MORPHOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL BODY RECONSTRUCTION IN A TELEOST OF THE GENUS OREOCHROMIS (CICHLIDAE)

The process of morphological and functional regeneration was followed on a tilapid fish, a cross of Oreochromis aureus x Oreochromis nilotic us, by observations on movements and the use of X-rays. A four-year-ol d adult fish that lost its tail as post larva, including ten vertebrae , was able to reconstruct a novel and shorter central skeleton, includ ing a specially modified urostyle. The enlarged and strengthened ptery giophores and their junctions with the dorsal and anal spine formed a fast-holding base for the fins, the posterior part of which largely pe rformed the functions of the missing caudal fin. Although the fish was much shorter than usual, this male behaved and functioned normally. ( C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.