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A Bucco-hypophysial Canal in Elops saurus

Nature volume 182, page 1745 (1958)Cite this article

Abstract

A PERSISTENT Rathke's pouch in the form of a hollow bucco-hypophysial canal piercing the parasphenoid bone has been reported in young animals and adults of the two recent brachiopterygian genera Colamoichthys 1 and Polypterus 2,3. The recent coelacanthid Latimeria is reported to possess a partly hollow cord of glandular tissue running from the adenohypophysis towards the roof of the mouth cavity4. Besides, there is a canal in the parasphenoid, but this canal, which is regarded as a vestige of Rathke's pouch, does not reach the fossa hypophyseos5. In the early fossil coelanthids the fossa hypophyseos is in communication with the mouth cavity by means of a canal piercing the parasphenoid and the same is true of the Devonian rhipidistid crossopterygians6. In the fossil actinopterygians this communication is rarely retained and has been observed in a few instances only7–9. In the recent actinopterygians it has been hitherto unknown.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zootomical Institute, University of Stockholm,

    R. OLSSON

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  1. R. OLSSON
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OLSSON, R. A Bucco-hypophysial Canal in Elops saurus . Nature 182, 1745 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/1821745a0

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