Mexican Blindcats Genus Prietella (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae): an overview of Recent Explorations

Hendrickson, Dean A.; Krejca, Jean K.; Martinez, Juan Manuel Rodríguez

doi:10.1023/a:1011808805094

Cited by 25 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Most catfishes are nocturnal and inhabit hypogean or even troglobitic freshwater environments (Bruton and Michael, 1996;Hendrickson et al, 2001;Pohlmann et al, 2001). Previous research on the visual system of catfish has focused primarily on visual physiology (Lasater & Lam, 1984;Naka et al, 1979) and morphology (Dunn-Meynell & Sharma, 1986, 1987Sakai & Naka, 1988), and only to some extent on the molecular basis of eye degeneration (Lin et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chromosome‐level assembly of southern catfish (silurus meridionalis) provides insights into visual adaptation to nocturnal and benthic lifestyles

Zheng

Shao

Liu

et al. 2021

Molecular Ecology Resources

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The Southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis) is a nocturnal and benthic freshwater fish endemic to the Yangtze River and its tributaries. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level draft genome of S. meridionalis using 69.7-Gb Nanopore long reads and 49.5-Gb Illumina short reads. The genome assembly was 741.2 Mb in size with a contig N50 of 13.19 Mb. An additional 116.4 Gb of Bionano and 77.4 Gb of Hi-C data were applied to assemble contigs into scaffolds and further into 29 chromosomes, resulting in a 738.9-Mb genome with a scaffold N50 of 28.04 Mb. A total of 22,965 protein-coding genes were predicted from the genome with 22,519 (98.06%) genes functionally annotated. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed a rod-dominated visual system which was responsible for scotopic vision. The absence of cone opsins SWS1 and SWS2 resulted in the lack of ultraviolet and blue violet sensitivity. Mutations at key amino acid sites of RH1.1, RH1.2 and RH2 resulted in spectral tuning good for dim light vision and narrow colour vision. A higher expression level of rod phototransduction genes than that of cone genes and higher rod-to-cone ratio led to higher optical sensitivity under dim light conditions. In addition, analysis of the genes involved in eye morphogenesis and development revealed the loss of some conserved noncoding elements, which might be associated with the small eyes in catfish. Together, our study provides important clues for the adaptation of the catfish visual system to the nocturnal and benthic lifestyles. The draft genome of S. meridionalis represents a valuable resource for studies of the molecular mechanisms of ecological adaptation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chromosome‐level assembly of southern catfish (silurus meridionalis) provides insights into visual adaptation to nocturnal and benthic lifestyles

Zheng

Shao

Liu

et al. 2021

Molecular Ecology Resources

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“…In the resting position, individuals of P. sanguijuela remain stationary and laterally supported. Hendrickson et al (2001) and Krejca (2003) observed this habit in Prietella phreatophila Carranza 1954, a cave catfish from Mexico and south Texas, U.S.A., regions. As this stationary position makes the species more vulnerable to their predators, these authors suggest that this behaviour probably reflects the absence of predators in their natural habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Behaviour, feeding habits and ecology of the blind catfish Phreatobius sanguijuela (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)

Ohara

Costa

Fonseca

2016

Journal of Fish Biology

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The subterranean fish Phreatobius sanguijuela, originally described from Bolivia, was captured in different wells near São Francisco do Guaporé, Rondônia State, Brazil. Thirty wells were investigated in April and July 2012, and September 2013. These surveys resulted in the capture of 58 individuals from eight wells and comprised three to 14 individuals per well. The capture of the individuals allowed a detailed evaluation of their colours in life, behaviour in the field and in captivity, aspects of their biology, confirmation of the species identification and provided new diagnostic characteristics to distinguish between P. sanguijuela and Phreatobius dracunculus. Cannibalism, territorialism, agonistic interactions and phototaxis behaviour were not observed. Phreatobius sanguijuela exhibited cryptobiotic habits and two behaviours under stressful conditions. The analysis of stomach contents reveals that this species apparently feeds on invertebrates, almost exclusively on earthworms. The sex ratio was 1:1. The absence of opercular movement during the resting period associated with intense blood irrigation of the skin indicates a possible cutaneous respiration as an alternative form of gas exchange. Local people often mistake P. sanguijuela for helminths and have the habit of releasing non-native fishes into the wells or to use chemicals to eliminate them. The consequence of this habit for the conservation of the species requires further evaluation.

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“…Some stygobitic fishes are known to have large distribution ranges, such as the catfish Prietella phreatophila Carranza, whose northern and southernmost populations in Mexico are separated by a span of 750 km (Hendrickson et al 2001), or the blind, subterranean cave eel, Ophisternon candidum (Mees), a north-western Australian endemic (>400 km) (Moore et al 2018). This vast distribution range could be attributed to the 'interstitial highway' hypothesis (Ward and Palmer 1994), i.e., the presence of an extensive, continuous hypogean habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution in the dark: Unexpected genetic diversity and morphological stasis in the blind, aquifer-dwelling catfish Horaglanis

Raghavan¹,

Sundar²,

Arjun³

et al. 2023

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The lateritic aquifers of the southern Indian state of Kerala harbour a unique assemblage of enigmatic stygobitic fishes which are encountered very rarely, only when they surface during the digging and cleaning of homestead wells. Here, we focus on one of the most unusual members of this group, the catfish Horaglanis, a genus of rarely-collected, tiny, blind, pigment less, and strictly aquifer-residing species. A six-year exploratory and citizen-science backed survey supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals novel insights into the diversity, distribution and population structure of Horaglanis. The genus is characterized by high levels of intraspecific and interspecific genetic divergence, with phylogenetically distinct species recovered above a 7.0% genetic-distance threshold in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene. Contrasting with this deep genetic divergence, however, is a remarkable stasis in external morphology. We identify and describe a new cryptic species, Horaglanis populi, a lineage that is the sister group of all currently known species. All four species are represented by multiple haplotypes. Mismatch distribution reveals that populations have not experienced recent expansions.

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Mexican Blindcats Genus Prietella (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae): an overview of Recent Explorations

Cited by 25 publications

References 7 publications

Chromosome‐level assembly of southern catfish (silurus meridionalis) provides insights into visual adaptation to nocturnal and benthic lifestyles

Chromosome‐level assembly of southern catfish (silurus meridionalis) provides insights into visual adaptation to nocturnal and benthic lifestyles

Behaviour, feeding habits and ecology of the blind catfish Phreatobius sanguijuela (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)

Evolution in the dark: Unexpected genetic diversity and morphological stasis in the blind, aquifer-dwelling catfish Horaglanis

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