title: Ocular anomaly in Atlantic midshipman Porichthys plectrodon (Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae) from the Mississippi Canyon, north-central Gulf of Mexico.
abstract: The first record of an ocular anomaly in Atlantic midshipman Porichthys plectrodon (Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae) is reported from a specimen captured in the Mississippi Canyon. The anomalous specimen was bilaterally anophthalmic and the nape and dorsum were darkly pigmented but alizarin staining and histology revealed a complete eye embedded within the cranium beneath a markedly thickened dermal component of the cornea, along with seemingly minor elaboration of the choroid rete between the cornea and lens. Aetiology is indeterminate and beyond the scope of the study materials but barotrauma, infectious disease and previous wounding are doubtful.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, U.S.A.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Womble
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, U.S.A.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bullard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024541:Batrachoidiformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D060851:Gulf of America; D008297:Male
keywords: abnormality; eye; fish; histology; lesion