Involved in the development of the inner ear. Expressed in the developing forebrain and fins. Not expressed during gastrulation, and shortly after gastrulation found in the cells of the ventral fore-brain rudiment, and hind-brain neural crest cells. Not expressed in the auditory vesicles, found in low levels in localized regions of the median fin fold, and is also expressed by the cells of the visceral arches and their primordia. Belongs to the distal-less homeobox family.