The Skeleton of the Fish 



the caudal vertebrae. In place, however, of the haemapophyses 

 are projections known as parapophyses (72), which do not meet 



FIG. 32. Pharyngeals of Italian Parrot-fish, Sparisoma cretense (L.). a, upper; 



b, lower. 



below, but extend outward, forming the upper part of the wall 

 of the abdominal cavity. 



To the parapophyses, or near them, the ribs (73) are rather 

 loosely attached and each rib may have one or more accessory 

 branches (74) called epipleurals. 



In the striped bass the dorsal vertebras are essentially 

 similar in form, but in some fishes, as the carp and the cat- 

 fish, 4 or 5 anterior vertebras are greatly modified, coossified, 



80 



FIG. 33. Roccus lineatus. Vertebral column and appendages, with a typical 



64. Abdominal vertebrae. 



65. Caudal vertebrae. 



66. Centrum. 



67. Neurapophysis. 



68. Neural spine. 



69. Haemapophysis. 



vertebra. (After Starks.) 



70. Haemal spine. 



71. Zygapophysis. 



72. Parapophysis. 



73. Ribs. 



74. Epipleurals. 



75. Interneural. 



76. Dorsal fin. 



77. Interhsemal. 



78. Anal fin. 



79. Hypural. 



80. Caudal fin. 



and so arranged as to connect the air-bladder with the organ 

 of hearing. Fishes with vertebrae thus altered are called plecto- 

 spondylous. 



In the garpike the vertebrae are convex anteriorly, concave 



