Bruce: Larval development of Sillagmodes punctata. Sillago bassensis, and Sillago schomburgkit 



33 



Figure 2 (continued) 



By 4.0 mm, pigment on the dorsal surface of the 

 trunk and tail coalesce to form 11-18 discrete, evenly 

 placed melanophores that extend in a linear series 

 posteriorly from the nape to within about 4 or 5 

 myomeres from the notochord tip. The dorsal sur- 

 face of the notochord tip has 0-3 melanophores (most 

 commonly 1 or 2) and when present they are useful 

 in separating preflexion Sillaginodes punctata from 

 Sillago bassensis and S. schomburgkii, both of which 

 lack pigment dorsally on the notochord tip. The dor- 

 sal series of melanophores on the trunk and tail 

 gradually disappears by the end of flexion (6.5-7.0 



mm), excepting those between myomeres 31-40, 

 which become prominent and may extend laterally 

 over the body surface when expanded. Lateral mid- 

 line pigment develops in this area during late flex- 

 ion and is retained throughout the postflexion stage. 

 Dorsal pigment gradually redevelops in postflexion 

 larvae as a series of discrete bands, each comprising 3 

 or 4 pairs of stellate melanophores. Postsettlement lar- 

 vae have 4—6 such bands which subsequently increase 

 in number to 8-10 as juvenile pigmentation develops. 

 Ventral pigment on the tail in newly hatched lar- 

 vae is initially scattered but coalesces to form a se- 



