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Casewell, Nicholas 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8035-4719, Visser, Jeroen C, Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Han, Han, Kruppu, Snjaya, Morgan, Michael, Romilio, Anthony, Weisbecker, Vera, Ali, Syed A, Debono, Jordan, Koludarov, Ivan, Que, Ivo, Bird, Gregory C, Cooke, Gavan M, Nouwens, Amanda, Hodgson, Wayne C, Wagstaff, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0577-5537, Cheney, Karen L, Vetter, Irina, Van Der Weerd, Louise, Richardson, Michael K and Fry, Bryan
(2017)
'The evolution of fangs, venom and mimacry systems in blenny fishes'. Current Biology, Vol 27, Issue 8, pp. 1184-1191.
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Abstract
Venom systems have evolved on multiple occasions across the animal kingdom, and they can act as key adaptations to protect animals from predators [1]. Consequently, venomous animals serve as models for a rich source of mimicry types, as non-venomous species benefit from reductions in predation risk by mimicking the coloration, body shape, and/or movement of toxic counterparts [2; 3; 4 ; 5]. The frequent evolution of such deceitful imitations provides notable examples of phenotypic convergence and are often invoked as classic exemplars of evolution by natural selection. Here, we investigate the evolution of fangs, venom, and mimetic relationships in reef fishes from the tribe Nemophini (fangblennies). Comparative morphological analyses reveal that enlarged canine teeth (fangs) originated at the base of the Nemophini radiation and have enabled a micropredatory feeding strategy in non-venomous Plagiotremus spp. Subsequently, the evolution of deep anterior grooves and their coupling to venom secretory tissue provide Meiacanthus spp. with toxic venom that they effectively employ for defense. We find that fangblenny venom contains a number of toxic components that have been independently recruited into other animal venoms, some of which cause toxicity via interactions with opioid receptors, and result in a multifunctional biochemical phenotype that exerts potent hypotensive effects. The evolution of fangblenny venom has seemingly led to phenotypic convergence via the formation of a diverse array of mimetic relationships that provide protective (Batesian mimicry) and predatory (aggressive mimicry) benefits to other fishes [ 2 ; 6]. Our results further our understanding of how novel morphological and biochemical adaptations stimulate ecological interactions in the natural world.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Subjects: | QU Biochemistry > Genetics > QU 460 Genomics. Proteomics QV Pharmacology > Cardiovascular Agents. Renal Agents > QV 150 Cardiovascular agents QW Microbiology and Immunology > Antigens and Antibodies. Toxins and Antitoxins > QW 630 Toxins. Antitoxins WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc > Animal Poisons > WD 405 Marine forms WG Cardiovascular System > WG 100 General works |
| Faculty: Department: | Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.067 |
| Depositing User: | Stacy Murtagh |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Apr 2017 15:51 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Sep 2019 13:33 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/6912 |
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