ABSTRACT
Very few studies focused on the anatomy of gonorynchiforms deal in detail with their musculature. In this paper I provide an overview of the cranial musculature (excluding branchial and extrinsic eye musculature) and pectoral girdle musculature of extant gonorynchiforms. Some comments on the functional morphology of these fishes, as well as a comparison with other otocephalans, are also given. The paper is based on a review of the available literature and on the author’s own analysis of the cephalic and pectoral girdle musculature of members of the various major otocephalan groups, including representatives of the seven extant gonorynchiform genera. The overview provided here points out that there is a considerable morphological diversity of the cranial and pectoral girdle muscles within the Gonorynchiformes. Interestingly, with the exception 108of the adductor mandibulae, hyohyoideus inferioris, adductor profundus, and eventually adductor hyomandibulae and arrector dorsalis, the plesiomorphic gonorynchiform configuration for each of the muscles discussed seems to represent the plesiomorphic configuration for the Otocephala as a whole. Because of their apparent basal position within otocephalans and the rather plesiomorphic configuration of their myological structures, the gonorynchiforms can thus play an important role in studies of the comparative anatomy, functional morphology and evolution of not only otocephalans but also teleosts in general.
