The Skeleton of the Fish 



53 



coracoid (59). It is not found in the striped bass, but is found 

 in the carp, catfish, salmon, and all their allies. 



The Posterior Limbs. The posterior limb or ventral fin 

 (63) is articulated to a single bone on either side, the pelvic 

 girdle (62). 



In the shark the pelvic girdle is rather largely developed, 

 but in the more specialized fishes it loses its importance. In 



EPO 



FIG. 38. Cranium of Sebastolobus alascanus Gilbert. (After Starks.) 



Alisphenoid. 



Parietal. 



Basisphenoid. 



Prootic. 



Barioccipital. 



Supraoccipi tal . 



EO. Exoccipital. 



EPO. Epiotic. 



SPO. Sphenotic. 



PTO. Pterotic. 



the less specialized of the bony fishes the pelvis is attached at 

 a distance from the head among the muscles of the side, and 

 free from the shoulder-girdle and other parts of the skeleton. 

 The ventral fins are then said to be abdominal. When very close 

 to the clavicle, but not connected with it, as in the mullet, the 

 fin is still said to be abdominal or subabdominal. In the 

 striped bass the pelvis is joined by ligament between the clavi- 

 cles, near their tip. The ventral fins thus connected, as seen in 

 most spiny-rayed fishes, are said to be thoracic. In certain 

 forms the pelvis is thrown still farther forward and attached at 

 the throat or even to the chin. When the ventral fins are thus 

 inserted before the shoulder-girdle, they are said to be jugular. 



