develops from artery aortic arch 2 opercular artery ORA TAO:0005022 The opercular artery arises from the hyoid stump on the first aortic arch, then follows the lateral margin of the operculum (gill covering) ventrally to reconnect into the proximal part of the first aortic arch. Isogai et al. 2001. external carotid artery teleost_anatomy