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Living naked: first case of lack of skin‐related structures in an elasmobranch, the blackmouth catshark ( Galeus melastomus )
Author(s) -
Mulas Antonello,
Bellodi Andrea,
Porcu Cristina,
Cau Alessandro,
Coluccia Elisabetta,
Demurtas Riccardo,
Marongiu Martina Francesca,
Pesci Paola,
Follesa Maria Cristina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.14468
Subject(s) - biology , anatomy , zoology , fishery
As far as is known, in this paper the first case of lacking of skin‐related structures (epidermis, stratum laxum , dermal denticles and teeth) in a free‐swimming elasmobranch, the blackmouth catshark, Galeus melastomus , is reported. The individual was caught by trawl in Sardinian waters (central‐western Mediterranean) in July 2019 at a depth of 500 m. Although this kind of morphological abnormality is potentially fatal, the observations suggested that the specimen was in good health and well developed.