Cephalic sensory canals, pitlines, and the classification of esocoid fishes, with notes on galaxiids and other teleosts. American Museum novitates ; no. 2492

Abstract

"In both the Esocidae and the Umbridae, phyletic rends involve reduction of cephalic sensory canals and elaboration of pitlines. Advanced characters of this sensory system indicate interrelationships among Recent species, most notably a close relationship between Dallia and Umbra. The Eocene Palaeoesox and the Oligocene Proumbra are attributable to the Umbridae and are probably closely related to Umbra. The historical biogeography of the Umbridae may involve a secondary distribution (Umbra limi, U. pygmaea) in east North America. A relationship between esocoids and galaxiids is unsupported, but a relationship between clupeomorphs and elapomorphs is supported by the structure of the cephalic canal system"--P [1].