The first record of pughead deformity in the European hake, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from the northern Aegean Sea, Turkey

Jawad L., Aydın İ. , Akyol O.

CAHIERS DE BIOLOGIE MARINE, vol.59, pp.137-141, 2018 (Journal Indexed in SCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 59
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.21411/cbm.a.e39d688f
  • Title of Journal : CAHIERS DE BIOLOGIE MARINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.137-141
  • Keywords: Skeletal abnormality, Pugheadness, Hake, Teratology, Turkey, Vertebrae, FISHES, ABNORMALITIES, SNAPPER, GROWTH, COAST, GULF

Abstract

Pughead deformity in the European hake, Merluccius merluccius is reported for the first time for this species from Turkish waters, based on a photographic and radiographic documents of a specimen collected from the northern Aegean Sea, Turkey. Severe damage to the underlying bones of the mouth and snout regions was noted. The mouth of the specimen was virtually closed. There was no apparent effect of the condition on the adult European hake, as it appeared robust and healthy. Several factors were attributed to the cause of this anomly including genetic and epigenetic causes.