A morphological study of Luciocephalus pulcher,with notes on gular elements in other recent teleosts

The monotypic perciform suborder Luciocephaloidei possesses the following, previously unknown, salient morphological characters: a third joint, the nasopalatopterygoid, between neurocranium and suspensorium; a toothless and dorsally exposed prevomer; no pharyngeal processes on either parasphenoid or basioccipital; a tympanum-covered foramen exoccipitale in the saccular bulla as a hearing organ; a gular ossification; a craniovertebral joint with small exoccipital condyles widely separated from the basioccipital condyle; and a large physoclystic swimbladder with a notable caudal extension. The seemingly functionless gular-like mental ossification is considered a paleomorphic structure with a neogenetic development. Attenuation in longitudinal growth is evident in the derivatives and dermal additions of the mandibular arch and nasal capsule while other regions of the head have remained independent. The primary adaptive significance of the attenuation in the growth of the entire preorbital region is the accomodation of oral incubation. Secondarily the elongate jaws increase both the speed and grasping range of the bite in prey catching. The degree of jaw protrusion depends mainly on the length of the maxillary. The exaggerated length of the ascending processes of the premaxillaries may be the result of a positive differential growth rate within one growth field. The meaning of the preponderance of parallel-fibered cranial muscles is discussed in respect to holding functions, greatest possible excursion of the insertion with minimum loss of force, and muscle fiber length. Based on the overall morphology, the monotypic suborder Luciocephaloidei is retained.