24 



G.J. HOWES 



medial extrascapular is more closey aligned with the supraoc- 

 cipital, resting along a lateral ridge of the bone and in a 

 specimen of 173mm SL (Fig. 6C), it appears that the lateral 

 and a medial extrascapular have become fused, judging by 

 the presence of two neuromast foramina in the single large 

 bone. 



Pelvic girdle (Fig. 12C) 



The pelvic bone is narrow and tubular, broadening proxi- 

 mally where its cartilaginous tip contacts its antimere sym- 

 physially. Distally the pelvic process is narrow and straight 

 and connected with its antimere by ligamentous tissue. There 

 is no lateral pelvic process or spine (cf. Bathygadidae, Howes 

 & Crimmen, 1990). There are usually 7 fin rays; Fahay & 

 Markle (1984) give a range for the genus of 5-7. 

 The pelvic girdle lies well forward with the anterior tips of 



the pelvic bones lying between the cleithra so that the origin 

 of the pelvic fin lies beneath or just anterior to that of the 

 pectoral (Fig. 1). The position of the pelvic girdle in relation 

 to the pectoral girdle is variable amongst gadiforms. In the 

 majority of gadoids the pelvic girdle is situated well forward, 

 particularly so in the more derived 'supragadoid' taxa such as 

 gadids, gaidropsarids and muraenolepidids, so that the origin 

 of the pelvic fin lies in advance of that of the pectoral fin. 

 'Infragadoids' tend to have the pelvic girdle situated beneath 

 or behind the pectoral (e.g. bathygadids, steindachneriids). 

 In morids, however, the pelvic girdle lies well forward. There 

 is some variability in position among macrouroids but gener- 

 ally, the pelvic girdle lies posterior to the pectoral so that the 

 origin of the pelvic fin is situated directly beneath that of the 

 pectoral fin. With respect to the position of the pelvic fin 

 relative to that of the pectoral, the Melanonidae appear to 

 represent an intermediate condition between the derived 

 forward and plesiomorphic posterior positions. 



Fig. 13. Melanonus zugmayeri vertebral column. A, first vertebra and neural arch of 130mm SL specimen in lateral and anterior views; B, 

 anterior part of vertebral column of 100mm SL specimen showing retractor dorsalis muscle of one side, in ventral view; C and D vertebral 

 column and fin supports of 130mm SL specimen: C, anterior vertebrae, D, 14th-17th vertebrae showing anterior anal fin supports (lateral 

 views; ribs shown in black for clarity). 



