Test of the mechanotactile hypothesis:
neuromast morphology and response dynamics of mechanosensory lateral line primary afferents in the stingray.
Frontal squamation nomenclature follows that described by Hoedeman (1958), and the cephalic
neuromast series are described according to Costa (2006).
2009), and
neuromast cells have elevated expression levels of esr2 genes (Froehlicher et al.
Terminology for cephalic
neuromast series follows Costa (2001).
Neomycin was used to induce damage in
neuromast hair cells.
Terminology for frontal squamation follows Hoedeman (1958); the E- scale was determined as that scale adjacent to the anteriormost
neuromast of the posterior section of the supraorbital series.
Terminology for frontal squamation and the cephalic
neuromast series follow Hoedeman (1958) and Costa (2001), respectively.
The other nine fibers were not modulated by ventilation; however, we were unable to determine whether this was due to the distant location of the
neuromast from the operculum or to efferent inhibitory activity.
Each
neuromast is composed of several hair cells that contain a bundle of stereocilia and a single kinocilium.
Nomenclature for the
neuromast system on the head follows Scheel (1968) and Huber (2000) and that for the frontal squamation follows Hoedeman (1958).
Despite repeated searching with a good microscope and excellent lighting in 1986, when it was still relatively fresh, I could not detect laterosensory pores or
neuromast papillae on the head of the holotype or other specimens of L.