Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
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Online Publication Date: 01 May 2002

Previously Unreported Pectoral Bones in Moray Eels(Anguilliformes: Muraenidae)

Page Range: 483 – 488
DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002[0483:PUPBIM]2.0.CO;2
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Abstract

Undescribed bones located in pectoral region of Muraenidae are reported. Typically there are either one or two small horn-shaped bones located posterior to intersection of supracleithrum and cleithrum. A deep concavity is present at posterior end of each bone. In species with a single bone, posterior section of bone is attached to a triangular sheet of cartilage. In species with two bones, one is dorsal to the other, and no posterior sheet of cartilage is associated with either. Of the two subfamilies of Muraenidae, the bones are lacking in all but one species of Uropterygiinae and vary in presence and number in Muraeninae. Monopenchelys acuta lacks these bones but has a posterior sheet of cartilage. Gymnothorax melatremus has three bone elements. Comparisons with pectoral bones of other anguilliform taxa suggests that bones in muraenids represent the scapula and coracoid.

Copyright: The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
 Fig. 1. 
 Fig. 1. 

Echidna catenata, ANSP 115512, 266 mm TL, left lateral side, posterior to skull showing the branchiostegal rays and pectoral girdle. Abbreviations: brr, branchiostegal rays; cl, cleithrum; op, opercle; pe, pectoral element; pop, preopercle; scl, supracleithrum; sop subopercle

 Fig. 2. 
 Fig. 2. 

Gymnothorax griseus, ANSP 127604, 205 mm TL, pectoral girdle, left lateral side. Cartilage is indicated by shading. Abbreviations: cl, cleithrum; pe, pectoral element; scl, supracleithrum

 Fig. 3. 
 Fig. 3. 

Enchelycore nigricans, UF 114966, 266 mm TL, pectoral girdle, left lateral side. Cartilage indicated by shading. Abbreviations: cl, cleithrum; pe.d, dorsal pectoral element; pe.v, ventral pectoral element; scl, supracleithrum

 Fig. 4. 
 Fig. 4. 

Gymnothorax melatremus, ANSP 131158, 200 mm TL, pectoral girdle, left lateral side. Abbreviations: cl, cleithrum; pe.da, dorsoanterior pectoral element, pe.dp; dorsoposterior pectoral element; pe.v, ventral pectoral element; scl, supracleithrum

 Fig. 5. 
 Fig. 5. 

Monopenchelys acuta, CAS 80305, 200 mm TL, pectoral girdle, left lateral side. Cartilage is indicated by shading. Abbreviations: cl, cleithrum; cp, cartilage plate; scl, supracleithrum

Received: 18 Jul 2000
Accepted: 15 Oct 2001
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