• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2020

The morphometry and morphology of the olfactory organ of the southern king spine loach Iksookimia hugowolfeldi were investigated by stereo microscopy and statistical analysis. Its external morphology consists of two holes, the anterior and posterior nostrils. The anterior nostril (0.35~0.53 mm in diameter) forms tubular process protruding vertically from each side of the snout. The posterior nostril (0.32~0.68 mm in major diameter) is a eye-like hole parallel to the skin. Internally, the rosette structure is set with 14 to 21 lamellae and medium raphe on the inner floor. In morphometry, its lamellar number (male vs. female; 18±1.8 vs. 17±1.6, P<0.05) and lamellar number to standard length ratio (24.2±1.3% vs. 21.7±2.5%, P<0.05) was larger in male than female. The lamellar number and standard length have high correlation in male (P<0.001) but not in female (P=0.170). It seems that such characteristics of the olfactory organ of I. hugowolfeldi are related to its bottom-dwelling life which digs and takes a rest under sand and sexual dimorphism by a distinct degree in olfactory dependence for reproduction of each sex.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2015

Egg development and early life history of the Korean spine loach, Cobitis tetralineata, were investigated in the present study. Adult fish were sampled using spoon nets at the Seomjin River in Jeongsan-ri, Bokheong-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeollanbuk-do, Korea, July 2013. Eggs were obtained after injecting Ovarprim into females. Eggs were then artificially fertilized using the Dry method in the laboratory. Mature eggs were slightly adhesive and transparent with grey coloring, and measured $1.04{\pm}0.03mm$ ($mean{\pm}SD$) in diameter. Hatching of the embryo occurred approximately 56 hours after fertilization at $25^{\circ}C$ of water temperature, and the average size of newly hatched larvae was about $4.6{\pm}0.11mm$ in total length. At fifth day after hatching, the larval full length reached $6.8{\pm}0.28mm$ on average and their yolk sac had been completely absorbed. At 17th day after hatching, larva entered the juvenile stage and reached $9.8{\pm}0.50mm$ in total length. At 100th day after hatching, the formation of Gambetta's zone of four line was complete and juveniles were similar in general appearance to adults, and they averaged $34.7{\pm}5.77mm$ in total length.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Investigations of distribution status and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia yongdokensis were undertaken from 2017 to 2018. Among the 22 streams and 97 sampling sites investigated during the study period, samples of I. yongdokensis were collected from 9 streams at 37 sites (from Daejongcheon Stream of Gyeongju-si to Songcheon Stream of Yeongdeok-gun). The appearance of I. yongdokensis was relatively common in streams such as Hyeongsangang River (15 stations), Yeongdeok Oshipcheon Stream (4 stations), Gokgangcheon Stream (4 stations), Chuksancheon Stream (3 stations) and Daejongcheon Stream (3 stations). The main habitat of I. yongdokensis was in pools on flat-land in streams of clean water with slow velocity, and with pebble, gravel and sand bottoms. Previous records of the appearance of I. yongdokensis, indicate they were first seen at seven stations including Jangsacheon Stream, but they were not present in Songcheon Stream. Compared to our results there is evidence as noted for a 38.9% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations (10.5 years), and a decline inhabitat quality. Therefore, I. yongdokensis is now considered vulnerable (VU A2ace) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. The main reasons for the decline were assumed to be dry weathering in the river, the introduction and diffusion of exotic fish species Micropterus salmoides, and river refurbishment project.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 1987

The cyprinid loach, Misgurnus mizolepis $G\ddot{u}nther$, a freshwater teleost, is a member of the family Cobitidae and is known to distribute in Korea and China. This fish is considered to be an excellent food fish in Korea. This report is a description of the gross morphology of the embryos and larvae up to the development of juvenile period of life. The eggs were obtained by injecting gonadotropin and fertilized by wet method in the laboratory on July 10 in 1986. The inseminated eggs were rinsed with tap water and incubated at $25^{\circ}C$. Live, freshly laid eggs were separative, demersal, adhesive, light yellow and average 1.1mm in diameter. The hatching took place in about yellow and average 1.1mm in diameter. The hatching took place in about 24 hours after fertilization. The newly hatched larvae were average 2.7 mm in total length possessing yolk sac and 35-36 myotomes. Ten hours after hatching, the prelarvae attained 3.5 mm in total length. The first heart pulse and melanophores at the side of the body were observed at this stage. Yolk sac was completely reserved at four days after hatching. The larvae that was cultured 24 days after hatching, 15.4-16.4 mm in total length, entered the juvenile period of life. All the un rays were already peresent; D. III 6, A. III, 5, P.10, V. 4-5, C.14.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.230-237
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• 2010

Histological observation on the seasonal variation of mucus cells of the mud loach Misgurnus mizolepis inhabiting a natural stream was carried out on three skin regions (dorsal, lateral and occiput) from March 2008 to February 2009. Our results showed no differences in general morphology by season, but the mucus cells of the epidermis showed significant seasonal change in their size and number as the water temperature changed. The ratio of surface area of the mucus cell layer and mucus cells, and the number of mucus cells in surface area of the epidermis were the greatest in the cold winter and the least in the hot summer in all regions of the epidermis. In particular, the occiput seemed to be a very sensitive region in response to environmental change, showing wide fluctuations in the size of mucus cells throughout the year and a great change in between seasons, especially from late autumn to early winter when the temperature decreased. As the temperature became colder, a small and spherical-shaped mucus cell was transformed into a large and elongated columnar form with a lot of secreted mucus material in a superficial layer of the epidermis. From our results, we can safely surmise that cold temperature is an important environmental factor having a close relationship with the modification of mucus cells of M. mizolepis in winter.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

Gene and promoter structures of metallothionein(MT) from Miho spine loach (Cobitis choii; Cypriniformes) were characterized, and the transcriptional responses to experimental exposures to heavy metals and heat stress were examined. The C. choii metallothionein displayed well-conserved features of teleostean metallothioneins at gDNA, mRNA and amino acid levels. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that the C. choii MT regulatory region potentially possessed various motifs or elements targeted by various transcription factors associated with metal-coordinating regulation (e.g., metal transcription factor-1), immune responses (e.g., nuclear factor kappa B), and thermal modulations (e.g., heat shock factor). Acute heavy-metal exposures to 0.5 or $1.0\;{\mu}M$ of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn) showed that MT transcription was significantly stimulated by Cd (9.6-fold relative to non-exposed control) and Cu (10.4-fold), only moderately by Mn (2.4-fold), but hardly by Ni and Zn. Elevation of water temperature from $25^{\circ}C$ to $31^{\circ}C$ caused a rapid modulation of MT mRNAs toward upregulation to 9.5-fold; however, afterward the elevated mRNA level slightly decreased during further incubation at $31^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. Results from this study suggest that MT-based expression assay could be a useful basis for better understanding the metal- and/or heat-caused stresses in this endangered fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.156-163
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• 2016

Egg development and early life history of Korean southern spine loach, Iksookimia hugowolfeldi, were observed in the present study. Eggs were obtained after injecting females with 0.5 mL/kg of Ovarprim. Eggs were artificially fertilized using the dry method in the laboratory. Number of spawned eggs were $1,933{\pm}530per$ individual. Mature eggs were slightly adhesive with light yellowish coloring, and they measured $1.35{\pm}0.03mm$ in diameter. Hatching of the embryo occurred 56 h (50%) after fertilization at water temperature $25^{\circ}C$, and newly hatched larvae were averaged of $5.6{\pm}0.18mm$ in total length. At 5 days after hatching, larvae averaged $7.8{\pm}0.31mm$ in total length and their yolk sacs had been completely absorbed. Beginning at 15 days after hatching, the fish entered the juvenile stage and reached $13.2{\pm}0.87mm$ in total length. At 100 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juvenile were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $49.2{\pm}4.29mm$ in total length.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3 s.95
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• pp.239-250
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• 2001

Fish fauna of 13 sites in a main channel and its tributaries of the Taehwa River and 9 Sites of other headwater streams in the Ulsan area (Mt. Gaji) were investigated from February 1999 to October 2000. All sites were the 1st to 5th order streams in the Ulsan area, and 10 sites (45.5%) were intermittent streams. A total of 2,695 flsh specimens were collected and classified into 14 families and 44 species. Cyprinidae accounted for 40.9% (18 species) of the total fish species collected and 68.4% (1,845 ind.) of the total abundance. Subdominant families were Cobitidae (6 species; 78 ind.), Gobiidae (5 species; 240 ind.), and Gasterosteidae (2 species: 128 ind.). Zacco temmincki (RA 23.0%, 14 sites) was the dominant species; subdominant species were Moroco oxycephalus (20.2%, 11 sites), Zacco platypus (8.0%, 10 sites), Mugil cephalus (5.2%, 3 sites). Among the total species, 8 species were endemic species to Korea. The dominant Korean endemic species was Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae (53.6% of Korean endemic species) and subdominant species were Iksookimia longicorpa (20.5%), and S. japonicus coreanus (6.6%) . Due to the intermittent nature of streams in the Ulsan area, a conservation program of nsh fauna is strongly needed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2012

In the present study, egg development and early life history of Korean spined loach, $Iksookimia$ $koreensis$, were observed. Adult fish were sampled using spoon nets in Okgye-ri, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea in July 2010. Eggs were obtained after injecting females with Ovarprim. Eggs were then artificially fertilized in the laboratory using the dry method. Mature eggs were slightly adhesive and transparent with a light yellowish color, and measured $1.40{\pm}0.04mm$ (mean${\pm}$SD) in diameter. Hatching of the embryo occurred approximately 50 h after fertilization in the water at $23^{\circ}C$, and newly hatched larvae were averaged $4.7{\pm}0.21mm$ in total length. 5 days after hatching, the averaged total length of larvae was $7.1{\pm}0.25mm$ and their yolk sacs had been completely absorbed. 17 days after hatching, fish started to enter the juvenile stage and reached $12.2{\pm}1.10mm$ in total length. 80 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juvenile fish were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $31.0{\pm}3.98mm$ in total length.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 1986

The Chromosomes of five cobitid fishes, Cobitis taenia taenia, C. taenia lutheri, C. taenia striata, C. longicorpus and C. koreensis were studied. The karyotypic studies were based on the observations from the flame-drying preparations. The results obtained such as the number of somatic chromosomes, the type of chromosomes according to the centromeric loci and the number of chromosomal arm(AN) were as follows: C. longicorpus, 2n=50, 12m-8sm-30a, AN=70; C. koreensis, 2n=50, 10m-12sm-28a, AN=72; C. taenia taenia, 2n=48, 14m-4sm-30a, AN=66: C. taenia lutheri, 2n=50, 10m-6sm-34a, AN=66; and C. taenia striata, 2n=50, 10m-6sm-34a, AN=66. Peculiarly, in the case of C. taenia lutheri the chromosome number of somatic diploid was found to be 48-51, however, the number of chromosomal arm was 66, irrespective of the difference in the numbers of each somatic genome. It was confirmed there exists the Robertsonian event, one of the chromosomal polymorphism in C.t. lutheri. It was remarked taxonomically that the karyotype of C. taenia taenia of Korea having 48 diploid chromosomes was not identical with that of Europe and Japan with 50 chromosomes. Based on the karyotype analysis the Korean cobitid fishes can be classified roughly into three species groups according to arm numbers and diploid numbers; 1) C. taenia taenia, C. taenia lutheri, C. taenia striata 2) C. koreensis, C. longicor pus, C. rotundicaudata and 3) C. granoei.