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Widespread occurrence and repeated evolution of ultra-black camouflage in the pelagic deep-sea anguilloid eels (Anguilliformes)

Environmental Biology of Fishes volume 106, pages 1747–1754 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

The deep-sea environment is associated with a wide range of anatomically specialized morphologies allowing camouflage in this low or no light environment. Specialized ultra-black coloration has been documented in the pelican eel, Eurypharynx pelecanoides, but has not been explored in the other largely deep-sea inhabiting pelagic anguilloid eels. Histological examination of the integument revealed a layer of free melanosomes in the superficial dermis consistent with specialized ultra-black camouflage in the swallower eels Saccopharynx, the bobtail snipe eel Cyema, the sawtooth eels Serrivomer, and the snipe eels Avocettina and Nemichthys. The anatomy in these taxa is consistent with the previously described ultra-black morphology, except that Nemichthys, Avocettina, and Serrivomer have both large amounts of free melanosomes and melanophores. Consideration of this morphology in the context of anguilloid eel evolution in the deep-sea environment suggests repeated independent evolution of ultra-black coloration within the anguilloids, and greater development in the taxa more specifically associated with the bathypelagic habitats and the production of bioluminescence.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Data availability

All specimens are cataloged in preserved-specimen collections and are available to researchers for loan from these collections. Histological slides likewise are part of the cataloged material and will be housed by the institutions holding the specimens. Author-used images also available upon reasonable request to the authors.

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Acknowledgements

Regis University and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography provided facilities and equipment in support of this work. Phillip Hastings of SIO, Tomas Clardy and William Ludt of LACM, and Andrew Simons of JFBM loaned specimens and allowed histological sampling for this study. Comments from two reviewers and the editor significantly improved this manuscript.

Funding

The research leading to these results received funding from URSC and FDC research grants from Regis University to Michael Ghedotti under award numbers URSC-MJG2018 and FDC-MJG2020, 21, and 22. Secondary funding was provided by NSF Award OCE-1829812 to C. Anela Choy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Regis University, Denver, CO, 80221, USA

    Michael J. Ghedotti, Kandice C. Agudo & Flor M. Gonzalez

  2. Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Michael J. Ghedotti

  3. Marine Vertebrate Collection, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    Benjamin W. Frable

Authors
  1. Michael J. Ghedotti
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  2. Kandice C. Agudo
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  3. Flor M. Gonzalez
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  4. Benjamin W. Frable
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Contributions

Michael Ghedotti, Kandice Agudo, and Flor Gonzalez conducted the histological work and tissue photography. Benjamin Frable obtained the whole-fish photographs and assisted Michael Ghedotti with manuscript conceptualization. Michael Ghedotti wrote the first draft and all authors read, provided revisionary comments, and approved the final submitted manuscript.

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Correspondence to Michael J. Ghedotti.

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We examined preserved museum specimens and did not work with live animals. The care and use of animals complied with United States Animal Welfare Act as well as University guidelines and policies. Research based on museum specimens that does not involve collection of new live specimens was deemed exempt by the Regis University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (2018 letter).

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Ghedotti, M.J., Agudo, K.C., Gonzalez, F.M. et al. Widespread occurrence and repeated evolution of ultra-black camouflage in the pelagic deep-sea anguilloid eels (Anguilliformes). Environ Biol Fish 106, 1747–1754 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01452-8

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Keywords

  • Coloration
  • Histology
  • Integument
  • Melanocyte
  • Melanosome
  • Bioluminescence