The cephalic and caudal musculature of the sculpin Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus (Pisces: Cottidae)

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Abstract
The cephalic and caudal musculature of the sculpin Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus was investigated in an effort to determine whether the rather radical modification of the body form and mode of life of many of the cottids from that of the more typical perciform fishes was in any way reflected by the musculature.The differences encountered in the cephalic musculature proved to be mainly ones of degree of development, the only major one being the extreme development of the levator arcus palatini, the muscle primarily responsible for the erection of the preoperculum, the primary defense mechanism of cottids.Comparison of the caudal musculature revealed the absence of a deltoit flexor tendon and also of a dorsal adductor muscle.

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