34 



Fishery Bulletin 93(1). 1995 



ries of closely spaced melanophores extending to the 

 notochord tip by 3.6 mm. Preflexion larvae have 2—4 

 melanophores ventrally on the notochord tip. Dur- 

 ing flexion, melanophores between myomeres 23-38 

 become more prominent (similar to the dorsal series). 

 The ventral series of melanophores on the tail be- 

 comes gradually obscured by overlying musculature 

 (excepting the prominent region between myomeres 

 32-38) in postflexion larvae. Paired external melano- 

 phores develop ventrally on the tail in larvae greater 

 than 8.5 mm and by settlement stage, approximately 

 one pair per myomere is present. This ventral series 

 forms a regular pattern of expanded and contracted 

 melanophores in postsettlement specimens, match- 

 ing the banding pattern of the dorsal series. 



School whiting [Sillago bassensis Cuvier, 1 829), 

 Figure 3 



Materials examined— 40 specimens, 2.3-17.2 mm 

 BL (CSIRO L586-01— 10 specimens). 



Larval development — The smallest S. bassensis 

 larva examined was 2.3 mm BL. At this size the 

 mouth and gut are functional, the eyes are pig- 

 mented, a gas bladder is present, and yolk absorp- 

 tion is complete. 



Larvae are elongate (BDp= 13-20% BL) and have 

 32-35 myomeres ( 11-15+19-23). Body depth at anus 

 increases slightly from 8-12% BL during develop- 

 ment. Other body proportions remain relatively con- 

 stant (Table 3). The gut forms a convoluted tube in 

 the smallest specimen and is already differentiated 



