Quantitative analysis of the teleost brain: evolutionary and adaptive characteristics of encephalization. III. Multivariate analysis of the cephalic index
Ridet, J.M.; Bauchot, R.
Journal für Hirnforschung 32(4): 439-449
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8359 PMID: 1802929 Document Number: 378449
A multivariate analysis of 9 brain indices from 83 teleost species showed a marked opposition between the non-olfactory telencephalon (and diencephalon) and the medulla oblongata (phylogenetic characters) and between the olfactory bulbs and the optic tectum (adaptive characters). Results of three different classifying algorithms allowed determination of 6 stable groupings and 9 intermediate ones, some with systematic importance and some purely adaptive. For this reason brain organization criteria must be used with precaution for systematic purposes. Nevertheless, the position of Brotula multibarbata showed that this fish is an evolved acanthopterygian.