyridae). J Comp Physiol A 201, 357–374 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-015-0995-6

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