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Ecomorphology of oral papillae and denticles of Zapteryx brevirostris (Chondrichthyes, Rhinobatidae)

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Abstract

Elasmobranchs have an impressive range of highly specialized sensory systems shaped over 400 million years of evolution. The morphological analysis of oral papillae and denticle in elasmobranchs elucidates the biological role that these structures play during feeding and ventilation, bringing important descriptive information about ecological implications in an evolutionary context. The present study provides descriptions of the distribution patterns, histological characteristics and three-dimensional aspects of oral papillae and denticles in the lesser guitarfish Zapteryx brevirostris, through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The presence of oral denticles in the oropharyngeal cavity suggests that this structure may have the following functions: protect against abrasion and parasites, increase the ability to grasp and hold prey and assist in reduction in hydrodynamic drag. The denticles in Z. brevirostris are similar to those found in pelagic sharks with forced ventilation (RAM). The structural conformity of denticles observed in the gill slits may facilitate water flow during prey grasp and food processing. This study supports the hypothesis that these structures may be an adaptive reflection shaped by feeding habits, capture strategies and processing prey.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank CNPq for Scientific initiation scholarship, CAPES for the Ph.D. scholarship, the postgraduate program of Department of Surgery, Faculty of the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science from University of São Paulo and postgraduate program in Aquaculture and fishing in Instituto de Pesca. We also would like to thank MSc. Julia Whidden for reviewing the English, and the fisherman and professor Jorge Luís Santos for the donation of the animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Professor Orlando Marques Paiva, s/n, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil

    Bianca de Sousa Rangel, José Roberto Kfoury Junior & Rose Eli Grassi Rici

  2. Laboratório de Morfologia-“LAMAF”, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Av. 24ª, nº. 1515, Bairro: Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, CEP 13506-900, Brazil

    Adriano Polican Ciena

  3. Departamento de Fisiologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Centro Politécnico, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, CEP 81531-990, Brazil

    Natascha Wosnick

  4. Núcleo de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Pesca/APTA/SAA/SP, Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão, nº 192, Santos, SP, 11030-906, Brazil

    Alberto Ferreira de Amorim

Authors
  1. Bianca de Sousa Rangel
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  2. Adriano Polican Ciena
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  3. Natascha Wosnick
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  4. Alberto Ferreira de Amorim
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  5. José Roberto Kfoury Junior
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  6. Rose Eli Grassi Rici
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Correspondence to Rose Eli Grassi Rici.

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Communicated by A. Schmidt-Rhaesa.

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Rangel, B.d., Ciena, A.P., Wosnick, N. et al. Ecomorphology of oral papillae and denticles of Zapteryx brevirostris (Chondrichthyes, Rhinobatidae). Zoomorphology 135, 189–195 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-016-0304-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-016-0304-0

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