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The cranial musculature of the toadfish (Opsanus tau)
Author(s) -
Pankratz David S.
Publication year - 1928
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1050450107
Subject(s) - toadfish , anatomy , biology , aponeurosis , adductor muscles , operculum (bryozoa) , myology , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , fishery , genus
The highly specialized cranial musculature of the toadfish is characterized by the following features: 1 Absence of intermandibularis and branchiomandibularis muscles. 2 Presence of levator premaxillaris muscle. 3 Very large branchial chamber, the outer wall of which is formed by seven branchiostegal rays connected by a strong fascia provided with muscles (oblique levators and adductors). 4 Highly developed masticator muscles (adductor mandibularis and pterygoids). 5 The rectus abdominis, sternohyoid, and hyohyoid muscles are attached by a median aponeurosis to the hyoid and basibranchial elements and directly to the hypobranchial cartilages; this muscle complex depresses the buccal floor in opposition to the geniohyoid. 6 The pelvic fins are in the jugular position. 7 Two narrow muscles connect the cleithrum with the fourth ceratobranchial. 8 The cranial musculature is obviously adapted to a carnivorous habit and particularly for increasing respiratory capacity under asphyxial conditions.