First record of vertebral anomalies in some members of the genus Pampus (family: Stromateidae) collected from Guangdong, China and from the Kii Peninsula, Honshu Island, Japan

Abstract

Vertebral deformity and fusion are reported in fourPampusspecies,Pampus cinereus, Pampus echinogaster, Pampus liuorumandPampus punctatissimus(family: Stromateidae) collected from Guangdong, China and from the Kii Peninsula, Honshu Island, Japan. All abnormalities were found in the caudal region of the vertebral column of the four specimens ofPampusexamined, which included cases of missing vertebrae, lordosis and deformed centra. In addition, minor anomalies were also noticed in the abnormal specimen ofPampus liuorum. Possible causes such as genetic and epigenetic factors may be implicated in this anomaly.