title: Gill-filament ossifications: a possible morphological synapomorphy uniting the families Balitoridae and Cobitidae (Ostariophysi: Cypriniformes).
abstract: Ossifications associated with the gill filaments of members of the Balitoridae and Cobitidae are described for the first time. Although gill-filament ossifications are common in teleosts, similar ossifications were not observed in other members of the order Cypriniformes. Their presence is interpreted as a shared and derived character uniting the families Balitoridae and Cobitidae as a monophyletic group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St Louis, MO 63103-2010, USA. conwaykw@gmail.com
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Mayden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003531:Cypriniformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D005880:Gills / Q000033:anatomy & histology*