Osteological and Myological Characteristics of Liparis tanakae from Chinese Coasts

Abstract:

Fish anatomy, including osteology and myology, is very important for traditional ichthyological research and systematics. It provides the basis for taxonomy, phylogeny, morphology, veterinary, evolution, and other studies. However, few related papers on fish anatomy have been published in China, and hence, research is currently insufficient. Liparis tanakae, is a dominant species in the Yellow Sea and Bo Hai, which occupies an important position in the ecosystem, but no study has so far described its anatomical characteristics in detail. The osteological and myological descriptions of L. tanakae are given in this study, and some associated nerves are also mentioned here. The osteological descriptions comprise ten parts: circumorbital bones, neurocranium, jaws, suspensorium and opercular bones, hyoid arch, branchial arches, pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle, axial skeleton, median fin supports, and caudal skeleton; and myological descriptions comprise eight parts: cheek muscles, cephalic muscles between the cranium and suspensorium-opercular bones, ventral muscles of the head, branchial muscles, pectoral fin muscles, pelvic fin muscles, muscles associated with median fins, and caudal fin muscles. Examinations were made on specimens stained with alcian blue and alizarin red. The specimens were dissected under a stereomicroscope used to prepare drawings. Some renewal conditions of terminology and synonyms were stated, and few portions unnamed in Chinese, such as hyohyoidei abductor and retractor dorsalis, were named. The special structure of the pelvic fin and its locomotory mechanism were illustrated, along with the differentiation and function of the cheek muscles.