Leucism in the European sardine Sardina pilchardus (Clupeidae)

The first case of abnormal leucism in the European Sardine or Pilchard Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) is reported. A few sardines with abnormal pigmentation were captured by fishermen in the northern part of the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Atlantic coast), between Portugal and Spain, and one specimen was...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: González-Ortegón, Enrique, Drake, Pilar, Quigley, Declan T. G., Cuesta, José A.
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Recursos:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/223783
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/223783
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Abnormal pigmentation
Albinism
Atlantic coast
Sardine
Population decline
Gulf of Cadiz
Heavy metals
Descrição
Resumo:The first case of abnormal leucism in the European Sardine or Pilchard Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) is reported. A few sardines with abnormal pigmentation were captured by fishermen in the northern part of the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Atlantic coast), between Portugal and Spain, and one specimen was presented to the authors for examination. Species identification was verified using both morphological and genetic criteria. Despite the relative abundance of sardines along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the current specimen represents the first known case of leucism in S. pilchardus. The observed colour aberration may have been caused by either heavy metal pollutants and/or a high level of endogamy in this heavily exploited local sardine stock.