Taxonomy of Finfish

2.1.5.12 Occipital process

An arrow like conical bone with a broad base extending from the supra-occipital bone to the basal bone of the dorsal fin (Fig. 23A) in catfishes. The junction with the basal bone of the dorsal fin may be Interrupted (Fig. 23 B) by a short or long space which is helpful on separating group of fishes. The bone may be interrupted by an inter-neural shield (Fig. 23 C) as in Aorichthys aor and seenghala.

Fig. 23. Occipital process. Hara hara. A. Reaching basal bone of dorsal fin. B. Not reaching. C. Inter neural shield.