Any measurable or observable characteristic related to the shape, structure, color, or pattern of the inter-stereocilial links that connect the top of a shorter stereocilium to an adjacent longer stereocilium at a short distance below the tip links; the appearance of horizontal top connectors, which persist into adulthood, occurs concomitant with this loss of ankle links; top connectors are essentially unaffected by treatment with subtilisin and EGTA.