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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 2  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 7-12

On the systematics and reproductive compatibility in Clariidae based on Osteological and morphometric parameters


Department of Anatomy College of Medicine, Bio-Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria

Date of Web Publication27-Oct-2014

Correspondence Address:
C. I. P. Anibeze
Department of Anatomy College of Medicine, Bio-Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu
Nigeria
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2315-7992.143399

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  Abstract 

Introduction: Member of clariidae are the most cheered foodfish in Africa. This paper presents information on the systematic and the reproductive compatibilities in claridae which appear not to be homologous with the clariid phylogenetic deudogram. Material and Methods: Morphometric and meristic courts were done on the selected species using standard procedures. The species examined were Hetrobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes 1840), Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822), Clarias ebriensis (Pellegrin 1920) and Clarias anguillaris (Linnaeus 1758). Results: Results of osteological and morphometric analyses presented two members of Clarias genus (C.gariepinus and C.anguillaris) and a member of another genus (H. longifilis) to be closer in structural affinity than C. ebriensis despite the fact that C. ebriensis belong to the genus Clarias. These observed morphometric result support the basis for the earlier reported reproductive compatibility between H. longifilis and the large Clarias species (C.gariepinus and C.anguillaris). Discussion: The published karyological analysis of these species supports this view. These results therefore show a basal dichotomy between the two outgroups of one genus which is not related to their phyloyenetic origin. Similarity members of the large clarias have successfully been reported to undergo hybridization leading to the production of "Heteroclarias" and "Clariabranchus", a situation probably suggestive of convergent evolution of the clariids at the genus level. Conclusion: It could safely be hypothesized that ecological adaptations of reproductive structures in H. longifilis and the large Clarias which is not related to their phylogenetic origin have given rise to this reproductive compatibility.

Keywords: Clariidae, morphometry, osteology, reproductive compatibility


How to cite this article:
Anibeze C. On the systematics and reproductive compatibility in Clariidae based on Osteological and morphometric parameters. Ann Bioanthropol 2014;2:7-12

How to cite this URL:
Anibeze C. On the systematics and reproductive compatibility in Clariidae based on Osteological and morphometric parameters. Ann Bioanthropol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2018 Sep 6];2:7-12. Available from: http://www.bioanthrojournal.org/text.asp?2014/2/1/7/143399


  Introduction Top


The catfish family Clariidae comprises species in which the body shape ranges from fusiform to anguilliform. Recent studies have shown that this body elongation is the result of convergent evolution. [1] The Clariidae contains at present some 13-15 valid genera all of which is restricted to the African continent except for two genera which is also known to occur in Southeast Asia [Table 1]. [2] The genera Clarias scopoli, 1777 and Heterobranchus Geoffroy St Hilaire, 1809 contain the most important species in Clariidae both in terms of number, productive biomass, preferred food fish and culture potentials. [3],[4]
Table 1: Valid genera of members of clariidae (in Teugels et al,[5] Devaere et al.[1])



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Tuegels et al. [5] mentioned that the genus Heterobranchus contain four valid species out of which H. longifilis Valenciennes 1840 and H. isopterus Bleeker 1863 are extremely closely related and are impossible to separate with ordinary identification keys. Another species, H. bonlengeri Pellegrin 1922 displays striking differences in several characters that its position within the genus seems questionable. Among the congeners of this genus, Anibeze and Inyang [6] records that H. longifilis is more widely distributed in the lower Niger basin and contributes significantly to the ichthyofauna of the Niger and Benue river basins.

Among the Clarias genus, C. gariepinus Burchell 1822 and C. anguillaris, Linnaeus, 1758 are placed in the subgenus Clarias (Clarias) Gronovius 1781 while C. ebriensis Pellegrin 1920 belong to the subgenus Clarias (Anguillocharias). [7]

Karyological analysis show that C. gariepinus and C. anguillaris both arranged in the subgenus C. (Clarias) have same chromosome number (2n = 56) and nearly identical chromosome formula, while C. ebriensis placed in the subgenus C. (Anguilloclarias) has a different number (2n = 48); H. longifilis has 2n = 52 chromosomes. [8] This is indicative of close affinity between Heterobranchus species and members of the subgenus C. (Clarias) when compared with members of the subgenus C (Anguilloclarias). However, phenetic similarity in electrophoretic protein patterns or karyotypes does not necessarily imply a close phyletic relationship. Hence, it was simply postulated that based on karyological data all clariids share a common affinity. For proper phyletic taxonomy, outgroup comparisons based on morphological, osteological and cytogenetical data are used.

Reported growth performances of the clariids have shown similarity both in wild specimens and culture situations. [4],[6] All the studies point to the fact that the Heterobranchus species form the largest clariids in the African waters. [9] The large Clarias while not growing as large as the Heterobranchus species grow significantly larger than members of the C (Anguilloclarias)(=C. ebiriensis and C. buthupogon).

The foregoing reports are based on analysis of morphological and osteological charts of collections of members of C. (Clarias) (= C. gariepinus and C. anguillaris); C. (Anguilloclarias) (= C ebriensis) and H. longifilis. The paper attempts to provide information on the morphological and osteological synonymy in the characters of the clariids, thereby attempting to proffer a basis for the reported hybridization and hybrid integrity existing among some members of Clariidae.


  Materials and methods Top


H. longifilis, C. gariepinus, C. anguillaris, and C. ebriensis were collected from the potamon reaches of Idodo river basin [Figure 1] and examined by methods adopted in lnyang et al. [3] Clarias species were identified using the keys produced by Teugels [10] while the Heterobranchus species was identified following Teugels et al. [5]
Figure 1: The Idodo River with sampling stations 1, 2 and 3 (●). The closed square in the insert shows the relative position of the Idodo River in Nigeria

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Morphometric measurements and meristic counts were made according to methods adopted in Teugels et al. [5] as shown in [Figure 2]. These important body measurements of clariid specimens taken were Standard length (SL), Head length (HL), Interorbital distance, Premaxillary width, Vomerine Width, Dorsal fin length, Adipose fin length. They were expressed as percentages of head length for measured structures in the head region or percentage of standard length for other body structure measurements. Osteology was examined using radiographs.
Figure 2: Important body measurement of Heterobranchus specimens: 1. total length (TL): 2. standard length (SL); 3. head length (HL); 4. preanal distance 5. prepelvic distance; 6, dorsal hm length; 7, anal final length; , distance between occipital process and dorsal fin original; 9, dorsal fin depth; 10, distance between dorsal and caudal fin; 11, adipose fin length; 12, adipose fin depth; 13, pectoral spine length; 14, pectoral fin length ; 15, pevlic fin length; 16, body depth atanus; 17, caudal peduncle depth; 18, predorsal distance

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  Results Top


The morphometric measurements, meristic counts and osteological examinations of the species are presented in [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5]. C. gariepinus and C. anguillaris showed a lot of synonymy among the three members of the Clarias genus. H. longifilis. though a different genus showed closer mean values in morphometric and osteological characters with members of Clarias subgenus C. (Clarias). The largest divergences in the mean values of observed character were between H. longifilis and C. ebriensis. Based on these measurements a dendogram showing the most parsimonious relationship in the clariid species examined is hypothesized [Figure 3].
Table 2: Morphometric and osteological characters in members of Heterobranchus longifilis

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Table 3: Morphometric and osteological characters in members of Clarias gariepinus

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Table 4: Morphometric and osteological characters in members of Clarias anguillaris

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Table 5: Morphometric and osteological characters in members of Clarias ebriensis

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Figure 3: Hypothesis on the phonetic relationships among members of the subgenera Clarias (Clarias), Clarias (Anguilloclarias) and Heterobranchus)

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  Discussion Top


H. longifilis and members of the Clarias genus show similarity in their morphology and differ mainly in the adipose fin complex present in the former [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5]. Among the clariids, H. longifilis and members of C.(Clarias) have shown closer affinity in morphological and osteological characters than with C ebriensis. However the hyperdevelopment of the adipose fin complex is restrictive to the Heterobranchus genus as earlier observed in the existing identification keys. [5] Due to this fact the genus have formed monophyletic assemblage within clariidae.

These observations on morphometric and osteological similarity between H. longifilis and members of C. (Clarias) agree with karyological variations of members of Clariidae. [8] This affinity was attributed to symplesiotypy which represents a primitively designed groundplan. This would suggest that based on morphological and osteological data observed in this study and karyological data, [8] all the members of Clariidae share a common groundplan. Teugels et al., [8] showed that in terms of karyological polymorphism, C. gariepinus and C. anguillaris both arranged in C. (Clarias) have the same number of chromosomes (2n = 56) while C. ebriensis placed in the subgenus C. (Anguilloclarias) has a different number (2n = 48). H. longifilis which belongs to another genus has a closer chromosome number (2n = 52) with members of C. (Clarias).

The above karyological postulations clearly mirror the observations in this study on the species' morphometry. This will appear to provide a basis for the reported hybridization between H. longifilis and members of C. (Clarias). Hecht and Lublinkhof, [11] Legendre [12] successfully hybridized H. longifilis and C. gariepinus and reported that the F1 hybrids are vigorous. Madu and Ita [13] also successfully propagated the hybrids of H. longifilis and C. anguillaris. The morphotype of the hybrid specimens obtained were intermediate between that of the parents. Assaying the efficacy of extracted and purified HCG from early pregnant urine, Anibeze [14],[15] successfully induced ovulation in H. longifilis and C. gariepinus and observed clutch sizes which were not significantly different (P < 0.05) in the two species. Report on the clutch size of C. ebriensis showed that the group possess a significantly (P > 0.05) smaller clutch size than C. gariepinus and H. longifilis (Anibeze, 1998). [15],[16]

An attempt has been made in this study to present information on the morphometric and osteological polymorphism in some clariids and to show how this is related to their reproductive compatibilities. It is observed that phenetic relationships inferred from morphometric and osteological features and that also demonstrated from karyological analysis of allozyme frequencies do not necessarily reflect phylogenetic origins in clariids. Thus, facts derived from hybridization of the species may not reflect phylogenetic relationships. It could safely be hypothesized that ecological homology of reproductive structures in H. longifilis and the large Clarias have given rise to their reproductive compatibility. Hence, in terms of phylogenetic relationships the clariids as earlier observed earlier [7] share a common groundplan and cladogenesis may explain the observed differences in C. ebriensis in the Clarias genus.

 
  References Top

1.Jansen G, Devaere S, Weekers PH, Adriaens D. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence time estimate of African anguilliform catfish (Siluriformes: Clariidae) inferred from ribosomal gene and spacer sequences. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2006;38:65-78.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.Devaere S, Jansen G, Adriaens D, Weekers P. Phylogeny of the African representatives of the catfish family Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes) based on a combined analysis: Independent evolution towards anguilliformity. J Zool Syst Evol Res 2007;45:214-29.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.Inyang NM, Anibeze CI, Mgbenka BO. Aspects of the Reproductive Biology of Hetembranchus longifilis (Valenciennes, 1840) in Idodo River basin, Southeastern Nigeria. J Afr Zool 1997;111:373-9.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.Anibeze CI, Eze A. Growth rates of two African catfishes (Ostheithys: Clariidae) in homestead concrete ponds. J Aquat Sci 2000;15:55-8.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.Teugels GG, De Nayer B, Legendre, M. A systematic revision of the African catfish genus Heterobranchus (Pisces: Clariidae). Zool J Linn Soc 1990;98:237-57.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.Anibeze CI, Inyang NM. Oocyte structure, fecundity and sex ratio of heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes 1840) in Idodo river basin with comment on the breeding Biology. J Aquat Sci 2000;15:59-61.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.Teugels GG, Guyomard R, Legendre M. Enzymatic variation in African catfishes. J Fish Biol 1992;40:87-96.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.Teugels GG. Preliminary results of a morphological study of the African species of the subgenus Clarias (Clarias). J Nat Hist 1982;16:439-64.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.Sydenham DH. A large Catfish. Nigerian Field 1970;35:189.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.Teugels GG. A systematic revision of the African species of the genus Clarias (Pisces: Clariidae). Annals du Musee Royal de I Afrique Centiale 1986;247:1199.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.Hecht T, Lublinkhof W. Clarias geriepinus X Heterobrabchus longifilis (Clariidae: Pisces): A new hybrid for aquaculture? Southeastern Nigeria. J Afr Zool 1985;3:373-9.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.Legendre M. Seasonal changes in sexual maturity and fecundity, and HCG-induced breeding of the catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis Val reared in Ebri lagoon. Ivory Coast. Aquaculture 1986;55:201-13.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.Madu CT, Ita, EO. Comparative Growth survival of hatchling of Clarias anguillaris and Heterobranchus longifilis in the indoor hatchery NIFFR 1990 Annual Report; 1990. p. 47- 50.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.Anibeze CI. Bioassay and ovulation in heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes) using crude HCG from early pregnancy urine. Orient J Med 1998;10:37-9.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.Anibeze CI, Okechi OO, Kamanu CI. Comparative ovulation in Clarridae using crude HCG from early pregnancy urine. J Exp Clin Anat 2009;8:20-3.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.Anibeze CI. Length-weight relationship and relative condition of heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes) from Idodo River, Nigera. NAGA, Philippines. ICLARM Q 2000;23:34-5.  Back to cited text no. 16
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5]



 

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