Skull structure of the flying fish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus (Beloniformes, Exocoetidae)

The skull of the flying fish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus is first described in comparison with literature data on other four-winged flying fishes (subfamily Cypselurinae). The skull of Ch. pinnatibarbatus is characterized by the following features: (1) a multitude (about 40) of minute pores in the canal of the lateral line of the nasale; (2) a big opening in the roof of the myodome; (3) the lateral line canal of dentale by far does not reach the symphysis; (4) the tip of praeoperculum does not reach the upper edge of the hyomandibulare; (5) the posterior part of the angulare is weakly covered by the articulare and almost reaches from the outside the joint for articulation with the quadratum. © Nauka/Interperiodica 2007.