How do the jaw muscles of paracanthopterygian fishes help distinguish them from other teleosts?

Paracanthopterygian fishes are distinguished from other teleosts by a unique type of jaw musculature. Specifically, this musculature involves the levator maxillae superioris muscle and its associated structures.1

This specialized arrangement is one of the key anatomical features used to define the superorder Paracanthopterygii, a group that includes diverse predatory fishes such as cod and anglerfish. In general, these fishes have tended to lose primitive acanthopterygian characters, and this distinct jaw muscle configuration serves as a primary diagnostic trait for the group.12