F Dhellemmes, M J Hansen, S D Bouet, J J Videler, P Domenici, J F Steffensen, T Hildebrandt, G Fritsch, P Bach, P S Sabarros, A Krüger, R H J M Kurvers, J Krause
Billfishes are well-known for their distinctive elongated rostra, a.k.a. bills. The functional significance of billfish rostra has been frequently discussed and the recent discovery of an oil gland (glandula oleofera) at the base of the rostrum in swordfish, Xiphias gladius , has added an interesting facet to this discussion regarding the potential co-evolution of gland and rostra. Here we investigated the oil gland and oil pores (through which the oil is brought to the skin surface) of four billfish species, swordfish, blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, and striped marlin, Kajikia audax , and provide detailed evidence for the presence of an oil gland in the latter three...
August 13, 2020: Journal of Experimental Biology