branchiostegal

Bran`chi*os"te*gal, a. Etym: [Gr. branchiostège.] (Anat.) Defn: Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes. -- n. (Anat.) Defn: A branchiostegal ray. See Illustration of Branchial arches in Appendix. Note: This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having boneless branchiæ. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been rejected.

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