The evolution of electroreception and bioelectrogenesis in teleost fish: a phylogenetic perspective

Abstract

According to current phylogenetic theory, both electroreceptors and electric organs evolved multiple times throughout the evolution of teleosts. Two basic types of electroreceptors have been described: ampullary and tuberous electroreceptors. Ampullary-type electroreceptors appeared once in the common ancestor of the Siluriformes+Gymnotiformes (within the superorder Ostariophysi), and on two other occasions within the superorder Osteoglossomorpha: in the African Mormyriformes and in the African Notopteriformes. Tuberous receptors are assumed to have evolved three times; all within groups that already possessed ampullary receptors. With the exception of a single catfish species, for which studies are still lacking, all fish with tuberous electroreceptors also have an electric organ. Tuberous electroreceptors are found in the two unrelated electrogenic teleost lineages (orders Gymnotiformes and Mormyriformes) and in one non-electrogenic South American catfish species (order Siluriformes). Electric organs evolved eight times independently among teleosts: five of them among the ostariophysans (once in the gymnotiform ancestor and in four siluriform lineages), once in the common ancestor of Mormyriformes, and in two uranoscopids. With the exception of two uranoscopid genera, for which no electroreceptive capabilities have been discovered so far, all electric organs evolved as an extension of a pre-existing electroreceptive (ampullary) condition. It is suggested that plesiomorphic electric organ discharges (EODs) possessed a frequency spectrum that fully transgressed the tuning curve of ampullary receptors, i.e. a signal such as a long lasting monophasic pulse. Complex EOD waveforms appeared as a derived condition among electric fish. EODs are under constant evolutionary pressure to develop an ideal compromise between a function that enhances electrolocation and electrocommunication capabilities, and thereby ensures species identity through sexual and behavioural segregation, and minimizes the risk of predation. 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Sound production to electric discharge: sonic muscle evolution in progress inSynodontisspp. catfishes (Mochokidae)

“…Few data are available on the sensitivity of mochokid catfishes to electric stimuli [34]. Electric organ evolution occurred after the development of low-frequency ampullary receptors [35] and EODs of Synodontis contain frequencies that are higher than the best frequencies reported in typical ampullary receptors [36,37]. Future research should examine the response of the electrosensory system among Synodontis species to determine whether electroreception is tuned to the EODs of conspecifics and whether the ampullary receptors and neural circuitry permit discrimination of EODs from different Synodontis species.…”

Evolution of electrosensory ampullary organs: conservation of Eya4 expression during lateral line development in jawed vertebrates

“…Within the ray-finned fish clade, electroreception was lost in the lineage leading to the neopterygian clade, i.e., holostean fishes (bowfins and gars) (Grande 2010) and teleosts, although electroreception subsequently evolved independently at least twice in different teleost groups, e.g. catfishes (siluriforms), knifefishes (gymnotiforms) and elephantnose fishes (mormyriforms) (Bullock et al 1983;New 1997;Northcutt 1997;Alves-Gomes 2001).…”

Mechanosensory hairs in bumblebees ( Bombus terrestris ) detect weak electric fields

“…Teleost fish have independently evolved electroreceptors that are excited by positive voltages and inhibited by negative voltages (11). This general mechanism for electroreception has evolved independently in several animal lineages (12,13).…”