Ontogenetic Development Related to Parental Care of a Neotropical FishPterygoplichthys ambrosettii (Siluriformes:Loricariidae)

摘要

This study describes the main ontogenetic changes in the armored catfishPterygoplichthys ambrosettii from newly hatched larva to adult. Therelationship between the degree of development of newly hatched larvae and post-larvae andparental care is discussed. Ontogenetic series containing newly hatched larvae,post-larvae, and juveniles of P. ambrosettii were obtained from the FishCulture Station of Universidade Estadual Paulista. Adult specimens were collected from thePreto River in the upper Paraná River basin. Morphological, osteological, morphometric,and meristic data and color pattern were analyzed. The species exhibited indirectdevelopment, with a distinct post-larval stage after the larval stage. Newly hatchedlarvae had a well-developed yolk sac and lacked pigmentation. The following charactersunderwent less change during development and can therefore be useful in taxonomicalanalyses: odontodes located posteriorly to the preopercle, number of plates on the lateralline, lower lip with three series of papillae, spots on the upper ray of the caudal fin,caudal fin similar to that of the adult, body ventrally covered with dermal plates andodontodes, small irregular spots on head, and typical ventral color pattern of the adult.The morphometric data revealed that most variation in body proportions occurred duringless advanced developmental stages. Parental care influenced the ontogenetic developmentof newly hatched larvae.