Abstract
Morphological development in laboratory-reared larval and juvenile bighead catfish Clarias macrocephalus is described. Body length (BL) of larvae and juveniles was 3.4 ± 0.3 (mean ± SD) mm just after hatching, reaching 11.3 ± 1.0 mm by day 16, and 24.2 ± 2.8 mm by day 40. Overall aggregate fin ray numbers (except for caudal fin procurrent rays) attained full complements by 15.2 mm BL. Gill buds appeared on day 0, those of barbels (four pairs) and primordial nostrils on day 1, and pectoral fins on day 3. All larvae began feeding by day 3. Conical teeth were observed on day 7. Notochord flexion began on day 2, the yolk being completely absorbed during days 7–9. Melanophores were scarce at hatching, increasing with growth to cover almost the entire body except the ventral surface of the abdominal cavity. Proportions of head length, pre-anal length, body depth, eye diameter, and maxillary barbel length became relatively constant after yolk absorption, those of snout length and upper jaw length increasing until ca. 12–13 mm BL and decreasing thereafter. Suprabranchial organ started developing in postflexion larval stage larger than ca. 11.0 mm BL (day 16), and air-breathing was suggested to be functional at that time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmed, AE, Mohamed K, Ahmed SA, Masoud F (2008) Anatomical, light and scanning electron microscopic studies on the air breathing dendretic organ of the sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus). J Vet Anat 1:29–37
Baird IG, Inthaphaisy V, Kisouvannalath P, Phylavanh B, Mounsouphom B (1999) The fishes of southern Lao. Lao Community Fisheries and Dolphin Protection Project. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane
Carreon JA, Estocapio FA, Enderez EM (1976) Recommended procedures for induced spawning and fingerling production of Clarias macrocephalus Gunther. Aquaculture 8:269–281
Csavas I (1995) Status and perspectives of culturing catfishes in East and Southeast Asia. FAO Aquac Newsletter 8:2–10
De Silva SS, Nguyen TTT, Abery NW, Amarasinghe US (2006) An evaluation of the role and impacts of alien finfish in Asian inland aquaculture. Aquac Res 37:1–17
Eldredge LG (1994) Perspectives in aquatic exotic species management in the Pacific islands. Vol I. Introduction of commercially significant aquatic organisms to the Pacific islands. South Pacific Commission, Noumea
Kendall AW Jr, Ahlstrom EH, Moser HG (1984) Early life history stages of fishes and their characters. In: Moser HG, Richards WJ, Cohen DM, Fahay MP, Kendall AW Jr, Richardson SL (eds) Ontogeny and systematics of fishes, American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology, Special Publication No 1. Allen Press, Lawrence, pp 11–22
Kohno H (1998) Early life history features influencing larval survival of cultivated tropical finfish. In: De Silva SS (ed) Tropical mariculture. Academic Press, London, pp 71–111
Kottelat M (2001) Fish of Laos. Ganaratne Offset Ltd., Colombo
Leis JM, Trnski T (1989) The larvae of Indo-Pacific shorefishes. NSW University Press, Kensington
Maina JN, Maloiy GMO (1986) The morphology of the respiratory organs of the African air-breathing catfish (Clarias mossambicus): a light, electron and scanning microscopic study, with morphometric observations. J Zool 209:421–445
Matsumoto S, Morioka S, Kumagai S (2001) Development of African catfish Clarias gariepinus larvae during the transitional phase between endogenous and exogenous energy intake. In: Weyl OLF, Weyl MV (eds) Proceedings of the Lake Malawi fisheries management symposium, Department of Fishery, Lilongwe, pp 227–232
Morioka S, Vongvichith B (2011) Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile Hemibagrus filamentus (Siluriformes: Bagridae). Ichthyol Res 58:245–254
Morioka S, Ito S, Kitamura S, Vongvichith B (2009) Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile climbing perch Anabas testudineus. Ichthyol Res 56:162–171
Morioka S, Ito S, Kitamura S (2010a) Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile snakeskin gourami Trichogaster pectoralis. Ichthyol Res 57:24–31
Morioka S, Sano K, Phommachan P, Vongvichith B (2010b) Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Ichthyol Res 57:139–147
Morioka S, Cacot P, Moteki M, Thipvantong V, Philavong S, Pounvisouk L, Chantasone P, Thapysy V (2011a) Ontogenetic development during changeover from an endogenous to exogenous nutritional source in Laotian cyprinid Cirrhinus microlepis larvae. Fish Sci 78:221–227
Morioka S, Chanthasone P, Phommachan P, Vongvichith B (2011b) Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile three-spot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus. Ichthyol Res 59:53–62
Moteki S, Yoseda K, Sahin T, Üstündağ C, Kohno H (2001) Transition from endogenous to exogenous nutritional sources in larval Black Sea turbot Psetta maxima. Fish Sci 67:571–578
Na-Nakorn U, Chantsawang S, Tarnchalanukit W (1994) Response to mass selection for resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in Clarias macrocephalus. J Appl Aqua 4:65–74
Na-Nakorn U, Kamonrat W, Ngamsiri T (2004) Genetic diversity of walking catfish, Clarias macrocephalus, in Thailand and evidence of genetic introgression from introduced farmed C. gariepinus. Aquaculture 240:145–163
Nguyen TTT, De Silva SS (2006) Freshwater finfish biodiversity and conservation: an Asian perspective. Biodivers Conserv 15:3543–3568
Ogata Y, Morioka S, Sano K, Vongvichith B, Eda H, Kurokura H, Khonglaliane T (2010) Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larvae and juveniles of the Laotian indigenous cyprinid Hypsibarbus malcolmi. Ichthyol Res 57:389–397
Olson KR, Ghosh TK, Roy PK, Munshi JSD (1995) Microcirculation of gills and accessory respiratory organs of the walking catfish Clarias batrachus. Anat Rec 242:383–399
Phillips MJ (2002) Fresh water aquaculture in the Lower Mekong Basin. MRC Technical Paper No 7, Mekong River Commission, Phnom Penh
Senanan W, Kapuscinski AR, Na-Nakorn U, Miller LM (2004) Genetic impacts of hybrid catfish farming (Clarias macrocephalus × C. gariepinus) on native catfish populations in central Thailand. Aquaculture 235:167–184
Teugels GG, Adriaens D (2003) Taxonomy and phylogeny of Clariidae—an overview. In Arratia G, Kapoor BG, Chardon M, Diogo R (eds) Cat fishes, Science Publishers, Enfield, pp 465–487
Welcomme RL (1988) International introductions of inland aquatic species. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 294, Rome
Welcomme RL, Vidthayanon C (2003) The impact of introductions and stocking of exotic species in the Mekong basin and policies for their control. Technical Paper No 9, Mekong River Commission, Phnom Penh
Acknowledgments
We express our sincere gratitude to staff of the Nong Teng Fish farming Station, Living Aquatic Resources Research Center, Vientiane, Laos, for their technical assistance. Our thanks also go to G. Hardy for his constructive English revision.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Morioka, S., Vongvichith, B., Phommachan, P. et al. Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile bighead catfish Clarias macrocephalus (Siluriformes: Clariidae). Ichthyol Res 60, 16–25 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-012-0301-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-012-0301-3