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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Homology of the Fifth Epibranchial and Accessory Elements of the Ceratobranchials among Gnathostomes: Insights from the Development of Ostariophysans

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Author(s):
Carvalho, Murilo [1, 2] ; Bockmann, Flavio Alicino [1] ; de Carvalho, Marcelo Rodrigues [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, PPG Biol Comparada, LIRP, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Lab Ictiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: PLoS One; v. 8, n. 4 APR 18 2013.
Web of Science Citations: 15
Abstract

Epibranchials are among the main dorsal elements of the gill basket in jawed vertebrates (Gnathostomata). Among extant fishes, chondrichthyans most resemble the putative ancestral condition as all branchial arches possess every serially homologous piece. In osteichthyans, a primitive rod-like epibranchial 5, articulated to ceratobranchial 5, is absent. Instead, epibranchial 5 of many actinopterygians is here identified as an accessory element attached to ceratobranchial 4. Differences in shape and attachment of epibranchial 5 in chondrichthyans and actinopterygians raised suspicions about their homology, prompting us to conduct a detailed study of the morphology and development of the branchial basket of three ostariophysans (Prochilodus argenteus, Characiformes; Lophiosilurus alexandri and Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, Siluriformes). Results were interpreted within a phylogenetic context of major gnathostome lineages. Developmental series strongly suggest that the so-called epibranchial 5 of actinopterygians does not belong to the epal series because it shares the same chondroblastic layer with ceratobranchial 4 and its ontogenetic emergence is considerably late. This neomorphic structure is called accessory element of ceratobranchial 4. Its distribution among gnathostomes indicates it is a teleost synapomorphy, occurring homoplastically in Polypteriformes, whereas the loss of the true epibranchial 5 is an osteichthyan synapomorphy. The origin of the accessory element of ceratobranchial 4 appears to have occurred twice in osteichthyans, but it may have a single origin; in this case, the accessory element of ceratobranchial 4 would represent a remnant of a series of elements distally attached to ceratobranchials 1-4, a condition totally or partially retained in basal actinopterygians. Situations wherein a structure is lost while a similar neomorphic element is present may lead to erroneous homology assessments; these can be avoided by detailed morphological and ontogenetic investigations interpreted in the light of well-supported phylogenetic hypotheses. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 09/54931-0 - Improvement and management of biological specimen collections at the Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo
Grantee:Carlos Alberto Garofalo
Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Biological specimen collections
FAPESP's process: 12/02349-8 - Taxonomic review of the family Gymnuridae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatoidei)
Grantee:Marcelo Rodrigues de Carvalho
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 12/05391-5 - Molecular evolution of regulatory regions of HOX genes associated with the morphology of fish fins, with special emphasis on Chondrichthyes
Grantee:Marcelo Rodrigues de Carvalho
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 12/05152-0 - Molecular evolution of regulatory regions of HOX genes associated with the morphology of fish fins, with special emphasis on Chondrichthyes
Grantee:Murilo de Carvalho
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
FAPESP's process: 04/09219-6 - Phylogenetic relationships in Characidae (Ostariophysi:Characiforms)
Grantee:Ricardo Macedo Corrêa e Castro
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 12/09877-0 - Comparative analysis of the morphology of the feeding apparatus in Myliobatiform rays (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea)
Grantee:Marcelo Rodrigues de Carvalho
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants