Basketfish

Inhabits sandy bottoms (Ref. 11230).

Kentrocapros aculeatus (Houttuyn)

MUSCLES OF THE CHEEK

ADDUCTOR MANDIBULAE (Figures 115, 116, 117: A 1β, A 2α, A 2β, A 3).—A 2α is well developed, originating from the dorsolateral parasphenoid, the anterior face of the prootic shelf, and the anterodorsal margin of the hyomandibular. Fibers also arise from the tendinous sheath on the dorsomedial face of the muscle. The more medial fibers in this region are not completely distinct from the lateral fibers of A 1β″ (Figure 117) posteriorly. A 2β arises from the preopercle and hyomandibular, the fibers passing anterodorsally. They tend to pass more medially than do those of A 2α, but join to form a common tendon before inserting on the inner face of the dentary. Ramus mandibularis V emerges from beneath A 1γ and passes lateral to the other sections of A 1β. It appears superficially from beneath the anterior fibers of A 2β. The sections of A 1 are not well separated either from each other or from the overlying A 2. A 1β″ is the dorsalmost section and originates from the anterior face of the prootic shelf. Beneath it, A 1β′ (Figure 117) arises from the dorsolateral metapterygoid and anterior hyomandibular. It is poorly separated from A 1β, which arises from the anterolateral face of the hyomandibular. The latter section partly overlies and intermingles with A 3. Anteriorly, these four sections come together to form a tendinous aponeurosis which divides into a strong dorsal component to the medial face of the maxilla and a weaker ventral one to the medial face of the dentary.

LEVATOR ARCUS PALATINI (Figures 115: L.A.P.).—This is a short, conical muscle originating from the ventral face of the orbital process of the sphenotic and fanning out to insert on the anterolateral face of the hyomandibular.

DILATATOR OPERCULI (Figure 115: D.O.).—The fibers form a long, thin, bipinnate muscle which arises from the dilatator fossa (mainly in the sphenotic) and inserts on the dorsal process of the opercle.

LEVATOR OPERCULI (Figure 115: L.O.).—The muscle originates from the ventrolateral posttemporal and inserts on the posterodorsal face of the opercle.

ADDUCTOR ARCUS PALATINI.—The muscle is short and thick. It originates from the ventrolateral face of the parasphenoid and inserts mainly on the dorsomedial face of the metapterygoid. The anterior fibers pass outward to their insertion at an increasingly anterolateral angle, and grade imperceptibly into the retractor arcus palatini. The muscle lies wholly in front of the orbit.

RETRACTOR ARCUS PALATINI (Figure 117: R.A.P.).—The muscle is fairly well developed, and, as stated, not completely separate from the adductor arcus palatini. The fibers arise from the anterodorsal parasphenoid and pass anteroventrally to insert on the posterodorsal face of the metapterygoid.

ADDUCTOR OPERCULI (Figures 119, 121: AD.OP.).—Fibers arise from the lateral face of the basioccipital and anteroventral exoccipital, and insert on the dorsomedial face of the opercle by a long tendon.

ADDUCTOR HYOMANDIBULAE (Figures 119, 121: A.H.).—The muscle lies just above the adductor operculi, and passes more anteriorly to insert on the dorsomedial face of the hyomandibular. Its origin is poorly separated from that of the adductor operculi, the muscle being derived from the more posterodorsal fibers.

MUSCLES OF THE HYOID REGION

INTERMANDIBULARIS.—This is a small transverse muscle spanning the symphysis between the dentaries, and being closely associated with the anterodorsal fibers of the protractor hyoidei.

PROTRACTOR HYOIDEI (Figures 115, 117, 118: PR.HY.).—The muscle originates from the medial face of the dentary near the symphysis and inserts on the lateral faces of the anterohyal, posterohyal, and the bases of the dorsal four branchiostegal rays. The two halves remain separate for most of their length, being joined by a midventral raphe just below the jaws. A myocomma arises in the region of the raphe, and passes posterodorsally. Some of the more dorsal fibers attach to the interopercle.

HYOHYOIDEUS INFERIORIS (Figures 115, 118: HY.IN.).—The muscle is rather small, and originates from the posteroventral anterohyal and anteroventral posterohyal beneath the second branchiostegal ray. The fibers pass down to the midline, where they meet their antimeres in a midventral raphe.

HYOHYOIDEI ABDUCTORES (Figures 115, 118: H.AB.).—These muscles insert on the medial faces of the first four branchiostegal rays. The section to the first ray arises from the ventromedial face of the ventrohyal, that to the second ray originates from the base of the first ray, while the slips to the other rays arise from the base of the second ray and the surrounding anterohyal.

HYOHYOIDEI ADDUCTORES (Figures 115, 117, 118: H.AD.).—The muscle lies mainly in the lateral tissues of the opercular cavity. It attaches dorsally to the sphenotic and prootic shelf. Ventrally, fibers attach to the fascia covering the sternohyoideus and the ventral surfaces of the branchial arches. The more dorsal branchiostegal rays are partially embedded in the fibers. A small slip of fibers arises from the anteroventral region of the cleithrum and courses dorsally to join the main mass in the vicinity of the opercular valve.

STERNOHYOIDEUS (Figures 115, 118, 119: STH.).—The muscle consists of two sections. The main lateral portion arises from the myocomma with the obliquus inferioris lateral to the abductors of the pectoral fin. It inserts on the posteroventral face of the ventrohyal. A small, medial section of the muscle originates from the anteroventral tip of the cleithrum and inserts on the lateral face of the small urohyal. It lies medial to the main body of the muscle.

STERNOBRANCHIALIS (Figures 118, 119, 120: STB.).—The fibers originate from the anteroventral region of the cleithrum and pass dorsally to separate into two tendons. The anterior of these inserts on hypobranchials 2 and 3 and ceratobranchial 3, while the posterior tendon inserts on ceratobranchials 3 and 4.

VENTRAL BRANCHIAL MUSCLES

PHARYNGOCLAVICULARIS EXTERNUS (Figures 119, 120: PHC.E.).—This muscle is very well developed. It originates from the anterior and ventromedial surfaces of the cleithrum, dorsolateral to the origin of the medial section of the sternohyoideus. The fibers pass upward to insert on the ventral surface of ceratobranchial 5.

PHARYNGOCLAVICULARIS INTERNUS (Figures 119, 120: PHC.I.).—The fibers arise from the anterodorsomedial face of the cleithrum and insert on the ventral face of ceratobranchial 5.

OBLIQUUS VENTRALIS III (Figures 119, 120: OBL.V.).—The muscle is small, and connects the ventral face of ceratobranchial 3 to the tip of the ventral process of hypobranchial 3. The process is embedded in a flat ligament which passes anteriorly to attach to the posterior face of the urohyal.

TRANSVERSI VENTRALES IV–V (Figure 120: TR.V.).—These two muscles connect the anteroventromedial faces of the ceratobranchials of the fourth and fifth arches across the ventral midline. The posterior muscle is well developed.

RECTI VENTRALES I, II, IV (Figures 119, 120: RECT.V.).—The two anterior recti arise from the ventral surfaces of the ceratobranchial-hypobranchial regions of the first and second arches respectively. Rectus I attaches to the posterodorsal face of the dorsohyal, while rectus II passes anteromedially, fusing partly with its antimere and partly with the ligament from the ventral process of hypobranchial 3. Rectus IV is well developed, and connects the ventral face of ceratobranchial 4 to the arch-shaped ligament between the third hypobranchials. Some fibers intermingle with those of the other side in the midline.

RECTUS COMMUNIS (Figures 119, 120: R.COMM.).—The muscle arises from the posterior face of the urohyal and inserts on the ventrolateral face of ceratobranchial 5.

DORSAL BRANCHIAL MUSCLES

LEVATORES EXTERNI I–IV (Figure 119: L.EXT.).—The series is well developed. All the muscles originate from the ventral surface of the prootic shelf, and insert on the dorsal faces of the respective epibranchials. Levators III and IV are completely fused dorsally, the bulk of the fibers affecting the tendon serving the fourth epibranchial. The tendon to epibranchial 3 arises from the anteromedial surface of this bundle.

LEVATORES INTERNI II, III (Figures 115, 119, 121: L.INT.).—These are both enormously developed, bipinnate muscles, which insert on infrapharyngobranchials 2–4. Levator II originates from the posterolateral prootic, ventral pterotic, lateral exoccipital, and ventrolateral epiotic, and inserts on the posterior face of infrapharyngobranchial 2. Levator III overlies the posteroventral surface of the anterior muscle, and includes the pterotic, epiotic, and exoccipital in its sites of origin. Anteriorly, the muscle divides into two tendons, the anterior of which inserts on infrapharyngobranchial 3, the posterior one attaching to the medial tip of epibranchial 4 and the tough connective tissue which appears to contain the cartilagenous remains of infrapharyngobranchial 4. The posterolateral origin of this muscle is visible in superficial lateral view.

OBLIQUUS DORSALIS III (Figures 119, 121: OBL.D.).—The muscle connects the dorsal face of epibranchial 3 to the dorsal face of infrapharyngobranchial 3, passing between the two tendons of levator internus III.

OBLIQUUS POSTERIOR (Figure 121: OBL.P.).—This is a well-developed muscle, passing from the dorsomedial face of ceratobranchial 5 to the posterior face of epibranchial 4.

TRANSVERSI DORSALES II, IV (Figure 121: TR.D.).—Both muscles originate from middorsal raphes with their antimeres. Transversus II passes out laterally behind infrapharyngobranchial 2 to insert on the dorsal face of epibranchial 2. The posterior muscle inserts on the posterodorsal face of epibranchial 4.

RETRACTOR DORSALIS (Figures 119, 121: D.RETR.).—Origin is from the lateral face of the basioccipital, the muscle passing anteriorly beneath Baudelot’s ligament and the medial process of the supracleithrum to insert in the connective tissue surrounding the cartilagenous remains of infrapharyngobranchial 4 near the medial tip of epibranchial 4.

ADDUCTOR IV.—This is a poorly developed muscle, crossing the angle between the medial faces of the fourth epibranchial and ceratobranchial. It is embedded in thick connective tissue.

SPHINCTER OESOPHAGI (Figures 119, 120, 121: S.O.).—The muscle surrounds the esophagus, attaching to the posterior faces of ceratobranchial 5 and epibranchial 4. A pair of ligaments arise from the ventral surface and pass posterolaterally to attach to the medial faces of the cleithra.

MUSCLES OF THE PECTORAL REGION

ABDUCTOR SUPERFICIALIS (Figures 115, 118: ABD.S.).—Origin is from the lateral and posterior faces of the cleithrum and the fascia overlying the abductor profunclus. The fibers insert on the anterolateral bases of the principal fin rays.

ABDUCTOR PROFUNDUS (Figures 115, 118, 119: ABD.P.).—A well-developed muscle, arising mainly from the broad, lateral surface of the coracoid. The tendons insert on the posteroventral bases of the principal fin rays. There is a section to the lateral base of the vestigial ray that arises from the medial surface of the muscle mass serving the dorsalmost ray.

ARRECTOR VENTRALIS (Figure 115: ARR.V.).—The muscle originates from the anterolateral face of the cleithrum and inserts on the anterolateral margin of the medial half of the vestigial fin ray.

ADDUCTOR SUPERFICIALIS (Figure 123: ADD.S.).—Origin is from the posterodorsomedial face of the cleithrtnn. The muscle inserts on the anteromedial faces of the principal rays distal to their bases. The more ventral fibers pass more dorsolaterally to serve the more dorsal rays.

ADDUCTOR PROFUNDUS (Figures 115, 118, 123: ADD.P.).—A well-developed muscle originating from the medial coracoid and posteromedial cleithrum. It inserts on the posteroventromedial flanges of the principal fin rays.

ARRECTOR DORSALIS (Figure 123: ARR.D.).—The muscle originates from the medial face of the cleithrum, lying lateral to the adductor profundus and medial to the adductor superficialis. It inserts on the ventromedial base of the vestigial fin ray.

CORACORADIALIS (Figure 123: COR.R.).—A small muscle, consisting of only a few fibers from the posterodorsal face of the coracoid to the posteroventral face of the fourth radial.

MUSCLES OF THE DORSAL FIN

ERECTORES DORSALES (Figure 122: EREC.).—These are greatly expanded muscles, whose origin covers the centra and neural spines of the fourth to twelfth vertebrae as well as the pterygiophores of the dorsal fin. Each erector is partially overlain posterolaterally by the depressor muscle of the same fin ray. The muscles decrease in size posteriorly, and insert tendinously on the anterolateral bases of the fin rays.

DEPRESSORES DORSALES (Figure 122: DEPR.).—These muscles share their sites of origin with the erectors, but are somewhat more laterally situated. They insert tendinously on the posterolateral bases of the fin rays, and decrease in size posteriorly.

SUPRACARINALIS ANTERIOR (Figures 115, 122: S.ANT.).—Origin is from the posterodorsal face of the supraoccipital and the lateral face of its spine. The fibers pass posteriorly to insert on the tips of the neural spines of the third and fourth vertebrae and the anterior face of the “supraneural” (= basal pterygiophore of the now absent spiny dorsal fin).

SUPRACARINALIS POSTERIOR (Figures 122, 124b: S.POST.).—The muscle arises from the posterodorsal face of the neural spine of the thirteenth vertebra and courses posteriorly, attaching to the neural spines of the succeeding vertebrae, to end on the neural spine of the penultimate vertebra.

MUSCLES OF THE ANAL FIN

ERECTORES ANALES (Figure 122: EREC.).—The first three muscles arise from the anterior face of the laterally displaced pterygiophores, the other muscles originating from the posterior and lateral faces of the pterygiophores. Insertion is tendinous on the anterolateral bases of the fin rays, the muscles clecreasing in size posteriorly.

DEPRESSORES ANALES (Figure 122: DEPR.).—The muscles lie immediately behind the erectors of the respective fin rays, and have the same origins. They insert on the posterolateral bases of the rays, decreasing in size caudally.

INFRACARINALIS POSTERIOR (Figures 122, 124b: INF.P.).—The muscle arises from the posteroventral tip of the last anal pterygiophore. It passes posteriorly to attach to the anteroventral margin of the haemal spine of the penultimate vertebra.

MUSCLES OF THE CAUDAL FIN

INTERRADIALIS (Figure 124a: INT.).—The muscle courses dorsoventrally across the fin rays, a slip of the more posterior fibers attaching to the ventrolateral (rays D 1–5) or dorsolateral (rays V 1–6) faces of the rays.

HYPOCHORDAL LONGITUDINALIS (Figure 124a: H.L.).—The muscle originates from the lateral face of the ventral part of the hypural plate. It inserts beneath the interradialis on the ventrolateral bases of rays D 3–5.

FLEXOR DORSALIS (Figure 124b: F.D.).—The fibers arise from the dorsolateral faces of the centra and neural spines of the last three vertebrae, and insert on the bases of rays D 1–4. It is poorly separated from the epaxialis laterally and the flexor dorsalis superior dorsally.

FLEXOR DORSALIS SUPERIOR (Figure 124: F.D.S.).—Origin is from the dorsolateral surface of the penultimate vertebra, the muscle inserting on the anterolateral base of ray D 5.

FLEXOR VENTRALIS (Figure 124b: F.V.).—The muscle originates from the centrum and haemal spine of the penultimate vertebra and the anteroventral border of the hypural plate. It inserts on the anterolateral bases of rays V 1–5.

FLEXOR VENTRALIS INFERIOR (Figure 124: F.V.I.).—The fibers arise from the lateral tip of the haemal spine of the penultimate vertebra and insert on the anterolateral base of ray V 6.

TRANSVERSUS CAUDALIS (Figure 124b: TR.C.).—The muscle is well developed, and originates from the entire dorsolateral surface of the hypural plate, reaching as far anteriorly as the ural centrum. It inserts by three distinct tendons (the ventral one of which serves two rays) on the dorsolateral bases of rays V 2–5.

LATERAL BODY MUSCLES

EPAXIALIS (Figures 115, 122, 124a: EPAX.).—The two portions of the muscle are well separated anteriorly, but grade into each other posteriorly. The dorsal moiety attaches anteriorly to the posterior faces of the supraoccipital and exoccipital. The ventral section is larger, and arises anteriorly from the lateral faces of the anterior vertebrae. It increases in size posteriorly, where it overlaps both centra and parts of the haemal arches. The muscle inserts on the lateral bases of the dorsal caudal fin rays, and is poorly separated from the flexor dorsalis medially.

OBLIQUUS SUPERIORIS (Figures 122, 124a: OBL.S.).—The muscle is poorly developed, particularly anteriorly, where it arises from the ventrolateral face of the epaxialis. Posteriorly, the lateral septum fades out, and it is not clear how much the obliquus superioris contributes to the musculature inserting on the ventral caudal fin rays.

OBLIQUUS INFERIORIS (Figures 115, 118, 122: OBL.I.).—The anteroventral section of the muscle passes from the posterolateral face of the coracoid to the anteroventral face of the postcleithrum. It is partially overlain by the sternohyoideus anterolaterally. The anterodorsal section is much reduced. It originates from the ventrolateral ridge of the epiotic (where it shows faint traces of segmentation) and inserts on the dorsal face of the postcleithra. Posteriorly it grades into an aponeurotic fascia overlying the greatly expanded lobes of the liver, which cover the obliquus superioris and epaxialis in this region. Posteroventrally, the muscle is small, and soon grades into an aponeurotic sheet which overlies and intermingles with the obliquus superioris.

分布於西北太平洋區，由韓國、日本至台灣北部附近海域。台灣分布於北部及西部海域。

無任何食用價值，或利用於製成乾製標本供人觀賞。

體短而高，體被覆由鱗片癒合而成的骨板，形成盾甲包住全身，僅口、肛門、眼、鰓裂、各鰭及尾柄處具小開口；體甲在背鰭及臀鰭後方不閉合，具有六條稜脊，分別於背側、體側中央及腹側各具一對，背部及腹部中央則無；背側稜中部具一平扁之三角形棘突，側中央稜之後半部具5枚斜向後方之棘突，腹側稜中部亦具一平扁之三角形棘突，後緣另具一顯著棘突。尾柄具5-6個游離的鱗片。頭長為眼間隔寬之1.7-2.0倍；體長為體高之1.5-2.2倍。背鰭短小位於體後部，無硬棘，臀鰭與其同形；無腹鰭；尾鰭短，後緣圓形或近截形。體灰褐色，背面和上側面有許多與瞳孔等大之褐色斑點。

主要棲息於砂泥底水域。