Histological evidence for secretory bioluminescence from pectoral pockets of the American Pocket Shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis)

Claes, Julien M.; Delroisse, Jérôme; Grace, Mark A.; Doosey, Michael H.; Duchatelet, Laurent; Mallefet, Jérôme

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75656-8

i

Histological evidence for secretory bioluminescence from pectoral pockets of the American Pocket Shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis)

2020
By Claes, Julien M. ; Delroisse, Jérôme ; Grace, Mark A. ; ...

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Journal Title:

Scientific Reports
Personal Author:

Claes, Julien M. ; Delroisse, Jérôme ; Grace, Mark A. ; Doosey, Michael H. ; Duchatelet, Laurent ; Mallefet, Jérôme
NOAA Program & Office:

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; SEFSC (Southeast Fisheries Science Center)
Description:

The function of pocket shark pectoral pockets has puzzled scientists over decades. Here, we show that the pockets of the American Pocket Shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis) contain a brightly fluorescent stratified cubic epithelium enclosed in a pigmented sheath and in close contact with the basal cartilage of the pectoral fins; cells of this epithelium display a centripetal gradient in size and a centrifuge gradient in fluorescence. These results strongly support the idea that pocket shark’s pockets are exocrine holocrine glands capable of discharging a bioluminescent fluid, potentially upon a given movement of the pectoral fin. Such capability has been reported in many other marine organisms and is typically used as a close-range defensive trick. In situ observations would be required to confirm this hypothesis.
Keywords:

Bioluminescence Sharks
Source:

Scientific Reports, 10(1)
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75656-8
Document Type:

Journal Article
Rights Information:

CC BY
Compliance:

Submitted
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:a71d85ffd2409544dd92c94d2918b81e0d24581cc198d2769f15cb7444d94095
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27366/noaa_27366_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.27 MB ]

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