Query: sciaenidae

title: Calling activity and calls' temporal features inform about fish reproductive condition and spawning in three cultured Sciaenidae species
abstract: Although many fish species are vocal, the use of fish sounds for aquaculture management and wild population protection has not received much attention. In this study, sound production of three members of the Sciaenidae family was monitored before and during spawning in aquaculture facilities. The species examined include the meagre Argyrosomus regius, the shi dum Umbrina cirrosa and red drum Sciaenops ocellatus. Red drum reproduces spontaneously in captivity, whereas shi drum and meagre often require hormonal stimulation using gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) for the induction of oocyte maturation, ovulation and spawning. In all three species, a clear increase in calling activity was detected during spawning nights, when longer sounds with a higher number of faster repeated pulses were emitted. Changes of call temporal features could be related to histological changes in the sonic muscles. After GnRHa treatment and during spawning, meagre sonic fibres were wider and the ratio of sarcoplasmic reticulum to myofibril cross sectional area was higher. The correlation of calling activity with spawning events opens up the possibility of using the monitoring of calling activity and of call temporal features as tools for evaluating the reproductive state of different sciaenid species, both in the wild and captivity.

title: Structure and evolution of the complete mitochondrial genome of the freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Sciaenidae)
abstract: Overfishing and habitat degradation caused a decline of populations of many fish species belonging to the speciose family Sciaenidae. A reliable taxonomic framework is a prerequisite for implementing effective stock management and conservation measures, but phylogeny and taxonomy of the Sciaenidae remain poorly resolved. As traditionally used morphological and single gene based molecular markers carry a too limited phylogenetic signal for the task, mitochondrial phylogenomics may be a more suitable tool. The freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque, 1819, is one of the few Sciaenidae species that live in freshwater habitats, which makes it an important model for studying the phylogeny and evolution of Sciaenidae.  We sequenced and characterized its mitogenome, and reconstructed the phylogeny of Sciaenidae using mitogenomes of 28 species.  The architecture of the mitogenome (16487 bp in length) is standard for this family, and three typical elements were identified in the control region: extended termination associated sequences, central conserved region, and conserved sequence block. Poor availability of sciaenid mitogenomes (especially those belonging to different lineages) prevented us from resolving the phylogeny of this family with confidence. Notably, our results indicate that Larimichthys and Collichthys species may belong to a single genus, and we suspect that the mitogenome of Chrysochir aureus (Richardson, 1846) has been misidentified taxonomically, and urge its resequencing.  The sequencing of additional mitogenomes belonging to non represented and poorly represented lineages is needed to facilitate the understanding of phylogeny and taxonomy of Sciaenidae.

title: DNA barcoding identifies three species of croakers (Pisces, Sciaenidae) in the ichthyoplankton of the High Parana River.
abstract: In the province of Misiones (Argentina) the filling of the Yacyreta Reservoir (Argentina Paraguay) to its final dimensions in 2011 formed new aquatic ecosystem, e.g. Garupa Stream was converted into a subreservoir. Reports have been made in this stream of adult individuals and spawning of the Family Sciaenidae, excellent colonizers of modified environments. The larvae of this family are morphologically similar, particularly among Pachyurus and Plagioscion species, making taxonomic differentiation difficult. In the present work, sciaenidae larvae were characterized molecularly at the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene in order to determine which species use this environment for reproduction. Additionally, genetic distances, Barcode Index Number (BIN) and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery method (ABGD) were estimated and phylogenetic trees were reconstructed. The results indicated the presence of Plagioscion ternetzi and Pachyurus bonariensis larvae, and for the first time in tributaries of the region, Plagioscion squamosissimus. The incorporation of P. bonariensis and P. squamosissimus to the faunistic assemblage of ichthyoplankton in the Garupa Stream supports better characterization of the species richness of this secondary watercourse modified by the Yacyreta Reservoir, and advancement in our understanding of use of this area for reproduction.

title: An annotated checklist of fishes of the family Sciaenidae
abstract: A checklist of the croakers of the world, family Sciaenidae, is presented. A total of 584 nominal species belonging to 289 valid species and 69 genera is included. Four genera, Johnius with 32 species, Cynoscion 25, Stellifer 24, and Umbrina 17 contains 30% of the species, whereas 43% of the genera (31) are monotypic. Eques is a valid genus name and should be used instead of Equetus. Fourteen nominal species remain unidentifiable and are placed in incertae sedis, whereas 12 nominal species currently described in sciaenid genera lay outside the family. Among this latter group two of them represent senior synonyms of well established species: Sciaena guttata Bloch and Schneider, 1801 and Sciaena pallida Walbaum, 1792 predate Giuris margaritaceus (Valenciennes, 1837) and Cymolutes praetextatus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) respectively, and they are here declared nomina oblita.

title: Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of longneck croaker Pseudotolithus typus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)
abstract: The complete mitogenome of Pseudotolithus typus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) is analyzed by high throughput sequencing. The 16,502 nucleotides of assembled mitogenome has 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and the 1 putative control region. Incomplete stop codons were found in seven genes (ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, CytB, ATPase6) The phylogenetic analysis indicated that P. typus is closely related to P. elongatus. This study will provide useful information to understand the evolutionary and phylogenetic exploration of the family Sciaenidae.

title: Complete mitochondrial genome and the phylogenetic position of a new species, Johnius taiwanensis (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from Chinese waters
abstract: In this study, the complete mitogenome of a new species, Johnius taiwanensis (Chao et al. 2019) was obtained. Its mitogenome is 18,451 bp in length, consisting of 37 genes with the typical gene order and direction of transcription in vertebrates. Gene rearrangement was found in J. taiwanensis. The overall nucleotide composition is: 24.2% A; 18.0% C; 21.1% G, and 36.7% T. Sizes of the 22 tRNA genes range from 66 to 75 bp. Two start codons (ATG and GTG) and three stop codons (TAG, AGA and TAA/TA/T) were detected in 13 protein coding genes. In the Bayesian tree based on the complete mitogenomes of 26 species (including J. taiwanensis) from the family Sciaenidae, all nodes were strongly supported. The result shows that J. taiwanensis was placed as sister to the Trewavas croaker J. trewavasae of the same genus. The mechanism of gene rearrangement in the genus Johnius merits further investigation.

title: Dynamics of infection and pathology induced by the aporocotylid, Cardicola laruei, in Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus (Sciaenidae)
abstract: The sciaenid Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) are infected by blood flukes (Cardicola spp. A 2 year survey in estuaries of South Carolina, USA, showed that adult flukes and granulomas occurred throughout the year but their prevalence was highest in summer (61% and 84% respectively) indicating an unusually high level of infection for wild fish. Granulomas remained after adult flukes could no longer be found. PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of a subsample of specimens allowed identification of Cardicola laruei as the only species infecting these seatrout during the period of study. Mean intensity of infection by flukes was higher in female seatrout, suggesting endocrine and/or immune system involvement. The prevalence of granulomas declined sharply in winter, indicating possible mortality of infected seatrout as this species is known to be cold sensitive. Granulomas were studied using histology, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Eggs were encapsulated by an inner core of dark epithelioid cells, and an outer core of large epithelioid cells undergoing epithelialization. Fibrosis was observed around granulomas and some granulomas detached from the surrounding damaged myocardium. Numerous inflammatory cells appeared mobilized around granulomas and pathology could be severe, in some cases showing grossly visible blister like extrusions scattered in the damaged epicardium. At the gross level, some granulomas possessing eggs with live miracidia were observed at the surface of the epicardium. These findings suggest that granulomas carrying both dead and live eggs can clear the fish heart by host mediated transport through the myocardium, as is known to occur in related human Schistosoma infections.

title: Morphology and molecular evidence support the validity of Pogonias courbina (Lacepede, 1803) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) with a redescription and neotype designation
abstract: The family Sciaenidae comprises about 300 species. The black drum Pogonias cromis was the only valid species of the genus. Herein, Pogonias courbina Lacepede 1803 is redescribed based on morphological and molecular evidence and a neotype is designated. Pogonias courbina is distinguished by the following characters: the occurrence of characteristic thickening of the dorsal spines VII to XI in all specimens larger than 250 mm SL; all pterygiophores in the dorsal fin laminar, thin; anal fin pterygiophores slender excluded those of spines; lateral projections of gas bladder with few finger like projections; genetic distance between both species 1% exclusive occurrence of characters in six informative sites of COI (58 G; 214 G; 328 A; 331 A; 553C; 580 G) The method Automatic Barcode gap Discovery detected gaps in nucleotid distance congruent with the NJ, MP, and ML tree analysis. Also, advertisement calls are three times shorter in duration in P. courbina than in P. cromis. In addition, two monophyletic groups for P. cromis and P. courbina appear in trees obtained with different methodologies, emphasizing the absence of shared haplotypes. A gap of about 8000 km occurs in the distribution of both species along coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

title: Spermatological characteristics of Siphoderina aloysiae (Digenea, Cryptogonimidae) an intestinal parasite of Sciaena umbra (Teleostei, Sciaenidae)
abstract: The ultrastructural organisation of the spermatozoon of Siphoderina aloysiae (Digenea, Cryptogonimidae) is described based upon examination by transmission electron microscopy. Live digeneans were collected from the digestive tract of the Brown meagre Sciaena umbra (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) caught off the Gulf of Gabes in La Chebba (Tunisia) The male gamete of S. aloysiae is a filiform cell, tapered at both extremities, and exhibits typical characteristics of digenean sperm such as two axonemes showing the 9 '1' trepaxonematan pattern with different lengths. The first axoneme is disorganised and disappears near the anterior nuclear extremity. However, the second axoneme reaches the posterior extremity of the spermatozoon. The latter also contains a nucleus, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine like bodies and granules of glycogen. Cortical microtubules are absent in the anterior extremity of the spermatozoon and appear after the disappearance of the electron dense material. In addition, the male gamete of S. aloysiae has two mitochondria. The first mitochondrion is associated with the external ornamentation of the plasma membrane and spine like bodies. The second is more posteriorly located at the nuclear region after the disappearance of the first axoneme. The present study provides new data on the mature male gamete of S. aloysiae that may be useful for the understanding of digenean relationships and phylogenetic studies.

title: Molecular characterization and expression analyses of two homologues of interferon stimulated gene ISG15 in Larimichthys crocea (Family: Sciaenidae)
abstract: In this study, we sequenced and characterized two homologues of interferon stimulated gene ISG15, termed as LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2, from the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) The LcISG15 1 encodes 159 amino acids and the LcISG15 2 encodes 155 amino acids, both of which contain two tandem ubiquitin like domains and the conserved C terminal LRGG conjugation motif. The sequence analyses showed that both the LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 exhibit high similarity with ISG15 from other fishes. A putative IFN stimulatory response element (ISRE) was detected in promoter regions of both the LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a close evolutionary relationship of both the LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 with other teleostean ISG15. Molecular evolutionary analyses suggested a gene duplication event of ISG15 in the ancestor of the Sciaenidae, with a signature of positive selection was found in the ISG15 2 gene copy of sciaenid fishes. The Real time PCR analyses showed that the LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 were both found to be ubiquitously expressed in ten examined organs in large yellow croaker, with predominant expressions both in peripheral blood. Expression analyses showed that both the LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 were rapidly and significantly upregulated in vivo after poly (I:C) challenge in liver and spleen organs. However, the LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 were both significantly induced after pathogen Vibrio parahemolyticus infection only in the liver but not in the spleen. These results indicated that there are two ISG15 homologues in the large yellow croaker, both of which are likely to be involved in host immune defense against viral and bacterial infection.  challenge in liver and spleen.LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 were significantly upregulated after Vibrio parahemolyticus infection only in liver but not in spleen.LcISG15 1 and LcISG15 2 both play important roles in host immune defense against viral and bacterial infection.