FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 72, NO. 2 



Standard 

 length 



Table 8. — Measurements (mm) of larvae and juveniles of Selene vomer. 

 (Specimens between dashed lines are undergoing notochord flexion.) 



Snout-to- 

 anus 

 distance 



Head 

 length 



Head 

 depth 



Body depth 



at base of 



pectoral 



fin 



Snout 

 length 



Orbit 

 diameter 



Snout to fin origin 



Predorsal Prepelvic Preanal 



'Transfornning 

 ^Juveniles 



carangids, including melanophores along the 

 bases of the dorsal and anal fins and along the 

 lateral-midline, is present inS. vomer. In the early 

 larvae (2.5-5.0 mm), a few melanophores develop 

 on the tips of the jaws, head, sides of the body, 

 pelvic fin, dorsal fin, and base of the caudal fin. The 

 earliest patch of melanophores is formed on the 

 lower side of the body anterior to the caudal 

 peduncle. In older larvae, the melanophores 

 gradually proliferate all over the body and form 

 discrete patches which develop into broad spots at 

 transformation and in the juvenile stages. The 

 heaviest concentrations of pigment cells comprise 

 those lining the dorsal wall of the peritoneum. 

 Reglarly spaced melanophores similar to those in 

 Elagatis bipinnulata (Figure IB-D) are present 

 along the midventral line in the trunk region. 



Fin Development 



The sequence of fin formation and ossification is 

 as follows: 1) pelvic; 2) first dorsal; 3) second dor- 

 sal, caudal, and anal; and 4) pectoral (Table 9). 



The pectoral finbud is formed at 2.5 mm but the 

 rays are not differentiated until the larvae are 5 to 

 6 mm. The full complement of 18 to 21 is formed 

 at 9 mm. 



The pelvic fins are fully formed in the smallest 

 larva (2.5 mm). They steadily increase in length 

 and at metamorphosis extend beyond the origin of 

 the anal fin. 



The first 3 dorsal spines are ossified at 2.5 mm. 

 The second and third spines progressively in- 

 crease in length throughout the larval period, 

 forming extremely long filaments. At metamor- 

 phosis, they are about twice the length of the body. 

 The full complement of 8 spines in the first dorsal 

 fin and of 1 spine and 20 to 22 soft rays in the 

 second dorsal fin is present at 9 mm. 



Rudiments of the anal fin are discernible at 3.2 

 mm and the rays ossify at 4 to 5 mm. The full 

 complement of 3 spines and 16 to 18 soft rays is 

 present at 6 mm. 



The development and structure of the caudal fin 

 and supporting structures are similar to those of 

 E. bipinnulata. The full complement of 17 princi- 

 pal and 7 to 9 dorsal, and 7-8 ventral secondary 

 caudal rays is present at 9 mm. 



434 



