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Larvae Information Summary for
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
| Main Ref: | Russell, F.S. 1976 | |||
Yolk-sac larvae
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Length at birth (mm) | 4.99 | 3.08 | ||
| Preanal L. % TL | 36 |
| Place of development | planktonic | |||
| Larval area | Northeastern Atlantic (British coasts); Northwestern Atlantic (Delaware Bay) | |||
| Yolk-sac | ovoid unpigmented | Ref: | ||
| Yolk | unsegmented | Oil globules | no oil globule | |
| Rows on tail | ventral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Presence of melanophores in the shoulder region from just behind the head to a little beyond the beginning of the intestine. Peritoneum is pigmented. Ventral row of melanophores from vent to tip of tail. Vent opens laterally at the base of the finfold. | ||||
Post larvae
| Striking feature | none | |||
| Striking shape lateral | normal (not striking) | dorsal | normal (not striking) | |
| Striking feature | none | |||
| Shape of gut | triangular | |||
| Gas bladder early | invisible | late | invisible | |
| Spinal armature early | no spines | late | no spines | |
| Pigmentation early | ||||
| Rows on tail | ventral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Pigmentation late | ||||
| Rows on tail | ventral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Urostyle region early | pigmented | late | pigmented | |
| Peritoneum | covered with melanophores | |||
| Pectorals | normal with few scattered melanophores | |||
| Pelvics | normal (i.e. small or absent) with melanophores | |||
| Yolk-sac is absorbed at about 5.5 mm. At about 30-40 mm, young begin to assume shape. Distinguished from M. merlangus for the early postlarvae by the absence of preanal ventral pigment; early development of pelvic fins; early development of pigment on unpaired fins, on pectoral and pelvic fins. Pigmentation: Prolarval pigmentation persists until about 8-10 mm when pigmentation becomes more diffuse and relatively pale. Sequence of fin development: Dorsal and anal fins complete at 16-20 mm. | ||||
Meristic characters
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Total number of vertebrae | 22 | 19 | 20 | 39467 |
| L 1st feeding | Ref. | Months of presence of larvae | ||||
| max | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | ||
| min | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | ||
| mod | 5.5 | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Water parameters Metric characters |
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