Characterization of Hyperostosis in Platax Teira (Forsskål, 1775) Collected from Marine Water of Iraq, North West Arabian Gulf

Full Length Research Paper

Characterization of hyperostosis in Platax teira (Forsskål, 1775) collected from marine water of Iraq, North West Arabian Gulf

JAWAD, Laith1* and BANNAI, Magid2

1Flat Bush, Manukau, , Auckland, New Zealand. 2Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.

Accepted 7 May, 2014

In this study a case of hyperostosis was studied in teleost fish Platax teira (Ephippidae) captured from the Iraqi marine water at Khor Al-Aumia, North West of the Arabian Gulf and which was found in the neural spines of the caudal vertebrae of the fish specimen. Further, the size, shape and position of the hyperostotic bones were also studied.

Key words: Hyperostosis, Platax teira, bony and fishes.

INTRODUCTION

Hyperostosis is a productive change in bone tissue So far, in the seas at the eastern Arabian Peninsula, characterized by an increase of the periosteal ossification hyperostosis is reported from Sea of Oman so far along with re-sorption of the bony tissue (Meunier et al., (Jawad, 2013) and no such report is presented on the 2010). Hyperostosis was first described by Worm in1655 fishes from Iraq. In the present study, the gross (Schlüter et al., 2002). On the other hand, Van Beneden morphology of the hyperostotic bones in the long fin in 1881 reported hyperostosis in fish bones as a ‘corps batfish Platax teira (Ephippidae)were studied. énigmatiques’ (Schlüter et al., 1992). Specific bones that shows thickening might develop hyperostosis which in turn changes into a swollen MATERIALS AND METHODS structure. Pterygiophores, skulls, claviculae, haemal and neural spines are among bony elements that have shown The present study was conducted on the sample of hyperostosis in teleost fishes (Smith-Vaniz et al., 1995). Platax teira (5350 mm TL, 5335 mm SL, weight 5 kg) The swollen or hyperostotic bones have been identified (Figure 1) captured from the Iraqi marine waters, Khor Al- into a wide range of fish species related to approximately Aumia, North West of the Arabian Gulf (Figure 2) on 20th 22 families. (Smith-Vaniz et al., 1995; Smith-Vaniz and May 2013. The fish was identified using Fischer and Carpenter 2007; Rapisarda et al., 2008; Meunier et al., Bianchi (1984). The specimen was measured to the 2010; Giarratana et al., 2012). nearest 0.1 mm, weighed to the nearest g, and the Closely related species, such as Pagrus major and vertebral column was prepared by boiling the specimen Chrysophrys auratuscan from the Japanese waters can for other osteological study, therefore, only the part of the be distinguished on the basis of the shape of the column that showed hyperostosis is described and hyperostotic bones (Yasuda and Mizuguchi, 1969). photographed using Canon D-1000 camera. The vertebral column was prepared and skeleton deformities were studied especially including the length of the major and minor axes of each deformity (Giarratana et al., *Corresponding author: Email [email protected]. 2012).

110 Sky. J. Agric. Res.

Figure 1. Platax teira from the marine waters of Iraq (5350 mm TL, 5335 mm SL, weight 5 kg).

Figure 2. Caudal vertebrae of Platax teira (5350mm TL, 5335mm SL, weight 5kg) with hyperostotic neural spines.

RESULTS which is located at the tip of the spine, the remaining five regions are located in the distal halves of the lengths of There are six hyperostotic regions of the species in the neural spines. question present on the neural spine of the 1-5 and 7th caudal vertebrae. The largest of the six hyperostotic regions is that found on the neural spine of the 5th caudal Discussion vertebra (24 x 13 mm) followed by that on the 3rd caudal vertebra (24 x 12mm) and another hyperostotic region is Several authors considered hyperostosisa non- found on the 1st caudal vertebra (11 x 9 mm).The 5th and pathological formation (Olsen 1971; Desse et al., 1981; 7th haemal spines which represent hyperostotic regions Smith-Vaniz et al., 1995). The most acceptable reason have spherical, pear and sub-spherical shapes. Except for such decision is that the hyperostosis is a species- for the hyperostotic region of the 5th caudal vertebra, specific characteristic. Furthermore, the predictable

Laith and Magid 111

ontogenetic expression of these structures in fish species Rapisarda G, Macrì F, Manganaro M, Marino F, Mazzullo G, Quaglio F disproves the hypothesis that it is a disease. (2008). Iperostosi in ricciola (Seriola dumerilii) epagro (Pagruspagrus). [Hyperostosis in greater amberjack(Seriola dumerilii) Since only a single specimen was obtained for each of and common seabream (Pagrus pagrus). Ittiopatol., 5: 195–200. the species in question, it is not possible to test the Schlüter T, Kohring R (2002). Palaeopathological fish bones from hypothesis of Capasso (2005) in correlating fish size phosphorites of the Lake Manyara area, NortherTanzania—Fossil (total length and weight) and number of hyperostotic evidence of a physiological response tosurvival in an extreme biocenosis. Environ. Geochem. Heal., 24: 131–140. bones found in each specimen in order to increase body Schlüter T, Kohring R, Mehl J (1992). Hyperostotic fish bones (‘Tilly weight to facilitate bottom browsing. bones’) from presumably Pliocene phosphorites of the Lake Manyara area, Northern Tanzania. Paläontolo. Zeitsch., 66: 129–136. Smith-Vaniz W, Carpenter KE (2007). Review of the crevalle jacks, Caranx hippos complex (Teleostei:Carangidae), with a description of Conclusion a new species from West Africa. Fish. Bull.,105: 207–233. Smith-Vaniz WF, Kaufman LS, Glowacki J (1995). Species-specific For the first time, a case of hyperostotic bone is reported patterns of hyperostosis in marine teleost fishes. Mar. Biol., 121: from the marine waters of Iraq. This case is described in 573−580. Yasuda F, Mizuguchi K (1969). Specific characters of three sparid the teleost fish ephippid fish, P. teira captured from the fishes referred to thegenus Ckrysopkrysin the Indo-Pacific. Jap. J. Iraqi marine waters at Khor Al-Aumia, North West of the Ichthyol. 16:24-30. Arabian Gulf. Hyperostotic bones are seen in the neural spines of the caudal vertebrae of the fish specimen. The size, shape and position of hyperostotic bones have shown variation between neural spines with this case.

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