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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
Published on: May 7, 2016
Osteological evidence for monophyly of the Leiognathidae (Teleostei: Acanthomorpha: Acanthuriformes)
Anthony C Gill1, Steffi Michalski
1Macleay Collections, Chau Chak Wing Museum and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. Ichthyology, Australian Museum Research Institute, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.. anthony.c.gill@sydney.edu.au.
Abstract:
Osteological characters supporting monophyly and identification of extant Leiognathidae are reviewed. Ten osteological synapomorphies support monophyly of the Leiognathidae, involving modification of the ribs, gill arches, palatoquadrate, median fins and branchiostegals. Fourteen additional characters are noted that nest the Leiognathidae within the Acanthuriformes (sensu Gill Leis). Nine further characters are noted as useful for identification of leiognathids, though each occurs more widely among acanthuriforms and other fishes. Three fossil genera that have been assigned to the Leiognathidae are briefly reviewed for the various leiognathid characters. Only one fossil genus, †Euleiognathus Yabumoto Uyeno, appears correctly placed in the family.
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