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Thorns and dermal denticles of skates A tlantoraja cyclophora and A. castelnaui : M icroscopic features and functional implications
Author(s) -
Rangel Bianca de Sousa,
Wosnick Natascha,
Magdanelo Leandro Rafael,
Amorim Alberto Ferreira de,
Kfoury Junior José Roberto,
Rici Rose Eli Grassi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.22767
Subject(s) - sexual dimorphism , biology , morphology (biology) , apex (geometry) , anatomy , zoology
Abstract Some batoid species are covered with dermal denticles (or placoid scales) that occasionally develop into thorns. In sexually mature males, sharp teeth and alar thorns found on the apex of the lateral disc are used to hold the female during copulation. This study set out to analyze microscopic features of modified dermal denticles and thorns and to investigate sexual dimorphism in Atlantoraja cyclophora and A. castelnaui species. Skin samples collected from areas covered with thorns were fixed in 10% formaldehyde, processed and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Alar thorn morphology varied within species, while caudal thorn, rostral and caudal dermal denticle morphology varied within and between species. These structures play an important role in the protection and reproduction of the species studied and constitute important taxonomic information, given they are often the only elements preserved in archaeological sites and fossil records.