Alarm Reaction of the Top Smelt, Atherinops affinis (Ayres)

The "alarm" substance of the top smelt, Atherinops affinis (Ayres), has been isolated by extraction with methanol or ether from suffocated top smelt. These concentrated extracts, when introduced into an aquarium containing top smelt, induce a strong alarm reaction in the fish, characterize...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1962-11, Vol.138 (3541), p.681-682
Main Authors: Skinner, W. A., Mathews, R. D., Parkhurst, R. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anchovies
Animals
Behavior
Ethers
Fishes
Herring
Marine fishes
Minnows
Old Medline
Osmeriformes
Polyvinyls
Public aquariums
Research grants
Saltwater
Siloxanes
Species Specificity
Stress, Physiological
Swimming
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Summary:The "alarm" substance of the top smelt, Atherinops affinis (Ayres), has been isolated by extraction with methanol or ether from suffocated top smelt. These concentrated extracts, when introduced into an aquarium containing top smelt, induce a strong alarm reaction in the fish, characterized by rapid swimming, jumping, and often severe seizures. The fact that extracts from white surfperch, Phanerodon furcatus (Girard); surf smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus (Girard); northern anchovy, Engraulis mordox (Girard); or Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi (Valenciennes) caused only mild excitation in the top smelt indicates the species-specificity of the alarm reaction.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.138.3541.681