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Larvae Information Summary for
Leptocephalus giganteus
| Main Ref: | Moser, H.G. and S.R. Charter 1996 | |||
Yolk-sac larvae
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Length at birth (mm) | ||||
| Preanal L. % TL |
| Place of development | planktonic | |||
| Larval area | California Current region | |||
| Yolk-sac | Ref: | |||
| Yolk | Oil globules | |||
| Rows on tail | ventral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on trunk | |||
| Leptocephalus larvae. | ||||
Post larvae
| Striking feature | teeth clearly visible | |||
| Striking shape lateral | eel-like | dorsal | compressed | |
| Striking feature | teeth clearly visible | |||
| Shape of gut | tube-like | |||
| Gas bladder early | late | |||
| Spinal armature early | late | |||
| Pigmentation early | ||||
| Rows on tail | ventral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | tail partly covered with melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on trunk | |||
| Rows on tail | ventral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | tail partly covered with melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on trunk | |||
| Peritoneum | with row of melanophores | |||
| Diagnostic characters: leptocephalus body form with straight gut exending almost entire length of body; > 300 myomeres; caudal filament (usually broken) has series of pigmented leaflike structures; short dorsal fin with about 10 pterygiophores appears at about 100 mm; pelvic fin appears at around 300 mm; eye nearly round; hindgut with lateral outpouchings. Pigmentation: paired ventral blotches that increase in number throughout larval period, 9-11 in 18-22 mm larvae, about 35 at 108 mm, 75 at 191 mm, 104-122 at 301-314 mm, 340 at 560 mm; as blotches enlarge they fuse across ventral midline and extend dorsal to trunk, with new blotches added between larger ones; embedded median pair between gut and ventricle of heart; in large larvae, an embedded pair develops above atrium of heart; leaflike, heavily pigmented structures on caudal filament. Sequence of fin development: pectoral, dorsal, anal, pelvic, caudal. | ||||
| L 1st feeding | Ref. | Months of presence of larvae | ||||
| max | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | ||
| min | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | ||
| mod | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||
| Water parameters Metric characters |
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