The Development of the Lateral Line System in Plaice (Pleuronectes Platessa) and Turbot (Scophthalmus Maximus)

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Abstract
The distribution of free neuromasts and the formation of the lateral line canals are described for two species of flatfish (plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., and turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.) during development from the bilaterally symmetrical larva to the bilaterally asymmetrical adult. On hatching plaice have three free neuromasts per side compared with six in turbot. After feeding is established plaice have 40–60/side compared with 20–25 in turbot. During development the ‘hillock’ of sensory cells increases in size and the cupulae grow in length. Canal formation starts later in plaice than in turbot. During metamorphosis the canal system becomes more concentrated in the upper (eyed) side of both species, but lateral line canals occur both on the head and body regions of the blind side. In plaice the tubes leading from the canals to the surface have typically one pore/tube, whereas in turbot there is much branching with 8–10 pores/tube.
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