Recent Examples on the WebBut paleontologists also noted that many mosasaur fossils have very large pectoral girdles, the area that supports the muscles of the forelimbs. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 25 Sep. 2019 Their analysis found that the pectoral girdle was likely the site of large muscle attachments. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 25 Sep. 2019 In ray-finned fish, such as catfish, the pectoral girdle is directly attached to the skull and retracts when suction feeding occurs.National Geographic, 18 July 2017