PELVIC FINS:

Illustration

Summary: Pelvic fins thoracic, slightly ahead of pectoral fins, of about 7 rays; second ray slightly elongated. No spinous rays.
Literature: Jordan and Evermann 1898: Reference to family Gadidae: Page 2531 (text): "... no spines, the fin rays all articulated." "...ventral fins jugular, but attached to the pubic bone, each of 1 to 8 branched rays..." Reference to genus Gadus: Page 2540 (text) - "...ventral fins well-developed, of about 7 rays." Eschmeyer and Herald 1983: Reference to order Gadiformes: Page 96 (text) - "The pelvic fins are thoracic..." Reference to family Gadidae: Page 97 (text) - "Pelvic fins thoracic, slightly ahead of pectoral fins." Robins and Ray 1986: Reference to family Gadidae: Page 92 (text) - "No fin spines." "Pelvic fins far forward, beginning below a point in front of pectoral fins." Reference to Gadus morhua: Page 93 (text) - "Second ray in pelvic fin slightly elongate." Cohen et al. 1990: Reference to genus Gadus: Page 41 (text) - "...pelvic fins with a slightly elongated filament." Nelson 1994: Reference to order Gadiformes: Page 227 (text) - "Pelvic fins, when present, inserted below or in front of pectorals (thoracic or jugular, rarely behind in Macrouridae) with up to 11 rays; no true spines in the fins..."