Details of Structure and Functioning of the Pharyngeal Jaw Apparatus of Ember Parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus (Scaridae)

Abstract

The structural details of some muscles, ligaments, aponeurotic structures, and osteological features of the pharyngeal jaw apparatus of ember parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus were studied. During the preparation, the evidence of the presence of a palatal organ in this species, which is convergently similar to that of benthic fish species of Cyprinidae and Catostomidae, has been found. The indirect effect of contraction of m. geniohyoideus and m. sternohyoideus on the operation of the pharyngeal jaw is discussed. Based on the results of anatomy and analysis of the literature, the interpretation of previously obtained morphofunctional data characterizing the apparatus of the pharyngeal jaws of parrotfish (Scaridae) is corrected using S. rubroviolaceus as an example.