Scopelarchidae

Scopelarchidae View in CoL View at ENA ( Aulopiformes ) ( Fig. 16C, D View Figure 16 )

In Rosenblattichthys alatus two prominent CMCs are present ( Fig. 16C View Figure 16 ). In lateral view the lower is slightly oval with upright orientation and the upper one, which is larger, has a somewhat roundish to downward-pointing triangular shape. Both cartilages have articulatory facets towards their hypural plates, giving the upper CMC a bean-shaped appearance in dorsal view. In posterior view it becomes evident that the upper CMC is wider, about two times the width of the hypurals, whereas the lower, egg-shaped CMC has only hypural width ( Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ). Strong connective tissue stretches between the approaching tips of the CMCs. The most median fin rays of the caudal lobes articulate in the areas where the CMCs contact the distal cartilages of the hypural plates. There are no inward-directed pegs on the bases of these rays; in contrast there are rather small laterally directed pegs, probably for the attachment of ligaments.