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Morphology of the cranial system of Platyclarias machadoi: interdependencies of skull flattening and suspensorial structure in Clariidae

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Abstract

The African catfish Platyclarias machadoi stands out from other clariid species by its extremely dorsoventrally flattened skull. This paper focuses on the spatial constraints and consequent functional interdependencies in this very low skull (average skull height of 27.5±3.0% skull length); such as the medial position of the retroarticular process on the lower jaw, the horizontal position of the suspensorium, the lateral tilting of the pterygoid bones and the anterior part of the quadrate with regard to the suspensorial transverse long axis. These characteristics can be presumed to have major influences on the capacity of suspensorial adduction, influencing the feeding and respiratory mechanisms. A comparison with other clariid species showed that one of the apomorphies is the presence of an extra muscle (musculus adductor mandibulae A3″ pars levator tendinis) in the adductor mandibulae complex. This extra muscle lifts the tendon complex of the adductor mandibulae, resulting in a higher moment on the lower jaw. Some comments on the original species/genus descriptions are given.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank F. Verschooten (University of Ghent) for assistance in photographing the X-rays; K. Hartel (MCZ), O. Crimmen (BMNH) and Scott Schaefer (AMNH) for the loan of some additional specimens. Special thanks are due to M. Stiassny, C. Hopkins, J. Okouyi (M’Passa, Makokou) and the I.R.A.F. (Gabon) for assistance during sampling. Research was funded by the BOF of the Ghent University (project 01104299 and 01103401) and the FWO (project G.0388.00).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Stijn Devaere, Dominique Adriaens & Walter Verraes

  2. Ichthyology Department, Africa Museum, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium

    Guy G. Teugels

  3. Section for Ecology and Systematics, KULeuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Guy G. Teugels

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  1. Stijn Devaere
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  2. Dominique Adriaens
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  3. Guy G. Teugels
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  4. Walter Verraes
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Correspondence to Stijn Devaere.

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Devaere, S., Adriaens, D., Teugels, G.G. et al. Morphology of the cranial system of Platyclarias machadoi: interdependencies of skull flattening and suspensorial structure in Clariidae. Zoomorphology 125, 69–85 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-005-0012-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-005-0012-7

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