FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 81. NO. 1 



formed specimens as are epineural (centra 1- 

 35) and epipleural (centra 17-34) ribs. Predorsal 

 bones (18 in specimens examined) are partially 

 ossified only in one 37.1 mm transformed juve- 

 nile, but not in a 51.6 mm specimen. 



Appendicular Skeleton 



The cleithrum is the first bone to commence 

 ossification (at about 7 mm) in larvae of L. 

 schmidti (Table 4), but it is not consistently calci- 

 fied in larvae <24 mm. The supracleithrum and 

 posttemporal are ossifying in some specimens as 

 small as 15 and 18 mm, respectively. The cora- 

 coid is ossified in only one transformed specimen; 

 the scapula and proximal radials of the pectoral 

 fin are not ossified in any transformed specimens. 

 The basipterygium of the pelvic fin is ossified in 

 transformed specimens. 



Fins 



The caudal fin is the first fin to commence de- 

 velopment in L. schmidti (Table 3), but secondary 

 rays are not completely formed until after trans- 

 formation. The caudal complex consists of seven 

 preural and two ural centra (the latter fuses into 

 a single urostyle during ontogeny), two pairs of 

 uroneurals, one epural, and seven hypural bones 

 (Table 3; Fig. 4). There are 10 superior and 9 in- 

 ferior principal caudal rays. The numbers vary, 

 but generally 15 dorsal and 15 ventral second- 

 ary caudal rays are supported by cartilaginous 

 plates, lying between the neural and haemal 

 spines of the caudal complex. 



The anlage of the caudal fin is evident in 6.4 

 mm larvae (Fig. 4a). In 11.5 mm larvae, four 

 cartilaginous hypural bones and the posterior- 

 most haemal spine are evident (Fig. 4b). In a 15.3 

 mm larvae, three haemal spines and five hypural 

 bones are present in cartilage. The hypural bones 

 support 4+2 unossified principal caudal rays 

 (Fig. 4c). In larvae 18-19 mm long, seven unossi- 

 fied hypural bones are present; they support 

 10+9 principal caudal rays, variable numbers of 

 which are beginning to ossify (Table 3). The an- 

 terior uroneural is discernible but unossified 

 (Fig. 4d). Development of the caudal fin proceeds 

 rapidly in larvae >20 mm. In a 23.1 mm speci- 

 men (Fig. 4e) all seven hypural bones, 10+9 prin- 

 cipal rays, and 2+2 secondary rays are ossifying. 

 Both pairs of uroneurals are ossified. A single 

 unossified epural and a number of unossified 

 neural and haemal spines can be observed. The 



34 



HS HY, HY 2 HY3 HY 4 



HY 2 HY 3 



HY 2 H Y 3 



Figure 4.— Development of the caudal fin of Leuroglossus 

 schmidti: A, 6.4 mm SL; B, 11.5 mm SL; C, 15.3 mm SL; D, 

 18.4 mm SL; E, 23.1 mm SL; F, 30.6 mm SL; G, 35.1 mm SL; 

 H, 51.6 mm SL. Ossified elements are stippled. NC = noto- 

 chord; HY = hypurals; EP = epural; HS = haemal spine; UN = 

 uroneural; NS = neural spine; U = ural centra; PU = preural 

 centra; SNP = specialized neural process; PCR = principal 

 caudal rays; SCR = secondary caudal rays. 



