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<br />The large, fan-shaped, first interneural bone of razorback sucker metalarvae and juveniles <br />over 16 mrn SL readily distinguishes it from the other species (Fig. 8). By late in the metalarval <br />phase, the smaller interneurals posterior to the first also develop enlarged or flared tops. The <br />intemeurals eventually form the skeletal basis for the unique predorsal keel or "razor" of the <br />razorback sucker (Fig. 94). By 20 mrn SL, the first interneural generally segregates the <br />remaining species according to subgenera. Most members of subgenus Catostomus (at least <br />Utah, white, and flannelmouth suckers) have moderate to large anvil-shaped first interneurals <br />with moderate to long posterior extensions (especially long in flannelmouth sucker). Subgenus <br />Pantosteus (bluehead and mountain suckers) have smaller, somewhat blocky first interneurals <br />with short to moderate posterior extensions. The interneurals for similar-size longnose sucker <br />(also subgenus Catostomus) examined for this study are less well defined and appear to develop <br />more slowly than for the other species. The small size and abbreviated shape of the first <br />interneural in longnose sucker juveniles about 40 mrn SL (Fig. 107) appears more like those of <br />subgenus Pantosteus metalarvae or juveniles about 21-22 mrn SL (Figs. 8, 52, and 80) and is <br />perhaps associated with the more cylindrical anterior body shape of longnose sucker than the <br />other members of subgenus Catostomus. <br />The position of mandibles relative to maxillae is also diagnostic for subgenus Pantosteus. <br />For juveniles and metalarvae greater than 22 mrn SL, the anterior margins of the mandibles are <br />closer to the posterior than anterior ends of the maxillae in bluehead sucker and mountain sucker <br />(Fig. 9). For the other species, they are closer to the anterior ends of the maxillae. However, by <br />about 40 mrn SL, at least some flannelmouth suckers have anterior margins of the mandibles <br />positioned about midway between anterior and posterior ends of the maxillae. <br />Shape and size of anterior-dorsal projections on the maxillae are diagnostic for razorback <br />sucker and subgenus Pantosteus greater than 22 mrn SL, sometimes smaller. The anterior-dorsal <br />projections of the maxillae are very shallow to almost absent in razorback sucker, relatively long <br />and pointed (at least as deep as wide at the base) in bluehead and mountain suckers, and <br />intermediate (prominent but blunt and less deep than wide at the base) in subgenus Catostomus <br />(Fig. 10). By 40 mrn SL, these projections grow but relative differences in size and form <br />continue with those of Pantosteus and most Catostomus projecting forward (Fig. 51) or even a <br />bit outward (Fig. 37). In contrast, the anterior-dorsal projections of the maxillae of longnose <br />sucker grow a bit larger than other members of subgenus Catostomus and project forward and <br />uniquely inward or medially (Fig. 107), perhaps facilitating development of a somewhat longer, <br />more conical snout. <br />The angle at which the postcleithrum extends from the cleithrum was initially suspected <br />to be diagnostic for subgenus Pantosteus, about 900 for bluehead and mountain suckers and <br />variable, but usually much less angled for the others (Fig. 11). However, the differences in this <br />character are not always distinct, and perceived postcleithral angle can be affected strongly by <br />angle of view. <br /> <br />Computer-Interactive Key <br /> <br />Introduction. - Covering bluehead, flannelmouth, longnose, mountain, razorback, Utah, <br />and white suckers, the "Computer-Interactive Key to Eggs, Larvae, and Early Juveniles of <br />Catostomid Fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin," provided as part of this report either on <br />CD (compact disk in pocket on inside rear cover of printed copies) or by download over the <br />Internet (see instructions below), is an updated and expanded replacement for the printed keys in <br />the 1990 guide (Snyder and Muth 1990). It is a data set of 110 characters and 234 taxon items <br /> <br />35 <br />