On the homology of the cranial muscles of the cypriniform fishes

Much more information than is available at present must be obtained before the phylogeny of the muscular system in the Teleostei can be worked out satisfactorily. As a step toward the solution of this problem, the present study gives a detailed description of twenty cranial muscles in a number of species belonging to three groups of cypriniform fishes: the Cyprinoids, Cobitoids, and Siluroids. Particular attention is given to the morphological relations of the following muscles: adductor mandibulae, geniohyoideus, levator arcus branchialis, adductor arcus palatini, retractor branchialis dorsalis, interarcualis dorsalis and the trapezius. Comparison is made between corresponding muscles in different members of the three groups of fishes, and various homologies are pointed out between muscles in cypriniform and those in other fishes, especially Amia, Scomber, Perca and Esox.