Definition of "epibranchial"

According to T. J. Parker, they probably represent the epibranchial region of the second branchial arch, and Beddard also refers them to the same arch.

1920, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, Volumes 8-9, Royal Society of South Africa, page 92

We demonstrate that in the chick head, integration between the epibranchial placodes and the hindbrain is achieved as the neuroglial hindbrain crest cells guide the epibranchial neuronal cells inward to establish their central connections.

2001 October 19, Jo Begbie, Anthony Graham, “Integration Between the Epibranchial Placodes and the Hindbrain”, in Science‎, volume 294, number 5542, pages 595–598

The fourth and fifth epibranchials of other genera have the same tendency as these clupeids and salmonids.

1969, Gunnar Bertmar, B. G. Kapoor, Robert Victor Miller, “Epibranchial Organs in Lower Teleostean Fishes-An Example of Structural Adaptation”, in William J. L. Felts, Richard J. Harrison, editors, International Review of General and Experimental Zoology, Volume 4, Academic Press, page 41

In the place where Howes's (1985b) fig. 9 identifies epibranchial 4, our Gonorynchus specimen has both epibranchials 4 and epibranchial 5, not in contact except at their dorsal fusion and ventral articulation, as illustrated in Monad (1963, fig. 40) (epibranchial 5 identified as "cartilage semilunaire").

1996, Sarah V. Fink, William L. Fink, “Chapter 11: Interrelationships of Ostariophysan Fishes (Teleostei)”, in Melanie L.J. Stiassny, Lynne R. Parenti, G. David Johnson, editors, Interrelationships of Fishes, Academic Press, page 231

Branchial abductors move the epibranchials apart, opening the gill slits.

2000, Stephen M. Deban, David B. Wake, “Chapter 3: Aquatic Feeding in Salamanders”, in Kurt Schwenk, editor, Feeding: Form, Function and Evolution in Tetrapod Vertebrates, Academic Press, page 74