ISSN:
1432-234X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary The working frequency range of the semicircular canals is a function of several variables including their tube radii and radii of curvature. The average radius of curvature $$\bar R$$ , and the outer tube radius squared, $$\bar r_{\text{0}}^{\text{2}} $$ , were determined from preserved specimens of 33 species (19 families) of small (0.4–400 g) fishes. These had the following allometries with respect to body mass: $$\bar R = {\text{0}}{\text{.671 }}M^{{\text{0}}{\text{.264}} \pm {\text{0}}{\text{.038}}} $$ $$\bar r_{\text{0}}^{\text{2}} = {\text{0}}{\text{.011 }}M^{{\text{0}}{\text{.0348}} \pm {\text{0}}{\text{.077}}} $$ 0 2=0.011 M0.348±0.077 where M is given in g, $$\bar R$$ and $$\bar r_{\text{0}} $$ in mm and the error limits include 95% of all observations. These results are comparable to ontogenetic allometries of fishes within this size range, but differ with respect to the phylogenetic allometry of $$\bar R$$ reported for larger fishes (200–140000 g). They imply that the sensitivity of the semicircular canals increases with increasing body mass while their working frequency range, in all probability, decreases. No taxonomic pattern could be discerned in the canal allometries; indicating that the dimensions of the semicircular canals are primarily determined by functional, mechanical considerations.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00288475
