The untold story of the caudal skeleton in the electric eel (ostariophysi: gymnotiformes: electrophorus).

ABSTRACT: Alternative hypotheses had been advanced as to the components forming the elongate fin coursing along the ventral margin of much of the body and tail from behind the abdominal region to the posterior margin of the tail in the Electric Eel, Electrophorus electricus. Although the original species description indicated that this fin was a composite of the caudal fin plus the elongate anal fin characteristic of other genera of the Gymnotiformes, subsequent researchers proposed that the posterior region of the fin was formed by the extension of the anal fin posteriorly to the tip of the tail, thereby forming a "false caudal fin." Examination of ontogenetic series of the genus reveal that Electrophorus possesses a true caudal fin formed of a terminal centrum, hypural plate and a low number of ca

SUBMITTER: de Santana CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3722192 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature