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Fishery Bulletin 96(4), 1998 
D 
Figure 3 
Dorsal aspect of branchial apparatus. (A) Paralichthys lethostigmus, ANSP 
143209; (B) Lyopsetta exilis , NMC 60-0501; (C) Limanda ferruginea , NMC 80- 
0217; (D) Pleuronectes putnami, ROM 556. bb=basibranchial; bh = basihyal; cb 
= ceratobranchial; eb = epibranchial; gr = gill raker; hp = hypobranchial. The 
fourth basibranchial is cartilagenous and illustrated in only Fig. 3A. Scale bars 
are 10 mm. 
character states. As a result, interrelationships 
within these groups are supported by few synapo- 
morphies. Serving as successive outgroups (Stiassny 
and de Pinna, 1994), the position of these three sub- 
families determines the polarity and relationships 
within the Hippoglossoidinae and the diversified 
Pleuronectinae. 
The first lineage (I) distinguishes Hippoglossinae 
from all other pleuronectid taxa. The second lineage (II) 
contains all species classified in Eopsettinae, Lyop- 
settinae, Hippoglossoidinae, and Pleuronectinae. This 
second lineage is supported by two synapomorphies 
(Fig. 6): ocular-side pterosphenoid and prootic join to 
form the dorsal margin of anterior prootic foramen (11, 
Fig. 7, B and C); and first epibranchial not bifurcated 
at its distal end (12, Fig. 3, C and D). 
Exceptions to the distribution of these two charac- 
ters are observed in Pleuronectinae and Verasper 
