A MAJOR DEVELOPMENTAL DEFECT OBSERVED IN SEVERAL BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA, FISH SPECIES

Stunted or missing dorsal spines or rays, sometimes accompanied by a d epression in the dorsal profile. were found in 10 fish species in six families from North Biscayne Bay. The same morphological abnormality o ccurred in Haemulon sciurus, H. parrai, H. plumieri, Lagodon rhomboide s, Archosargus rhomboidalis, Diplodus argenteus, Lutjanus griseus, Kyp hosus sectatrix, Sphoeroides testudineus, and Lactrophyrys quadricorni s. Another morphological abnormality, scale disorientation, was found in six species: H. parrai, L. rhomboides, A. rhomboidalis, L. griseus, and Abudefduf saxatilis. Pugheadedness, jaw deformities, and other ab normalities also were observed. The occurrence of similar deformities across such a spectrum of fishes from the same location suggests the d eformity was induced by something in the environment common to all the se species. Although there could be other explanations for the unusual cluster of abnormalities, it is suspected that the same environmental contaminant or group of contaminants is adversely affecting a common developmental pathway of these fishes. Biscayne Bay is an urban estuar y that receives agricultural, industrial, and residential run off.