Functional morphology of puffing behavior in pufferfish (<em>Takifugu obscurus</em>)

ZHAO Shuang; SONG Jia-Kun; WANG Xiao-Jie

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1141.2010.05539

Volume 31 Issue 5

Sep. 2010

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ZHAO Shuang, SONG Jia-Kun, WANG Xiao-Jie. Functional morphology of puffing behavior in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus). Zoological Research, 2010, 31(5): 539-549. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2010.05539

Citation:

ZHAO Shuang, SONG Jia-Kun, WANG Xiao-Jie. Functional morphology of puffing behavior in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus). Zoological Research, 2010, 31(5): 539-549. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2010.05539

ZHAO Shuang, SONG Jia-Kun, WANG Xiao-Jie. Functional morphology of puffing behavior in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus). Zoological Research, 2010, 31(5): 539-549. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2010.05539

Citation:

ZHAO Shuang, SONG Jia-Kun, WANG Xiao-Jie. Functional morphology of puffing behavior in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus). Zoological Research, 2010, 31(5): 539-549. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2010.05539

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Functional morphology of puffing behavior in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus)

doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2010.05539

Institute for Marine Biosystem and Neuroscience, Shanghai Ocean University , Shanghai 201306，China

Funds: 国家自然科学基金资助项目(30970365)；上海市重点学科建设资助项目(S30701)；上海海洋大学博士启动基金；上海市优青专项科研基金

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Author Bio:
ZHAO Shuang(1983 - ),Email : yippefrog@yahoo.com.cn
Corresponding author: SONG Jia-Kun
Received Date: 2010-04-15
Rev Recd Date: 2010-06-28
Publish Date: 2010-10-22

Abstract

Abstract

As a defensive behavior of escaping from the predators, sudden inflating (“puffing”) has been found in all members of the pufferfish sister taxa Diodontidae and Tetraodontidae. However, the mechanism of inflation is largely unknown. To further understand the inflation behavior of Tetraodontidae, morphological dissection, X-ray and staining methods were conducted to investigate morphological variations and functional adaptation during the inflation in Takifugu obscurus. The results indicated that after receiving stimulation, Takifugu obscurus quickly and frequently swallows water or/and air into the flexible but tough sac, which is a distinct portion of the specialized esophagus. For adapting the inflation, the anterior and posterior joints of the sac and the digestive duct are tightened by special musculature; and the structure and arrangement of the skin of the body, as well as the abdomen muscle bundles are particularly modified to be elasticated; more over, even the backbone and the nerve are ready for flexible positioning change. This study provides some important information about the inflation mechanism of the Takifugu obscurus in sucking and expelling water/air during the puffing behavior, which would be helpful to further understand the neural control mechanism of pufferfish inflation.
- Takifugu obscurus,
- Puffing behavior,
- Abdominal sac,
- Functional morphology

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References(8)

References

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