Cooper and Chapleau: Monophyly and intrarelationships of the family Pleuronectidae 
703 
corroborate an alternative hypothesis. The absence of 
gill rakers on fourth ceratobranchial is observed in 
Limanda punctatissima (Pleuronectinae). The position 
of the migrated eye in relation to the dorsal midline is 
a reversal also observed in Cleisthenes pinetorum 
(Hippoglossoidinae). An increase in the number of cau- 
dal vertebrae is also observed in Glyptocephalus and 
Microstomus, a clade of nine species whose monophyl- 
etic status is strongly supported within the Pleuro- 
nectinae. Absence of the dentary foramen on the blind 
side is only observed in four other pleuronectid species 
including Hippoglossus kippoglossus. 
Reinhardtius euermanni was not examined, but 
morphological characters reported in the literature 
suggest monophyly for R. evermanni, R. hippo- 
glossoides, and R. stomias. Reinhardtius evermanni 
also has an increased number of caudal vertebrae, 
ranging from 37 to 40 (Sakamoto, 1984a). Rein- 
hardtius evermanni and R. stomias share two unique 
structures: olfactory lamellae that radiate from a 
central rachis; and jaw and pharyngeal teeth with 
barbed tips (Norman, 1934). If these structures are 
considered synapomorphic within the genus, then 
Reinhardtius evermanni and R. stomias are sister 
species, with R. hippoglossoides immediately basal 
to them. 
The sister relationship between Hippoglossus and 
Verasper is supported by six synapomorphies (Fig. 11): 
