A Large-Scale Pattern of Ontogenetic Shape Change in Ray-Finned Fishes.

Hilary R Katz,Melina E Hale,Pierre Boudinot

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150841

Abstract

Fishes exhibit a remarkable diversity of body shape as adults; however, it is unknown whether this diversity is reflected in larval stage morphology. Here we investigate the relationship between larval and adult body shape as expressed by body elongation. We surveyed a broad range of ray-finned fish species and compared body shape at larval and adult stages. Analysis shows that the vast majority of fish are more elongate at the larval stage than at the adult stage, and that adults display greater interspecies variation than larvae. We found that the superorder Elompomorpha is unique because many species within the group do not follow the observed elongation trends. These results indicate that much of the diversity observed in adults is achieved in post-larval stages. We suggest that larval morphology is subject to common constraints across the phylogeny.

Highlights

Comparing and categorizing species at their adult stage has shown that ray-finned fish species exhibit a wide diversity of body shapes [1,2,3]
Such work at the larval stage has been limited to a handful of species in one environment or species within a single family [4,5]
We examine larval and adult body shape diversity on a broader scale

Summary

Introduction

Comparing and categorizing species at their adult stage has shown that ray-finned fish species exhibit a wide diversity of body shapes [1,2,3]. Studies investigating shape diversity at the larval stage indicate that there is less diversity in larvae than adults [4]. Such work at the larval stage has been limited to a handful of species in one environment or species within a single family [4,5]. We examine larval and adult body shape diversity on a broader scale. By surveying a wide range of species, we can investigate trends across the phylogeny. We can identify outlier groups that may be of use as case studies for finding developmental mechanisms for shape diversification

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