Resumo

MARTINEZ MENDOZA, Juan  e  SANDOVAL NORABUENA, Alfredo Julián. Osteological differences of the neurocranium of Menticirrhus ophicephalus "snakehead kingcroaker" and Larimus acclivis "steeplined drum" (Sciaenidae). Arnaldoa [online]. 2018, vol.25, n.1, pp.227-240. ISSN 1815-8242.  http://dx.doi.org/http://doi.org/10.22497/arnaldoa.251.25113.

We described and illustrated in detail the osteological differences of the neurocranium of Menticirrhus ophicephalus and Larimus acclivis, with biological material from the coastal area of ​​the department of Piura, Peru. For the neurocranium of the specimens, the boiling method was applied, proposed by Martinez & Zelada (2001). The results were: M. ophicephalus and L. acclivis, with a lateroparietal skull, characteristic that typifies the Sciaenidae family. Anterior side of paretmoides in M. ophicephalus with wide vertical process and small internal lateral dorsal process; in L. acclivis the vertical process is small and ends in two divergent branches. Nasal of M. ophicephalus with longer osseous bridge, while in L. acclivis is smaller. Absence of frontal crest in both species, and presence of two longitudinal fossae and two longitudinal osseous bridges on the outer face of M. ophicephalus and L. acclivis. With six infraorbital, including the dermoesphenotic, in M. ophicephalus and L. acclivis. External border of the M. ophicephalus pterotic with three complete osseous bridges, and L. acclivis with two complete osseous bridges and two partially incomplete osseous bridges. The posterior border of the supraoccipital of M. ophicephalus is convex, and in L. acclivis it is straight tilted backwards. Vomer edentulous in M. ophicephalus and L. acclivis. Parietal of M. ophicephalus with a small longitudinal crest. In L. acclivis with two dissimilar extrascapular on each side, while in M. ophicephalus with one on each side of the neurocranium.

Palavras-chave : osteological differences; Scianidae; dermoesphenotic; extrascapular; dissimilar; Piura; Peru.