The purpose of this paper is giving an extensive overview of the cranial skeleton of Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Boulenger, 1895) in a form of a formalized scheme that reflect its Bauplan (German for building plan, blueprint; plural: baupläne or bauplaene), a term in biology referring to the common new and original [homologous] properties of the members of a systematic group [taxon]). Each element of the Bauplan can be described by a set of parameters, i.e., size, shape, structure, material composition and position. Though Bauplan is undoubtedly an abstraction, it is a necessary abstraction to be used in phylogenetic analysis with preference to “ingroup” and “outgroup” comparisons.The cranial osteology of black tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Boulenger, 1895) is described based on the study of larvae, juvenile and adult specimens. Provided are Latin terms and some English equivalents as well remarks on origin, homology and terminology for each cranial bone discussed.