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The Distribution of Fright Reaction and Alarm Substance Cells in Fishes

1977; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; Volume: 1977; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1443164

1938-5110

Wolfgang Pfeiffer,

Ichthyology and Marine Biology

The Ostariophysi and Gonorynchiformes are considered to be related since they share a number of osteological characteristics (Greenwood et al., 1966). They also have one highly complex physiological feature in common which is absent in all other groups of teleostean fishes: the fright reaction elicited by alarm substance produced by special epidermal alarm substance cells (Pfeiffer, 1967). This was believed to be of such significance that both groups were united in a single superorder, the Ostariophysi (Rosen and Greenwood, 1970). This conclusion was based on both Greenwood's osteological characterization and Pfeiffer's histological and physiological studies concerning the presence of alarm substance cells and fright reaction in some hundred species from various families and orders. However, the species' names are widely scattered in the literature, and have never been ordered taxonomically. In addition, in the most recent review on the fright reaction the names of the species studied are not mentioned (Pfeiffer, 1974). Therefore it is desirable to present a list containing all species studied with respect to fright reaction and alarm substance cells, ordered taxonomically with reference to the original literature. This list will facilitate further research. Some aspects of the fright reaction in fish are reviewed.