An Overview of Osteology and Bone Structure in Fishes

asghar jafari patkan¹ yazdan keivany² salar dorafshan³

1) Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology Email:
2) Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology Email:
3) Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology Email:

IOI Code : ACZE-ACACCH
Publication : 10th.International Congress of Developing Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism of Iran(10icsda.ir)
Abstract :
    Osteology, as a branch of morphology and comparative anatomy, plays a vital role in the identification, classification, and understanding of fish evolution. The skeletal structure of fishes, which has undergone remarkable modifications over millions of years of evolution, transitioned from an ancestral cartilaginous framework into complex bony structures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the structure, development, and applications of fish osteology for identification and functional understanding. The fish skeletal system is divided into two primary components: the cranial and axial skeleton. The cranium comprises the neurocranium and splanchnocranium, while the axial skeleton includes the vertebral column, pectoral and pelvic girdles, and the fin skeleton. A detailed study of these structures is essential not only for taxonomy, resolving phylogenetic relationships, and tracing evolutionary histories, but also for applications in ecology, biomechanics, and species conservation. Emphasizing terminology refinement, standardization of orthography, and enhanced scientific coherence, this review offers a unified framework for comprehending fish osteology.

Keywords : osteology fish skeleton cranium neurocranium splanchnocranium vertebral column vertebrate evolution