title: Hearing capacities and otolith size in two ophidiiform species (Ophidion rochei and Carapus acus).
abstract: Numerous studies have highlighted the diversity of fish inner ear morphology. However, the function of the shape, size and orientation of the different structures remains poorly understood. The saccule (otolithic endorgan) is considered to be the principal hearing organ in fishes and it has been hypothesized that sagitta (saccular otolith) shape and size affect hearing capacities: large sagittae are thought to increase sensitivity. The sagittae of many ophidiids and carapids occupy a large volume inside the neurocranium. Hence they are a good structure with which to test the size hypothesis. The main aim of this study was to investigate hearing capacities and inner ear morphology in two ophidiiform species: Ophidion rochei and Carapus acus. We used a multidisciplinary approach that combines dissections, μCT-scan examinations and auditory evoked potential techniques. Carapus acus and O. rochei sagittae have similar maximal diameters; both species have larger otoliths than many non-ophidiiform species, especially compared with the intra-neurocranium volume. Both species are sensitive to sounds up to 2100 Hz. Relative to the skull, O. rochei has smaller sagittae than the carapid, but better hearing capacities from 300 to 900 Hz and similar sensitivities at 150 Hz and from 1200 to 2100 Hz. Results show that hearing capacities of a fish species cannot be predicted only based on sagitta size. Larger otoliths (in size relative to the skull) may have evolved mainly for performing vestibular functions in fishes, especially those species that need to execute precise and complex movements.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Morphologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, AFFISH-RC, Institut de Chimie, Bât. B6c, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kéver
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Morphologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, AFFISH-RC, Institut de Chimie, Bât. B6c, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Orphal
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Colleye
authors.affiliation: UMR 7179 C.N.R.S./M.N.H.N., Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 Rue Cuvier, Case Postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrel
authors.affiliation: Aquariologie - Aquarium Public et de Recherche - Programmes de Conservation, Observatoire Océanologique-Laboratoire Arago, B-66650 Banyuls/Mer, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romans
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Morphologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, AFFISH-RC, Institut de Chimie, Bât. B6c, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium E.Parmentier@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parmentier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Audition; Morphology; Otolith; Pearlfish