| Early development of elongate pigmented paired fins; midlateral pigment blotch on caudal peduncle; gap between anus and anal fin origin.
In early larvae, few melanophores in postanal ventral series, no dorsal series, pectoral fins heavily pigmented distally; pectoral fin becomes very elongate and aliform with heavily pigmented distal margin; pelvic fins elongate and heavily pigmented on distal margin; head spines strong in mid-larval period; pelagic juveniles with distinctive barring.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: initially, a shield over gut, heavy distally on pectoral fin blade, 6-14 in postanal ventral midline (from 3rd-4th to 14th-17th postanal myomere); by 6.0 mm, above mid- and hindbrain and concentrated at distal margin of pectoral fin blade.
Flexion: on nape; on distal margin of pelvic fins; on lateral region of hypurals; 1 on upper opercular region at end of stage.
Postflexion: by 10.0 mm, a blotch on upper opercular and lateral hypural regions; by 15.0 mm, on dorsum along each side of dorsal fin, on membrane of first dorsal fin; larger larvae develop 3 saddles below first dorsal fin and 1 below second dorsal fin.
Pelagic juveniles: saddles form anterior and posterior to saddle at second dorsal and posteriorly on caudal peduncle; 3rd and 5th saddles extend ventral to form irregular bars.
Sequence of fin development: pectorals, caudal and dorsal and anal and pelvics. |
