352 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



Table 92. 



Number of Dorsal, Anal, and Pectoral Fin Rays, Vertebrae and Gill Rakers on the First Gill Arch in the Genera of 



Beloniformes. 



eralized (CoUette and Berry, 1965; Parin, 1967), having well- 

 developed gill rakers, large scales, comparatively weak canine 

 teeth and other generalized characters. Belone also is charac- 

 terized by the most completely developed cranial lateralis sys- 

 tem (Parin and Astakhov, 1982). Of the other genera, the great- 

 est number of primitive characters are found in Platybelone. 

 characterized at the same time by several specialized features 

 (in particular, the well-developed cutaneous lateral keel on the 

 caudal peduncle). The remaining three genera of marine needle- 

 fishes (Strongylura, Ablennes. and Tylosurus) are more ad- 

 vanced but their relationships have been interpreted differently 

 by Collette and Berry (1965), Parin (1967), and Astakhov ( 1 980). 

 The freshwater genera of needlefishes, in the opinion of all au- 



thors, have been derived from the genus Strongylura or its 

 ancestor and are secondary freshwater fishes. 



Exocoetoidea 



The superfamily is defined by one derived character and three 

 losses: third pair of upper pharyngeal bones united into a plate; 

 fourth upper pharyngeal bone lost; postorbital section and sec- 

 ondary bony canals of cephalic lateralis system lost. Other di- 

 agnostic characters include: scales on body large, lower jaw fre- 

 quently elongate but upper jaw never significantly elongate; and 

 premaxillary canal absent. 



