Ecomorphological trends in the Artedidraconidae (Pisces: Perciformes: Notothenioidei) of the Weddell Sea

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Lombarte, Antoni, Olaso, Ignacio, Bozzano, Anna
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2003
• Subjects: Antarctica; Eye size; Mental barbel; Morphometry; Sensory organs; Trophic niche; Antarctic; Eastman; Morales; Weddell; Weddell Sea; Antarc*; Antarctic Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/39995; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102003001196

8 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables An ecomorphological study was performed on ten species of the family Artedidraconidae, the most benthic of the suborder Notothenioidei. These species are sympatric on the shelf of the Weddell Sea. The results show that the four genera comprising the family (Artedidraco, Dolloidraco, Histiodraco and Pogonophryne) can be differentiated by just a few morphometric features of their sensory organs and mouth. The genera were also clearly defined by the composition of their diet (benthic and epibenthic), the size of their prey, and their bathymetric distribution. Comparison of the morphological and ecological data shows a very close connection between sensory organs development, the mouth and bathymetric distribution. The morphological and ecological divergence observed can be explained as the result of the rapid adaptive radiation of the artedidraconids. The results confirm that characteristics of the sensory organs and alimentary structures are very suitable for the ecomorphological study of fishes The authors wish to thank Dr Wolf Arntz for his invitation to participate in the ANT XV/III survey. We express our gratitude to the scientific fishing teams, Drs A. Schröeder and R. Knust, for their help during this cruise, Drs Jordi Lleonart, Beatriz Morales-Nin and Eduardo Balguerias for scientific support, and Drs J. Montgomery and J.T. Eastman for their valuable comments. We also acknowledge the skill and professionalism of the RV Polarstern crew members. This work was undertaken as part of the SCAR EASIZ programme, and was supported by the Alfred Wegener Institute and the Spanish Antarctic Programme Peer reviewed