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Nuptial tubercles
Sexual ornaments of fish / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nuptial tubercles (also called nuptial efflorescences, breeding tubercles or pearl organs)[1] are dermal structures present in 15 families of fish belonging to 4 orders of Actinopterygii – Salmoniformes, Gonorhynchiformes, Cypriniformes and Perciformes[2] – used in the courtship and reproduction process. They consist of partially or fully keratinised cells that form a perceptible protrusion in certain regions, used to stimulate females during courtship.[3] Their development is stimulated by hormones secreted by the pituitary and adrenal glands, and is induced shortly before the breeding season and discarded after. In some species, at least, there is a correlation between the level of androgens present in the endocrine system and the volume and complexity of tubercle growth.[4][5]
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