Morphology of the sense organs of anchovy Engraulis japonicus

Abstract

The morphology of the lateral line system, the inner ear, the olfactory epithelium and the taste bud of the wild adult anchovy Engraulis japonicus was examined by photo microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Hematoxylin solution was injected into the lateral line canals to show the arrangement of the lateral line system. The lateral line system has well-developed supraorbital, infraorbital and preoperculomandibular canals on the head, dense canal branches on the operculum, lateral line canals on the trunk, and no free neuromasts. The inner ear comprises three semicircular canals and three otholithic end organs: the sacculus, the lagena and the utriculus. The olfactory organs and taste buds were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The paired olfactory organs on the snout have rosettes of lamellae, whose sensory epithelium consists of receptor cells of both the ciliated and microvillous type. The taste buds are distributed only inside the mouth, and mostly between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws, and between the gill teeth on the gill rakers. Well-developed lateral lines on the head are advantageous for schooling, and the taste buds in the mouth and on the gill rakers are advantageous for filter-feeding on plankton.