20 



G.J. HOWES 





i^riWM^ , ^iHim'twr'iTr T « T * 



cm 



mc 



Fig. 8. Melanonus zugmayeri, jaw bones. A and B right maxilla from a 130mm SL specimen in: (A) dorsal and (B) medial and slightly 

 ventral views; C, premaxilla in lateral view; D-F premaxilla, anterior (D) and posterior (E) regions from 130mm SL specimen and (F) 

 100mm SL specimen, ventral views; G, lower jaw of 130mm SL specimen in medial view. 



Macrouroids tend toward a deeper anguloarticular and 

 greater variability in the shape of the retroarticular (Oka- 

 mura, 1970; Howes & Crimmen, 1990). A boot-shaped 

 retroarticular is lacking in both percopsiforms and lophii- 

 forms. 



Palatopterygoquadrate (Fig. 9) 



The palatine (Fig. 9A,B) is long, its posterior tip extending to 

 nearly halfway along the ectopterygoid, its rostral process is 

 long and slender and overlies the maxilla, its base bears a 

 broad facet which articulates with the ethmoid cavity and the 

 body of the bone rises to a high posterior crest. There are two 

 rows of sharply pointed teeth. 



The anterior part of the ectopterygoid (Fig. 9 A) lies along 

 the medial face of the palatine and its ventral stem reaches 

 the quadrate joint; laterally it is slightly overlapped by the 

 entopterygoid (Fig. 9A). The latter is a relatively large bone 

 with a rounded dorsal profile and is sloped mesad, its 

 posterior border is well separated from the hyomandibular by 

 the metapterygoid. The metapterygoid (Fig. 9 A) is axe- 

 shaped its posterior margin rising high up the leading edge of 

 the hyomandibular shaft. 



The melanonid palatine is unique amongst gadiforms, in its 

 length, nature of contact with the pterygoids, and in bearing 

 teeth. The common condition, and one which is considered 

 synapomorphic for gadiforms (p. 29) is for the palatine to be 

 reduced in length with a vertical or slightly angled posterior 

 border meeting a similar blunt margin of the ectopterygoid 

 and forming a hinge-type joint (see figures in Okamura, 1970, 

 1989; Howes, 1990, 1991b; Howes & Crimmen, 1990). This 

 union differs from that commonly encountered in other 

 paracanthopterygians where the posterior limb of the pala- 

 tine is attenuated and articulates firmly with the leading edge 

 of the entopterygoid and lateral face of the ectopterygoid. 

 Percopsids resemble gadiforms in having a near vertical 

 abutment of the palatine with the ento- and ectopterygoids 

 (Fig. 9D). However, there is a posterior stem which overlaps 

 the upper lateral margin of the ectopterygoid. Macrouroids 

 are characterised by the lack of direct contact between the 

 palatine and ethmovomerine bloc (Howes & Crimmen, 

 1990). 



Norman (1930) noted there were 'teeth on the pterygoid 1 , 

 an error perpetuated by Howes (1991b, caption to fig. 35). 

 The pterygoid bones of Melanonus display plesiomorphic 

 morphologies; the large entopterygoid and high posterior 



