Bite performance in clariid fishes with hypertrophied jaw adductors as deduced by bite modeling.

Within clariid fishes several cranial morphologies can be discerned. Especially within anguilliform representatives an increase in the degree of hypertrophy of the jaw adductors occurs. The hypertrophy of the jaw adductors and skeletal modifications in the cranial elements have been linked to increased bite force.

Comparative study on the cranial morphology of Gymnallabes typus (Siluriformes: Clariidae) and their less anguilliform relatives, Clariallabes melas and Clarias gariepinus.

We compare the cranial morphology of four fish species with an increasing anguilliformism in the following order: Clarias gariepinus, Clariallabes melas, Gymnallabes typus, and Channallabes apus. The main anatomical-morphological disparities are the stepwise reduction of the skull roof along with the relative enlargement of the external jaw muscles, which occurred in each of them. Gymnallabes typus and C.

Ontogeny of the osteocranium in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell (1822) (Siluriformes: Clariidae): Ossification sequence as a response to functional demands.

The ontogeny of the bony skull of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, is studied from initial ossification until a complete skull is formed. The ossification sequence in C. gariepinus seems to be related to the functional demands that arise in a developing larva.

Ontogeny of cranial musculature in Clarias gariepinus (Siluroidei: Clariidae): The adductor mandibulae complex.

The adductor mandibulae complex has been a subject of discussion and uncertainties due to a wide range of differentiations that have occurred in teleosts during evolution. In Siluroidei a specific modification of a part of the muscle complex has resulted in the formation of a retractor muscle of the maxillary barbel. The main part of the muscle complex, responsible for the closure of the mouth, has undergone some changes as well, which are at the base of the homology problems encountered by different authors.

Postembryonic ontogeny and functional anatomy of the ligamentum mandibulo-hyoideum and the ligamentum interoperculo-mandibulare, with notes on the opercular bones and some other cranial elements in Salmo gairdneri Richardson, 1836 (Teleostei: Salmonidae).

This study deals with the development of the opercular bones the ligamentum mandibulo-hyoideum, the ligamentum interoperculo-mandibulare and with some aspects of the development of the ceratohyale and the cartilago meckeli during postembryonic ontogeny of Salmo gairdneri (rainbow trout). It is stated that the ligamentum mandibulo-hyoideum is present from hatching onward, while the development of the ligamentum interoperculo-mandibulare appears during the period of active feeding. Some functional reasons are proposed to explain these facts.