Research Report

First Records of Albinism and Dorsal Fin Anomaly Cases in Two Fish Species Collected from Jubail Vicinity, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia  

Mustafa Ibrahim1 , Laith A. Jawad2
1 Ministry of Agriculture, Fish Welfare Branch, El-Jubail Province, Saudi Arabia
2 Flat Bush, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2017, Vol. 7, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/ijms.2017.07.0004
Received: 22 Dec., 2016    Accepted: 03 Feb., 2017    Published: 24 Feb., 2017
© 2017 BioPublisher Publishing Platform
This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:

Ibrahim M., and Jawad L.A., 2017, First records of albinism and dorsal fin anomaly cases in two fish species collected from Jubail vicinity, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, International Journal of Marine Science, 7(4): 31-36 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2017.07.0004)

Abstract

Two fish specimens with cases of albinism Epinephelus areolatus (Family: Epinephelidae) and dorsal fin aberration Argyrops spinifer (Family: Sparidae), were obtained during fishery surveys in Jubail City waters, Saudi Arabia, Arabian Gulf. These are the first documented cases of albinism and dorsal fin anomaly ever reported from the Arabian Gulf area. The causative factors of this anomaly were discussed.

Keywords
Abnormality; Abnormal pigmentation; Epinephelus areolatus; Argyrops spinifer; Soft fin rays; Fin aberration

Introduction

Albinism results from a hereditary lack of pigmentation. This is caused by a disorder in an enzyme that control melanin metabolism (Kinnear et al., 1985). Forms of albinism can be: complete or total albinism, which is due to a lack of skin pigmentation; incomplete, where parts of the fish body lack melanin pigment; imperfect, which is recognized by reduced or light pigmentation in the skin and partial albinism or leucism resulting from reduced or absence of pigmentation from localized portions of the skin (Berdeen and Otis, 2011). Complete albinism is phenotypically known as a lack of integumentary and retinal melanin, indicating defects in the integumentary and retinal melanophores. Both total and partial albinism have been previously reported for several species of teleost fishes (Shinohara and Amaoka, 1993; Delgado et al., 2009; Mansur, 2011; Pillai and Somvanshi, 2011), as well as among chondrichthyans (Ishihara et al., 2001; Bottaro et al., 2005; Sandoval-Castillo et al., 2006; Reum et al., 2008; Veena et al., 2011; Bigman et al., 2015). When patches of reduced pigmentation are found distributed among normal pigmentation, this case is known as leucism (Ebert, 1985; Bechtel, 1995; Acevedo et al., 2009).

 

Fin anomalies in wild and reared fish are well documented in literature (Divanach et al., 1996), but those of the dorsal fin are not adequately reported (Hussain, 1979). Dorsal fin anomalies are usually involved in the saddleback syndrome (Sfakianakis et al., 2003; Al-Mamry et al., 2010; Jawad and AL-Mamry, 2012). Due to the unfavourable environmental conditions, different levels of skeletal deformities occur during the developmental period of the fish (Bengtsson, 1988; Lemly, 1993; Sfakianakis et al., 2004; 2006). Therefore, skeletal deformities are believed to be important markers of environmentally induced stress of fish in the wild (Bengtsson, 1988; Lemly, 1993; Boglione et al., 2006; Koumoundouros, 2008).

 

Both albinism and dorsal fin deformity cases have not been previously recorded from the Saudi waters of the Arabian Gulf. Here, we report the first record of albinism in Epinephelus areolatus (Family: Epinephelidae) and the dorsal fin anomaly in Argyrops spinifer (Family: Sparidae) from the vicinity of Jubail City, Saudi Arabia, Arabian Gulf coast.

 

1 Materials and Methods

One specimen with abnormal coloration of E. areolatus (TL 410 mm) and one specimen with deformed dorsal fin of A. spinifer (TL 450 mm) were captured on 20th February 2013 in the waters of Jubail City Saudi Arabia. The specimens were collected by local fishermen using drifting gill net. One specimens with normal coloration and one specimen with normal dorsal fin from the same fishing lot at the same fishing locality to make a comparison were obtained. Body and fins were examined carefully for external parasites, malformations, amputations and any other morphological anomalies. The specimens were deposited in the fish collection of the Fish Welfare Branch, Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Once in the laboratory, measurements were recorded to the nearest millimetre.

 

2 Results

Albinism case was observed in the species of E. areolatus. The description of the aberrant specimen in this species studied is given below based on the case of albinism.

 

Class: Actinopterygii

Family: Epinephelidae

Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskal, 1775)

Colour of normal specimen (TL 415 mm), Number of specimen = 1 (Figure 1):

Body and head with general pale-green to yellow coloration. Round dark spots distributed all over the body, head and fins, getting smaller toward the mouth. Large spots at the base of the spinous part of the dorsal fin.

 

 

Figure 1 Epinephelus areolatus, TL 415 mm, showing normal coloration

 

Colour of abnormal specimens

Number of Specimen = 1 (TL, 410 mm) (Figure 2):

The whole body appeared lacking any coloration. A trace of the rounded- dark spots appear on the body, head and dorsal fin. The remaining fins appear to have lost their dark spots.

 

 

Figure 2 Epinephelus areolatus, TL 410 mm, showing case of albinism

 

Dorsal fin anomaly case was observed in the species of A. spinifer. The description of the deformed specimen in this species is given below.

 

Family: Sparidae

Argyrops spinifer

Shape of the dorsal fin of the normal specimen (TL 470 mm) (Figure 3):

The spinous part of the dorsal fin with two types of spines of different length. The anterior 4 spines are the longest. The length of the spines reduced dramatically at the 5th spine and increased gradually toward the soft part of the fin. The length of the rays in the soft ray part is nearly the same and the general shape of this part take the curved contour of the fish body.

 

 

Figure 3 Argyrops spinifer, TL 470 mm, showing normal dorsal fin

 

Shape of the dorsal fin of the abnormal specimens (TL, 460 mm) (Figure 4):

The spinous part and the anterior part of the dorsal fin look normal. The posterior 3-4 fin rays appeared severely deformed and joined together. In the dorsal edge of the fish body, it appears like the underneath supporting pterygiophores have been lost and the contour of this area is lower than that under the normal part of the dorsal fin. In addition to the dorsal fin anomaly observed, the lateral line below the deformed soft rays was shown to be anomalous and 7-8 lateral line scales appeared raised upward. The remaining parts anterior and posterior to the deformed area of lateral line were shown to be normal.

 

 

Figure 4 Argyrops spinifer, TL 460 mm, showing abnormal dorsal fin


3 Discussion

Fish body coloration is an interesting field of study, but it is far away from being fully understood from the genetic point of view (Oliveira and Foresti, 1996). Albinism is a genetic disorder generated in conjunction with environmental factors such as the exposure during the early life history to high concentrations of trace metals such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, selenium and zinc (Oliveira and Foresti, 1996) as these metals have the ability to create a genetic random alteration (Wakida-Kusunoki and Amador-del-Ángel, 2013). In such genetic alteration, an autosomal recessive gene, when in homozygous state, produces a phenotype known as albino. This phenotype is diagnosed by the lack of melanin pigmentations. Albinism can be inherited if the alleles are autosomal and recessive, autosomal and dominant, or sex-linked (Purdom, 1993). The probability of the trace metals as the cause for albinism in our specimen looks possible as the Arabian Gulf waters of Saudi Arabia has been shown to have high levels of trace metals due to the oil spillage from the large number of the giant oil tankers that navigate this water way (Al-Saleh and Shinwari, 2002; Pourang et al., 2005; Al-Homaidan, 2007).

 

Unlike the nocturnal fishes, where albinism has a little effect, the diurnal fish individuals with albinism case could face high risk of predation due to being conspicuous to predators (Sazima and Pombal, 1986). By contrast, it seems that albinism may have less influence in feeding, growth and other aspects of life, such reproduction (Joseph, 1961). Due to the considerable size of the albino specimen obtained in the present, our result agrees with Joseph (1961). Sandoval-Castillo et al. (2006) permits us to postulate that, despite being an albino phenotype which makes an individual more visible to predators, albinism makes little impact on aspects of growth and performance of these specimens. Such assumption has also been applied to cases of albino sharks collected by Lipej et al. (2011). This is the first report of albinism in the species E. areolatus from the Arabian Gulf area in general and the Saudi Arabian waters in particular. The areolate grouper is a species of high commercial value and subject to fishing activities with a high number of individuals being captured for decades from the Arabian Gulf area with no previous record of albinism. This, then, is a rare event still unnoticed in most wild fish species, at least regarding adult individuals.

 

Dorsal fin plays an important role in fish locomotion activity and stability (Drucker and Lauder, 2005; Standen and Lauder, 2005); therefore it must be structured so as to handle the hydrodynamic stresses with the least possible disbursement of energy (Boglione et al., 1993). Any anomaly in the dorsal fin will weaken its flexibility, so impeding the performance of the fish. The dorsal fin deformity can be a result of the combination of genome, environment and developmental noise (Scheiner, 1993). It is clear that varieties in the genetic pool can control variations in the developmental pattern. Developmental aberration is a factor which can theoretically induce phenotype differences in genetically identical individuals developing in identical environments (Divanach et al., 1996). In this regard, Soulè (1982) argues that an expansion of the phenotypic variability is a characteristic of biologic systems subjected to stress (like intensive rearing conditions, for instance) and that developmental noise discloses itself as a decrease of the intracellular order. The second factor, the environment, which involve the impacts exerted by external conditions, such as biotic and abiotic conditions (Divanach et al., 1996).

 

Skeletal anomalies can be prompted during embryonic and postembryonic stages of the life of the fish through a complicated mechanism (Koumoundouros et al., 1995; Cataudella et al., 1996). In the present case of dorsal fin aberration in the soldierbream A. spinifer, without additional data it is impossible to support the biotic and abiotic hypotheses in causing such anomalies. Effects of an abiotic factor such as heavy metals in producing fin anomalies was demonstrated by Sloof (1982). Photo and thermo-period induction of reproduction might cause complete or partial absence of the caudal complex (Koo and Johnston, 1978) and vitamin C deficiency has been related to the fin degeneration in fishes. Among the biotic factors is the expected physical attack during the juvenile stage from aquatic organisms (Dulčíc and Soldo, 2005). Without additional data, it is impossible to support the biotic and abiotic hypotheses in causing the dorsal fin deformity. Therefore, further research and studies are needed to locate the prime cause of such anomaly. The presence of dorsal fin deformity in A. spinifer (in spite of being among the high commercially valued fish species in the Arabian Gulf area, large number of specimens have been landed and targeted by fishing fleets in the area for years) is considered a rare incidence worth the attention of the fisheries managers.

 

Authors’ contributions

Both authors were contributed equally to produce this manuscript.

 

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture, Fish Welfare Branch, Jubail Province, Saudi Arabia for giving us the opportunity to examine and study the deformed fish specimens. Our thanks are also due to Sergey Bogorodsky of Station of Naturalists, Omsk, Russia and Ronald Fricke of Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Rosenstein, Germany, for identification of the species.

 

References

Acevedo J., Torres D., and Aguayo-Lobo A., 2009, Rare piebald and partially leucistic Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazelle, at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, Antarctica, Polar Biology, 32: 41–45

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0500-6

 

Al-Homaidan A.A., 2007, Heavy metal concentrations in three species of green algae from the Saudi coast of the Arabian Gulf, Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, 5: 354

 

Al-Mamry J.M., Jawad L.A., Al-Rasady I.H., and Al- Habsi S.H., 2010, First record of dorsal and anal fin deformities in silver pomfrets, Pampus argenteus (Stromateidae, Actinopterygii), Anals de Biologia, 32: 73-77

 

Al-Saleh I., and Shinwari N., 2002, Preliminary report on the levels of elements in four fish species from the Arabian Gulf of Saudi Arabia Chemosphere, 48: 749-755

 

Bechtel H.B., 1995, Reptile and amphibian variants: colors, patterns, and scales. Krieger Publishing Co, Malabar pp.176

 

Bengtsson B.E., 1988, Biological variables, especially skeletal deformities in fish, for monitoring marine pollution, Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society of London, B286: 457-484

https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1979.0040

 

Berdeen J.B., and Otis D.L., 2011, An observation of a partially albinistic Zenaida macroura (Mourning Dove), Southeast Naturalist, 10: 185–188

https://doi.org/10.1656/058.010.0117

 

Bigman J.S., Knuckey J.D.S., and Ebert D.A., 2015, Color aberrations in Chondrichthyan fishes: first records in the genus Bathyraja (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae), Marine Biodiversity, 5: 1-9

 

Boglione C., Costa C., Giganti M., Cecchetti M., Di Dato P., Scardi M., and Cataudella S., 2006, Biological monitoring of wild thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus), golden grey mullet (Liza aurata), thinlip mullet (Liza ramada) and fathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) (Pisces: Mugilidae) from different Adriatic sites: meristic counts and skeletal anomalies. Ecological indicators, 6: 712-732

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2005.08.032

 

Boglione C., Marino G., Bertolini B., Rossi A., Ferreri F., and Cataudella S., 1993, Larval and postlarval monitoring in sea bass: morphological approach to evaluate fin fish seed quality. In: Bamabe, G. and P. Kestemont (eds.), Production, Environment and Quality. Bordeaux Aquaculture ’92, European Aquaculture Society, Special Publication No. 18, Ghent, Belgium

 

Bottaro M., Ferrando S., Gallus L., Girosi L., and Vacchi M., 2005, First record of albinism in the deep-water shark Dalatias licha. Marine Biodiversity Records, 1: 1–4

 

Cataudella S., Loy A., Scardi M., and Boglione C., 1996, Anatomical descriptions and geometric morphometrics to evaluate larval and postlarval quality in Mediterranean Sea bass and sea bream from different hatcheries, International Symposium on Live Food Organisms and Environmental Control or Larviculture of Marine Animals, September 1-4, 1996, Nagasaki, Japan

 

Delgado J., Carvalho D., Sousa R., Ferreira S., and Aveiro M.J., 2009, First record of albinism in the deepwater black scabbard-fish Aphanopus carbo (Trichiuridae) off Madeira, Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25: 483–484

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01196.x

 

Divanach P., Boglione C., Menu B., Koumoudouros G., Kentouri M., and Cataudella S., 1996, Abnormalities in finfish mariculture: an overview of the problem, causes and solutions, Seabass and Seabream Culture: Problems and Prospects, 45: 66

 

Drucker E.G., and Lauder G.V., 2005, Locomotor function of the dorsal fin in rainbow trout: kinematic patterns and hydrodynamic forces, Journal of Experimental Biology, 208: 4479-4494

 

Dulčíc J., and Soldo A., 2005, Absence of caudal fin in Solea solea (Soleidae) collected in the Northern Adriatic. Cybium, 29: 308-309

 

Ebert D.A., 1985, Color variation in the sevengill shark, Notorynchus maculatus Ayres along the California Coast. California Fish and Game, 71: 53–59

 

Hussain S.M., 1979, Records of a clupeoid fish Nematalosa nasus without an anal fin. Hydrobiologia, 63: 185-188

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00030082

 

Ishihara H., Homma K., and Nakamura R., 2001, The occurrence of albinism in individuals of the manta ray and Japanese common skate found in the western Pacific. I.O.P. Diving News, 12: 2–5

 

Jawad L.A., and Al-Mamry J.M., 2012, Caudal fin deformity in mullet, Moolgarda pedaraki (Valenciennes, 1836) (Pisces: Mugillidae), Croatian Journal of Fisheries, 70: 25-29

 

Joseph E., 1961, An albino cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill) from Chesapeake Bay, Copeia, 1961: 482-283

https://doi.org/10.2307/1439601

 

Kinnear P.E., Jay B., and Witkop Jr. C.J., 1985, Albinism. Survey of Ophthalmology, 30: 75–101

https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-6257(85)90077-3

 

Koo T.S.T., and Johnston M.L., 1978, Larva deformity in striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum) and blueback herring, Alosa aestialis (Mitchell), due to heat shock treatment of developing eggs, Environmental Pollution, 16: 137-149

https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9327(78)90128-3

 

Koumoundouros G., 2008, First record of saddleback syndrome in wild parrotfish Sparisoma cretense (L., 1758) (Perciformes, Scaridae), Journal of Fish Biology, 72: 737-741

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01714.x

 

Koumoundouros G., Gaglardi F., Divanach P., Stefanakis S., and Kentouri M., 1995, Osteological study of the origin and development of the abnormal caudal fin in gilthead sea bream (Sparus auratus) fry. Quality in Aquaculture. European Aquaculture Society, Special Publication No. 23, 16-18. P. Lavens (eds.), Seabass and seabream culture: Problem and prospects. International Workshop. Verona, Italy. October 16-18, 1996. European Aquacultural Society, Oostende, Belgium, pp.21

 

Lemly A.D., 1993, Teratogenic effects of selenium in natural populations of freshwater fish. Ecotoxicological and Environmental Safety, 26: 181-204

https://doi.org/10.1006/eesa.1993.1049

PMid:7504614

 

Lipej L., Mavric B., Ziza V., and Capapé C., 2011, First cases of albinism recorded in the marble electric ray Torpedo marmorata (Chondrichthyes: Torpedinidae), Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 52: 261–267

 

Mansur L.E., 2011, First record of partial albinism in the temperate rocky reefs fish Acanthistius patachonicus (Insertae sedis) off Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Science, 6: 185–187

 

Oliveira C., and Foresti F., 1996, Albinism in the banded knifefish, Gymnotus carapo, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, 44: 92-96

 

Pillai, S.K., and Somvanshi V.S., 2011, A case of complete albinism in marine cat fish Arius caelatus (Valenciennes), Indian Journal of Fisheries, 26: 240–241

 

Pourang N., Nikouyan A., and Dennis J.H., 2005, Trace element concentrations in fish, surficial sediments and water from northern part of the Persian Gulf, Environmental monitoring and assessment, 109: 293-316

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-6287-9

PMid:16240204

 

Purdom C.E., 1993, Genetics and fish breeding, London: Chapman & Hall. p.277

 

Reum J.C.P., Paulsen C.E., Pietsch T.W., and Parker-Stetter S.L., 2008, First record of an albino chimaeriform fishes, Hydrolagus colliei, Northwest Naturalist, 89: 60–62

https://doi.org/10.1898/1051-1733(2008)89[60:FROAAC]2.0.CO;2

 

Sandoval-Castillo J., Mariano-Melendez E., and Villavicencio-Garayzar C., 2006, New records of albinism in two elasmobranchs: the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier and the giant electric ray Narcine entemedor, Cybium, 30: 191-192

 

Sazima I., and Pombal J.P. Jr., 1986, Um albino de Rhamdella minuta, comnotas sobre seu comportamento (Osteichthys, Pimelodidae), Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 46: 377–381

 

Scheiner S.M., 1993, Genetics and evolution of phenotypic plasticity, Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 24: 35-68

https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.24.1.35

https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.24.110193.000343

 

Sfakianakis D.G., Georgakopoulou E., Papadakis I.E., Divanach P., Kentouri M., and Koumoundouros G., 2006, Environmental determinants of haemal lordosis in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758), Aquaculture, 254: 54-64

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2005.10.028

 

Sfakianakis D.G., Koumoundouros G., Anezaki L., Divanach P., and Kentouri M., 2003, Development of a saddleback-like syndrome in reared white seabream Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758), Aquaculture, 217: 673-676

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00199-0

 

Sfakianakis D.G., Koumoundouros G., Divanach P., and Kentouri M., 2004, Osteological development of the vertebral column and of the fins in Pagellus erythrinus (L. 1758), Temperature effect on the developmental plasticity and morpho-anatomical abnormalities. Aquaculture, 232: 407-424

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2003.08.014

 

Shinohara G., and Amaoka K., 1993, Albino specimen of Sebastolobus macrochir collected from off the Shimokita Peninsula, Northern Japan, Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 39: 395–397

 

Sloof W., 1982, Skeletal anomalies in fish from polluted surface waters, Aquatic Toxicology, 2: 157-173

https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-445X(82)90013-3

 

Soulè E., 1982, Allometric variation 1, The theory and some consequences, American Naturalis, 120: 751-764

https://doi.org/10.1086/284028

 

Standen E.M., and Lauder G.V., 2005, Dorsal and anal fin function in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus: three-dimensional kinematics during propulsion and manoeuvring, Journal of Experimental Biology, 208: 2753-2763

https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.01706

PMid:16000544

 

Veena S., Thomas S., Raje S.G., and Durgekar R., 2011, Case of leucism in the spadenorse shark, Scoliodon laticaudus (Müller and Henle, 1838) from Mangalore Karnataka, Indian Journal of Fisheries 58: 109–112

 

Wakida-Kusunoki A.T., and Amador-del-Ángel L.E., 2013, First record of albinism in gafftopsail catfish Bagre marinus (Pisces: Ariidae) from southeast Mexico, Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía, 48: 203-206

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-19572013000100019

International Journal of Marine Science
• Volume 7
View Options
. PDF(578KB)
. FPDF(win)
. HTML
. Online fPDF
Associated material
. Readers' comments
Other articles by authors
. Mustafa Ibrahim
. Laith A. Jawad
Related articles
. Abnormality
. Abnormal pigmentation
. Epinephelus areolatus
. Argyrops spinifer
. Soft fin rays
. Fin aberration
Tools
. Email to a friend
. Post a comment