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Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Functional anatomy of the Macrouridae (Teleostei, Gadiformes)

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Osteology and myology of the head of 21 species of macrourids and two closely related species are described. A general model of the mechanics of the macrourid head during feeding has been developed based on the anatomical findings. The structure of the head and integration of morphological units are used to explain specializations in the utilization of different food resources. Pelagic prey are the source of food for the most primitive species and for a few of the more specialized ones. A highly protrusible mouth and long rostrum are adaptations for benthic feeding and have appeared in three independent evolutionary lines within the group. Macrourids that are predators on benthos tend to be small and live at depths shallower than 2000 meters.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Year dc:date.issued
1976

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • McLellan, Tracy

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:1912/1354

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Base URL
darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-27
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

McLellan, Tracy. Functional anatomy of the Macrouridae (Teleostei, Gadiformes). Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1976. https://hdl.handle.net/1912/1354