Morphological malleability of the lateral line allows for surface fish (Astyanax mexicanus) adaptation to cave environments

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2020

Abstract

The lateral line is the primary modality fish use to create a hydrodynamic image of their environment. These images contribute to a variety of behaviors, from rheotaxis to escape responses. Here we discern the contributions of visual and lateral line modalities in hunting behavior of larvae that have developed under different photic conditions. In particular, cave animals have a hypertrophied sense of mechanosensation, and we studied the common animal model cavefish Astyanax mexicanus and its closest related surface relative. We raised larvae in a diurnal light-dark regimen and in complete darkness. We then examined the distribution of neuromasts in their lateral lines, and their hunting performance in light and dark conditions, with and without the contribution of the lateral line. We report that all larva depend on the lateral line for success in hunting and that surface fish raised in the dark have a greater dependency on the lateral line.

Identifier

85085037646 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B Molecular and Developmental Evolution

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.22953

e-ISSN

15525015

ISSN

15525007

PubMed ID

32436310

First Page

511

Last Page

517

Issue

7-8

Volume

334

Grant

R15EY027112

Fund Ref

National Institutes of Health

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