The Origin and Transformation of the Palatine-Maxillary System of Catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes): An Example of Macroevolution

Osteology and myology of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of Erethistes pusillus, comparison with other erethistids, and comments on the synapomorphies and phylogenetic relationships of the Erethistidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

“…clariids, cranoglanidids, aspredinidids, erethistidids, sisorids, some ictalurids and some shilbeids; to both the metapterygoid and the ectopterygoid in, e.g . bagrids)(Regan, 1911; Alexander, 1965; Gosline, 1975; Arratia, 1987, 1990, 1992; Mo, 1991; Diogo et al ., 1999, 2000, 2001 b ; Diogo & Chardon, 2000 c , 2003; this study). A well‐defined, long ligament attaching on the antero‐dorsal margin of the entopterygoid (Fig.…”

Cordelia's Dilemma, Historical Bias, and General Evolutionary Trends: Catfishes as a Case Study for General Discussions on Phylogeny and Macroevolution

“…The ascending portion of Meckel's cartilage (Mo;Diogo et al, 2000b) was apparently independently lost five times: in the combined clade of callicthyids + scoloplacids + loricariids + astroblepids, in the silurids, in the mochokids, in the amphiliids, and in the clariids (Fig. 4).…”

“…With respect to the differentiation of the extensor tentaculi in different bundles (Diogo et al, 2000b;Diogo & Vandewalle), this feature occurred at least in four different occasions: in the clade callicthyids + scoloplacids + astroblepids + loricariids; in the silurids; in the claroteid genus Auchenoglanis; and in the clade malapterurids + doradids + auchenipterids + mochokids + bagrids + pimelodids + amphiliids + chacids + plotosids + clariids + amblycipitids + akysids + sisorids + erethistids + aspredinids, where it is secondarily lost within chacids and clariids (Fig. 6).…”

“…However, the subdivision of the extensor tentaculi in different bundles allows a wider range of movements to the catfish palatine-maxillary system, and, consequently, to the characteristic maxillary barbels of these fishes (Alexander;Gosline, 1975;Diogo et al, 2000b). Thus it is not unreasonable to think that, within an order in which the palatine-maxillary system is invariably present, the subdivision of the extensor tentaculi could effectively somehow constitute a 'generalised biomechanical improvement' across several different environments.…”

Mandibular, hyoid and pectoral musculature of thorny catfishes (Siluriformes: Doradidae)

“…Winterbottom (1974) examined Diplomystes and Ictalurus and he stated that previous authors had overlooked this muscle. Diogo and Chardon (2000) recognized three portions of the muscle: pars dorsalis, pars ventralis and pars lateralis. They based the names of their portions on the position but they do not refer to the previous work of Datta .…”