Egg surface structure of three clingfish species, using scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

The three eastern Atlantic gobiesocid species Lepadogaster lepadogaster, Apletodon dentatus and Diplecogaster bimaculata share an attachment apparatus consisting of numerous bifurcating filaments that originate at the animal egg pole and are embedded in a mucous layer. The thickness of the mucous layer and zona radiata, and the structure and size of the micropyle vary among the three species. Because of lack of information about egg structure in paracanthopterygians and percomorphs with adhesive demersal eggs, the phylogenetic significance of this character complex remains unclear.