30 



Fishery Bulletin 93(1), 1995 



est field-collected larvae (2.9 mm) had already com- 

 pleted yolk absorption. 



Larvae are elongate (BDp=ll-16% BL) and have 

 42^45 myomeres (17-21 abdominal + 23-27 candal). 

 Body depth at anus increases slightly from 7% to 9% 

 BL during development. Other body proportions re- 

 main relatively constant (Table 2). The gut is ini- 

 tially straight and differentiates into defined fore, 

 mid and hind gut sections by 3.7 mm. The gut exhib- 

 its some convolution but does not coil during the lar- 

 val phase. The midgut becomes rugose by approxi- 

 mately 5.0 mm and remains so, although overlying 

 musculature obscures this feature in postsettlement 

 larvae larger than 21.0 mm. The gut begins to coil in 

 postsettlement larvae of 21.0 -24.0 mm and is com- 

 plete by 26.0 mm. Coiling of the gut proceeds with- 

 out migration of the anus and is achieved by elonga- 

 tion and anterior looping of the midgut. Conse- 

 quently, body proportions do not show a significant 

 change in preanal length which remains at 50—52% 

 BL. The gas bladder is first visible in reared larvae 

 by 3.5 mm (5 days) and is prominent and inflated in 

 86% of field-collected larvae (random subsample, n=50; 

 all larvae collected at night) and all postsettlement lar- 

 vae collected (all postsettlement larvae collected dur- 

 ing day). The gas bladder has its origin at myomeres 

 2-5 in preflexion larvae but migrates posteriorly dur- 

 ing development to myomeres 13-18 by 18.7 mm. 



The snout is initially slightly concave in profile, 

 but after flexion, this gradually changes to straight 

 or slightly convex. The eye is round. The mouth ini- 

 tially reaches to below the eye, but is short of the eye 

 in postflexion larvae. Six to eight small villiform teeth 

 are present on the premaxilla by 5.8 mm. The num- 

 ber of teeth increases to 10-12 by late flexion (6.5- 

 7.0 mm). There are no head spines. 



Scales are first present around the gut and lateral 

 midline by approximately 27.5 mm. 



The development of fins in larval and juvenile S. 

 punctata is summarized in Table 1. Completion of 

 fin development occurs in the following sequence: 

 caudal; pectoral; anal and second dorsal (almost si- 

 multaneously); first dorsal; and pelvic. 



The rays of the caudal fin are present just prior to 

 flexion in larvae of 5.6 mm. Flexion commences by 

 5.7-6.0 mm and is usually complete by 7.0 mm. Pec- 

 toral fin buds are present in reared larvae as slight 

 swellings on the body above the anterior margin of the 

 oil droplet by 3.1 mm (2 days post hatch). Incipient 

 rays are first visible by 7.5 mm and commence ossifi- 

 cation by 8.5 mm. A full complement of 13-15 pectoral 

 rays is present by 11.5 mm. Anal and second dorsal fin 

 anlagen appear during flexion (5.8 mm). Distinct bases 

 are present by 7.0 mm, incipient rays by 7.2 mm, and 

 ossification commences by 8.0 mm. The anal and sec- 

 ond dorsal fins complete development by 13.0 mm. The 



