Structure and colour of the integument of the European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.)
The structure of the integument of 26 wild and nine artificially matured female Anguilla anguilla , and 30 sexually immature eels maintained in controlled lighting, was investigated. Melanophore densities varied in a way unrelated to maturity while xanthophores were progressively lost from lower lev...
| Published in: | Journal of Fish Biology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1982
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1982.tb02833.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1982.tb02833.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1982.tb02833.x |
| Summary: | The structure of the integument of 26 wild and nine artificially matured female Anguilla anguilla , and 30 sexually immature eels maintained in controlled lighting, was investigated. Melanophore densities varied in a way unrelated to maturity while xanthophores were progressively lost from lower levels in the skin. Reflecting layers made up of the purines, guanine and hypoxanthine were associated with chromatophore layers. Purine concentrations (as a percentage of total skin dry weight) decreased with maturity but a reorganization of the reflecting elements occurred. Colour changes associated with maturation were due to the redistribution of purines. Spectral and angular reflectance measurements indicate that the integument has camouflage value and colour changes can be related to the change in habitat occurring with migration. The usefulness of colour as an index of sexual maturity is discussed. |
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