Morphological Analysis of Axial Skeleton Deformities in Zebrafish Using Mammography Conducted in Türkiye

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a key model organism for vertebrate development, yet a detailed radiographic classification of its common skeletal deformities is lacking. High-resolution radiographs of 100 zebrafish from a controlled population were acquired using a clinical digital mammography unit to characterize vertebral and costal abnormalities. Deformities were detected in 23 specimens. Analysis identified three predominant types: (1) kyphosis-lordosis (3 specimens; 31.1–32.2 mm), presenting with spinal curve angles of 120°–160°; (2) vertebral fusion (8 specimens; 22.5–32.0 mm), characterized by centra coalescence in caudal and abdominal regions; and (3) abdominal rib anomalies (12 specimens; 22.5–39.3 mm), including misalignment, twisting, and shortening. This study provides a detailed morphological classification of common skeletal aberrations in zebrafish, establishing a radiographic reference for future research in developmental biology.