HOUDE, RICHARDS, and SAKSENA: EGGS AND LARVAE OF SCALED SARDINE 



sardine larvae is similar to that of other clupeid 

 larvae. Pigmentation varied somewhat among 

 individuals of the same size, but a general 

 pattern was always present. Some variation re- 

 sulted because individual melanophores could be 

 in either a contracted or expanded state. Illus- 

 trated specimens have pigmentation that is typi- 

 cal of most larvae of those sizes (Figures 8 to 

 10). In life, numerous yellow chromatophores 

 were present, usually as internal pigmentation, 

 but these were not illustrated. 



Head Region 



Pigmentation was sparse on the head of scaled 

 sardine larvae until they attained 15 mm. Eyes 

 became pigmented when larvae were 4 to 5 mm, 

 at 30 to 40 h after hatching. At the same time, 

 from two to four melanophores developed near 

 the pectoral symphysis. These usually consisted 



of one just anterior to the symphysis and a pair 

 immediately posterior to it. They were retained 

 throughout larval development. One or two 

 melanophores usually were present at the base 

 of the pectoral fins when larvae were 6.5 mm or 

 longer. From one to four stellate melanophores 

 first appeared over the hindbrain at 7 to 8 mm. 

 This number gradually increased as larvae grew, 

 but some specimens had only a single melano- 

 phore at 14 mm. On specimens longer than 15 mm, 

 melanophores became numerous over the mid- 

 brain and hindbrain. One or two deeply im- 

 bedded melanophores were visible through the 

 otic capsules on most specimens longer than 

 8 mm. One or two stellate melanophores fre- 

 quently appeared on the cheek when larvae were 

 14 mm. This number often increased to several 

 at 15 to 18 mm. Tiny melanophores developed 

 on the snout and lower jaw of larvae that were 

 14 to 17 mm. Melanophore numbers increased 





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Figure 8. — Larvae oi Harengula jaguana: A, 4.4 mm SL; B, 4.5 mm SL; C, 6.0 mm SL. 



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