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Larvae Information Summary for  Cetengraulis mysticetus
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Main Ref: Watson, W. and E.M. Sandknop 1996
Yolk-sac larvae
  max min mod Ref.
Length at birth (mm)     2 35602
Preanal L. % TL        
Place of development planktonic
Larval area California Current region (including the Gulf of California)
Yolk-sac ovoid   unpigmented Ref:  
Yolk segmented Oil globules no oil globule
Rows on tail ventral row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on trunk
Pigmentation: few dorsolaterally on foregut and ventrally on hindgut and tail near end of stage.
Post larvae
Striking feature none
Striking shape lateral short and/or deep dorsal  
Striking feature none
Shape of gut  
Gas bladder   early pigmented late pigmented
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 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 unpigmented late unpigmented
Peritoneum with row of melanophores
Pectorals normal without melanophores
Pelvics normal (i.e. small or absent) without melanophores
Dorsal fin inserts at postanal myomere 2-4 (above anal fin rays 5-8) through postflexion stage; hindgut coils and snout becomes elongate and pointed during transformation; no dorsal hindgut pigment before 18 mm. Pigmentation: Preflexion-flexion: 1-3 on isthmus; 0-1 on cleithrum; 1-4 dorsolaterally on foregut; pair posterodorsally on gas bladder; 4-6 each on ventral margins of hindgut and tail; little ventrally on caudal region. Postflexion: external dorsally onhead at about 21 mm; on opercle at 18 mm; internally on brain by 21 mm; increasing on isthmus, cleithrum, gas bladder, ventral margin of tail, and caudal fin after 18 mm; decreasing to 0-2 ventrally on gut by 14 mm; increasing dorsally and dorsolaterally on gut after about 19 mm; internally in caudal peduncle after 18 mm; on dorsal margin beginning posteriorly after 21 mm. Transformation: on snout and increasing on head at 23 mm; heavy on gut; spreading cephalad on dorsal margin; laterally on trunk and tail. Sequence of fin development: dorsal and anal, caudal, pelvics, pectorals.
Meristic characters
  max min mod Ref.
Total number of myomeres 43 40   35602
  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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