The encephalus of the pond-loach, Misgurnus fossilis (L.), 1758 (fish, teleosts, Cobitidae). An example of sexual dimorphism]

The brain of the Pond-loach (Misgurnus fossilis) is very closely related to that of Cyprinidae. In the Medulla oblongata, the facial lobe-in relation with the skin taste buds, especially on the barbels-is bigger than the vagal lobes-which are related with the mouth taste buds. The intraspecific relations between brainweight and bodyweight or various body lengths show a real sexual dimorphism (brain dimegaly). The interspecific brain-bodyweight relationship shows an allometric coefficient of 0.505 in males and 0.485 in females, very close to that of the Rainbow trout. The encephalization index (63) is very close to that of the Tench, and a little lower than that of the Cyprinidae as a whole.