Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil
Abstract We studied the early larval stages (preflexion and flexion) of the pufferfish Sphoeroides pachygaster based on ichthyoplankton samples collected off the southeastern coast of Brazil. Species identification was performed through molecular analysis and morphological, morphometric, and meristi...
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Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Neotropical Ichthyology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252025000200221&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | Henrique Grande Ana C. T. Bonecker Mariana M. Julio Mario Katsuragawa Maria de Lourdes Zani-Teixeira Mateus G. Chuqui Artur R. Spirgatis Gabriela B. França Frederico P. Brandini Cláudia A. P. Namiki |
| author_facet | Henrique Grande Ana C. T. Bonecker Mariana M. Julio Mario Katsuragawa Maria de Lourdes Zani-Teixeira Mateus G. Chuqui Artur R. Spirgatis Gabriela B. França Frederico P. Brandini Cláudia A. P. Namiki |
| author_sort | Henrique Grande |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We studied the early larval stages (preflexion and flexion) of the pufferfish Sphoeroides pachygaster based on ichthyoplankton samples collected off the southeastern coast of Brazil. Species identification was performed through molecular analysis and morphological, morphometric, and meristic characters of different larval development stages. A total of 4,077 specimens were collected, with the vast majority (4,071 larvae) in the preflexion stage and the remainder (6 larvae) in the flexion stage. These larvae have a robust body shape, moderate height (body depth = 35.8% of the body length in early preflexion and 33.9% in flexion), and large eyes (eye diameter = 48.6% of the head length in preflexion and 36.8% in flexion stage). The tail is longer at the beginning of the preflexion stage (approximately 45% of body length at 1.53 mm). It decreases in length during the flexion stage (approximately 20% of body length at 6.43 mm). Notochord flexion initiates at around 5.69 mm and continues until at least 6.43 mm. The first observation of body inflation was recorded in a larva measuring 5.98 mm. Sphoeroides pachygaster larvae have a wide distribution across the study area, ranging from the outer shelf to oceanic waters. Vertically, the species is predominantly found within the water column layers between 0 and 50 m in depth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a6ff856e656425ebb3d366d5da292f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1982-0224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neotropical Ichthyology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a6ff856e656425ebb3d366d5da292f82025-08-20T03:39:10ZengSociedade Brasileira de IctiologiaNeotropical Ichthyology1982-02242025-08-0123210.1590/1982-0224-2024-0093Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern BrazilHenrique Grandehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7270-2365Ana C. T. Boneckerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2606-884XMariana M. Juliohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7170-3799Mario Katsuragawahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7986-8096Maria de Lourdes Zani-Teixeirahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0865-1719Mateus G. Chuquihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4167-0030Artur R. Spirgatishttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-5135-7061Gabriela B. Françahttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-7824-4000Frederico P. Brandinihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3177-4274Cláudia A. P. Namikihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9262-8409Abstract We studied the early larval stages (preflexion and flexion) of the pufferfish Sphoeroides pachygaster based on ichthyoplankton samples collected off the southeastern coast of Brazil. Species identification was performed through molecular analysis and morphological, morphometric, and meristic characters of different larval development stages. A total of 4,077 specimens were collected, with the vast majority (4,071 larvae) in the preflexion stage and the remainder (6 larvae) in the flexion stage. These larvae have a robust body shape, moderate height (body depth = 35.8% of the body length in early preflexion and 33.9% in flexion), and large eyes (eye diameter = 48.6% of the head length in preflexion and 36.8% in flexion stage). The tail is longer at the beginning of the preflexion stage (approximately 45% of body length at 1.53 mm). It decreases in length during the flexion stage (approximately 20% of body length at 6.43 mm). Notochord flexion initiates at around 5.69 mm and continues until at least 6.43 mm. The first observation of body inflation was recorded in a larva measuring 5.98 mm. Sphoeroides pachygaster larvae have a wide distribution across the study area, ranging from the outer shelf to oceanic waters. Vertically, the species is predominantly found within the water column layers between 0 and 50 m in depth.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252025000200221&lng=en&tlng=enDNA barcodingFish larvaeLarval descriptionTetraodontiformesWestern South Atlantic |
| spellingShingle | Henrique Grande Ana C. T. Bonecker Mariana M. Julio Mario Katsuragawa Maria de Lourdes Zani-Teixeira Mateus G. Chuqui Artur R. Spirgatis Gabriela B. França Frederico P. Brandini Cláudia A. P. Namiki Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil Neotropical Ichthyology DNA barcoding Fish larvae Larval description Tetraodontiformes Western South Atlantic |
| title | Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil |
| title_full | Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil |
| title_short | Molecular identification, early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) off southeastern Brazil |
| title_sort | molecular identification early development and distribution of larval blunthead puffer sphoeroides pachygaster teleostei tetraodontidae off southeastern brazil |
| topic | DNA barcoding Fish larvae Larval description Tetraodontiformes Western South Atlantic |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252025000200221&lng=en&tlng=en |
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