CT (Computerized Tomography) provides new views of the swimbladder in butterflyfishes (Chaetodon) with a novel specialization of the mechanosensory lateral line system

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TitleCT (Computerized Tomography) provides new views of the swimbladder in butterflyfishes (Chaetodon) with a novel specialization of the mechanosensory lateral line system
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Publication2000
AuthorsWebb, J. F., L. W. Smith, and D. R. Ketten
Conference NameSICB Meeting
Volume39
Pagination16A
PublisherAmerican Zoological Association
Call NumberDRK8545
Keywordsbutterflyfish, chaetodon, computerized tomography, ct scan, fish, morphology, perciformes, swim bladder, teleost
Abstract

The laterophysic connection (LC) is a unique swim bladder-lateral line linkage in Chaetodon. The LC has been examined histologically in 21 species; 2 LC types including 7 variants have been defined. Radiographic and gross morphological examination of the swim bladder in fixed material reveals that variation in swim bladder morphology is correlated with LC type. Thus, we suggest that the LC can thus be defined by the gross morphology of the swim bladder as well as the nature of the association of the horns and the lateral line canals. CT (computerized X-ray tomography) was used to clarify aspects of swim bladder morphology subject to fixation and histological artifacts. Anaesthetized fishes from representative Chaetodon species were scanned using an ultra-high resolution sub-millimeter spiral protocol (l00 µm voxel resolution). Imaging of slices and 3-D reconstruction clearly documents horn shape, variation in swim bladder shape, and the relationship of the swim bladder to the axial skeleton in living fishes, confirming interpretations derived from histological and whole fixed material.