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Figure 2 | BMC Evolutionary Biology

Figure 2

From: Independent evolution of the specialized pharyngeal jaw apparatus in cichlid and labrid fishes

Figure 2

Diagrammatic representation of the principal components of the specifically modified PJA of cichlids. Red elements are the upper and lower pharyngeal jaws. The muscles organizing the PJA (pharyngeal jaw apparatus) are represented as black thick lines, and the principal directions of force has been indicated by arrows. The drawing modified from Liem & Greenwood [32]. Numbers indicate three major features of the specialized "labroid" PJA: 1) the left and right lower jaw elements are fused into a single structure, 2) the lower jaw is suspended in a muscular sling that runs from the neurocranium to the posterior muscular arms of the lower jaw, and 3) the upper jaw elements have a diarthrotic articulation with the underside of the neurocranium.

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