Comparison of the embryonic development of piaractus brachypomus (Serrasalmidae) and pseudoplatystoma sp. (Pimelodidae)

Abstract

Pseudoplatystoma sp. and Piaractus brachypomus are two species of freshwater fishes endemic to South America as a high commercial crop species. The aim of this study was to compare the embryonic development of these two species until they hatch. To observe embryonic development fertilized oocytes were incubated obtained by hormonal induction in upwelling incubators Woynarovich type under controlled conditions of water quality. The cleavages were observed for Pseudoplatystoma sp. from 0:30 hours post fertilization (HPF) until 2:00 pm (HPF), whereas in P. brachypomus these occurred between 0:30 - 1:30 HPF. The stage of blastula, gastrula until the closure of blastopore Pseudoplatystoma sp. was observed in sp between 2:00 to 12:00 P. HPF while in P. brachypomus between 2:00 to 8:00. The hatching in Pseudoplatystoma sp was observed between 14:00 to 18:00 HPF, whereas P. brachypomus was faster, was observed from 12:00 until 14:00 HPF HPF, and was more homogeneous than Pseudoplatystoma sp.