About use of ontogenetic preceding criterion on the example of the osteological development of the notothenioid fishes (Notothenioidei, Perciformes, Teleostei)

Abstract

Studying of early stages of development of a skeleton of perciform fishes from suborders Notothenioidei, Percoidei, Blennioidei, Zoarcoidei and Gobioidei has revealed similar sequence of occurrence of skeletal elements of a various origin which corresponds that at other Teleostei. The first in ontogenesis cartilaginous elements of a skull, an axial skeleton and a skeleton of a caudal fin appear. After their occurrence the anlagen of integumentary bones begins. Later the chondral bones appear. In many bones of a complex origin integumentary elements also appear before the chondral. Studying of transformations of a structure of various parts of a skeleton in ontogenesis of the nototheniois has revealed much better expressed lability of a bone tissue in comparison with cartilage. More functional activity of integumentary bone elements in comparison with chondral in bones of a complex origin is shown. The assumption is made that the considerable reduction of an integumentary skeleton in phylogeny of vertebrate animals in many cases has been connected with process of fusion of integumentary and replacing bones in the complex bones taking up functions of both elements. Comparison of sequence of appearance of skeletal elements in ontogenesis of Teleostei and in phylogeny of early vertebrate animals shows obvious similarity of these processes that once again shows criterion of ontogenetic preceding possibilities for reconstruction of evolutionary transformations.