Comparative Morphology and Evolution of the Lateral Line System in the Labridae (Perciformes: Labroidei)

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Abstract
Hypotheses of functional adaptation and morphological constraints as determinants of lateral line morphology were tested by examining lateral line trunk canal patterns in adult representatives of 44 labrid, scarid and odacid genera. Trunk canal pattern varied at the generic level and was shown to be correlated with variations in body shape and scale size, but not with pectoral fin morphology. An analysis of the distribution of trunk canal patterns among labrid genera suggest that: 1) variation in trunk canal pattern is correlated with changes in body depth and scale size; 2) the disjunct pattern evolved twice in the labrids and at least once in the scarids; and 3) the use of elements of lateral line morphology as systematic characters supports the inclusion of the odacids and scarids within the Labridae.