• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.230-235
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• 1985

The metacercariae of an echinostomatid fluke were detected from a freshwater 6sh, Odontobutis obscura interrupta caught from the Seom river system, Wonseong-gun, Kangwon-do, and experimentally infected into rats to obtain the adult worms for the species identification. A total of 32 metacercariae was detected from 10 fishes (27.8%) out of 36 O. obscura interrupta caught from the river. The average size of metacercariae was $153.4{\times}149.0{\;}{\mu}{\textrm{m}}$. Also, it was uniquely specific that thickened membrane was formed around the metacercarial cyst wall. The rats orally infected with those metacercariae were sacrificed 20 days after infection to get the adult worms. The mean length and width of the adult worms were 0.75 cm and 0.13 cm, respectively. The number of collar spines on circumoral disk was 26 to 28, and the end group spines at lateral sides of the oral sucker were 4 on each side. The echinostomatid flukes observed in this study were all identified as Echinostoma hortense according to the morphologies of the cirrus sac, ovary, vitellaria and testes of the adult worms and the shape of eggs. On the other hand, O. obscura interrupta is one of the fresh-water fish that are preferably eaten raw by the rural inhabitants. Although no human case of 5. hortense infection by eating O. obscura interrupta has been experienced yet, the possibility is strongly suggested in this study.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

In this study, the distribution and habitat characteristics of Odontobutis obscura were investigated. It is a freshwater fish species which belongs to the Class I Endangered species as specified by the Ministry of Environment of South Korea. Sampling was conducted in the Sanyang Stream watershed between April and August of 2016. The Sanyang Stream watershed includes the Sanyang and Gucheon Streams, and their tributaries. Odontobutis obscura was caught at every sampling site, except sites 1~3, which are located in the lower part of the Sanyang Stream. Its habitat range extended from the headwaters to the lower parts of the stream that were not impacted by the South Sea. Salinity was the major factor limiting the distribution of O. obscura in the Sanyang Stream watershed. All individuals of O. obscura were caught in areas where the substrate composition was over 50% gravel. Furthermore, the substrate composition seems to be the most important habitat factor affecting spawning of O. obscura. Ecological studies of O. obscura are scarce, and this study is the first to report a detailed distribution for the species. Further studies on the physiology and ecology of O. obscura are essential for establishing preservation strategies for this endangered species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2006

The chromosome numbers of five species in two families of Korea are investigated: Odontobutis platycephala, O. interrupta, and O. obscura in Odontobutidae, and Cottus koreanus and C. hangiongensis in Cottidae. In Odontobutis species, the three species showed the diploid chromosome number, 2n=44 (NF=44) telocentric chromosomes. In Cottus species, the mitotic chromosomes from 24 groups with two chromosomes each indicated that it is a diploid. The karyotype of C. koreanus and C. hangiongensis is 2n=48 and NF=52. These species is the first report on the chromosomes and the karyotype analysis except O. platycephala. Our findings provide cytotaxonomic evidence for the species distinctness of these five species whose descriptions were based primarily on external morphology.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2024

This study presents a fine scale distribution of the endangered species, Odontobutis obscura, through field surveys and literature reviews. Using the mark-recapture method, the population size in major habitats was determined. Field surveys conducted on 18 streams in Geoje Island revealed that the O. obscura was only found in the main streams and tributaries of the Sanyang, Gucheon, and Buchun Streams, which are part of the Sanyang Stream watershed. The O. obscura exhibited relative abundances ranging from 0.5% to 35.3% at different locations, with certain spots showing higher relative abundances (18.8% to 35.3%), indicating major habitat areas. A review of six literature studies confirmed the presence of the O. obscura, although there were differences in occurrence status depending on the purpose, scope, and duration of the studies. Combining the results of field and literature surveys, it was found that the O. obscura inhabits the main and tributary streams of the Sanyang, Gucheon, and Buchun Streams, from the upper to lower reaches. Currently, the O. obscura population in the Sanyang Stream watershed maintains a stable habitat, but its limited distribution range suggests potential issues such as genetic diversity deficiency in the long term. The population size of the O. obscura was confirmed at two specific locations, with densities of 0.5 to 1.5 individuals per m². The average movement distance from the release point was 13.1 m, indicating the limited mobility characteristic of ambush predators. Understanding the distribution and population size of endangered species is the first step towards their conservation and protection. Based on this information, further research could significantly contribute to the conservation of the O. obscura.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.221-234
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• 1990

The present study was performed to know the epidemiological statug of echinostomiasis in the Chungju Reservoir and upper streams of Namhan River, together with an experimental study on the life history o( Echinostoma hortense. The stool specimens of 169 inhabitants and 473 junior high school students from 5 different villages revealed 3(0.5%) echinostomatid egg Positive cases. E. hortense adult worms were recovered from one patient after a treatment and purgation. For the other two patients, it was presumed that one had 2. hortense and another E. cinetorchis infection, based on the morphology of eggs. Five kinds of freshwater snails(168 Radix auricularia coreane, 534 Physa arutp, 144 Hippeutis cnntori, 56 Cipcngopaludina chinensis malleata and 125 Semiiulcospira nediila glebus) examined for the cercariae of echinostomes showed negative results. Ten kinds of freshwater fishes examined for E. herten-'emetacercariae revealed positive rates as Misgurnus anguillicaudatus 40.5%, Odentobutis obscura interrupta 20.3%, Moroco onycephalus 3.9%, and Coreoperca hawamebari 2.0%. In the experimental study, the metacercariae of E. horlense were infected to rats, eggs were collected from adult worms and cultivated, and miracidia were obtained. The miracidia were artificially infected to freshwater snails (R. auricularia), and cercarial shedding was studied. It was revealed that, when the snails were kept at a low temperature ($24^{\circ}C$), only 523 cercariae (on average) were produced during 24 hrs, while they were at a high temperature ($30^{\circ}C$), as many as 9, 990 cercariae (on average) were shed during the same time. The experimental infection of E. hortense cercariae to freshwater fishes was successful in 0. obscura interrupta 52.0%, M. anguillicaudatus 30.3%, C. kawamebari 27.0%, Cobitis lutheri 15.0%, M. cxycephazus 7.3%, Pseudogobio esocinus 4.3%, Squalidus cereanus 2.0%, Zccco platypus 1.3%, and Pungtungia herzi 1.3%. However, infection was not successful to snails, C. chinensis. It has been proved that the Chungju Reservoir and upper streams of Namhan riyrr are endemic areas of echinostomiasis, especially of E. horfense, and snails such as R. auritulerie coreana and fishes such as O. obscura interrupts, M. gnguillicgudgtus, and others are taking the role of 6rst and second intermediate hosts, respectively.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 1998

1983년 7월부터 1995년 10월까지 국내에서 채집된 망둑어아목 어류 4과 28속 51종을 대상으로 몸의 부위에 따른 비늘의 종류와 미병부 측면 비늘의 형태를 조사 비교하였다. Luciogobius grandis, L. guttatus 및 Leucopsarion petersi를 제외한 48종은 비늘을 가지고 있었으며, 비늘은 즐린과 원린의 2종류로 구분되었다. 특징적인 것은 동일 개체 내에서도 어체의 각 부위에 따라 종류, 형태, 크기, 초점의 위치, 구와 융기선수 및 소극수 등이 다르게 나타나지만 속과 종 수준에서 비교적 안정된 특징을 보여주었으며, 비늘의 유무와 그 종류에 따라 망둑어아목 어류는 5개의 group으로 분류되었다. 미병부 비늘의 형태는 5각형, 6각형, 원형 및 타원형으로 구분되었다. 또한 Odontobutis obscura interrupta, O. platycephala 및 Hypseleotris swinhoni는 2∼3열의 소극을 가지고 있고, Eutaeniichtys gilli와 Parioglossus dotui는 비늘의 초점이 중앙에 위치하고 있어 다른 망둑어아목 어류와 차이를 나타내었다.