Vertebral column deformity in six species of wild fish at the Coromandel coast, Bay of Bengal India

Abstract

This study reports radiological deformities in the vertebral column of six fishes viz, Scomberomorus commerson, Chanos chanos, Sillago sihama, Pampus chinensis, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Netuma thalassina that were collected from the Coromandel coast, Bay of Bengal. Four main different types of vertebral column deformities were found: (i) whole body kypho-lordo-kyphosis (Sillago sihama, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Netuma thalassina); (ii) tail region kypho-lordosis (Scomberomorus commerson); (iii) tail region lordo-kyphosis (Chanos chanos); (iv) platyspondyly (Pampus chinensis). Seven types of vertebra body deformities, describing the pathology of single vertebrae, were present; reduced intervertebral space, compression, fusion, compresion & fusion, fusion center, dorsal wedge-shaped and compressed & dorsal wed-shaped. The present documentation of deformities in six different species that are also very different with regard to habitat, diet and swimming activity may suggest that fish deformities are widespread in the study area.