Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 July 2015
Vertebral deformity and fusion are reported in four Pampus species, Pampus cinereus, Pampus echinogaster, Pampus liuorum and Pampus punctatissimus (family: Stromateidae) collected from Guangdong, China and from the Kii Peninsula, Honshu Island, Japan. All abnormalities were found in the caudal region of the vertebral column of the four specimens of Pampus examined, which included cases of missing vertebrae, lordosis and deformed centra. In addition, minor anomalies were also noticed in the abnormal specimen of Pampus liuorum. Possible causes such as genetic and epigenetic factors may be implicated in this anomaly.