(1) Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, 2-5-1 Akebono-cho, Kochi 780-8520, Japan;(2) Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba Ibaraki, 305-0005, Japan;
Abstract:
Innervation of the lateral line canal system in seven batoid species (representing seven families in three orders) provided
a reliable basis for the identification of each canal element. Previous topographic definitions of the canal elements have
failed to recognize homologies within batoids for the scapular and hyomandibular canals. The former is innervated by the posterior
lateral line nerve and the latter is innervated by an external mandibular branch of the anterior lateral line nerve. This
indicates that the scapular canal is represented only by the scapular loop in Myliobatoidei.