YOUNG JACK CREVALLES 



499 



absent on the specimen of about 16.4 mm. and 

 at 20 mm. and above. Apparently, these spines 

 are absorbed by the preopercular expansion be- 

 tween about 16 mm. and 20 mm. The lengths 

 of the angle spine associate with the probable 

 trend of decrease in spine length of the "latus 

 and/or hippos" group (fig. 79). One preopercular 

 upper-limb spine was present on the specimen of 

 about 13 mm.; none at 16.1 or 17.1. Five lower- 

 limb spines were present at 13 mm. and 17.1 

 mm. and 4 at 16.1 mm. (table 1). 



Pigynentation. — The juvenile complement of 

 five body bars is present at 16.1 mm. The pig- 

 mentation of the posterior three bars extends to 

 the base of the anal fin. There is a heavily pig- 

 mented area on the brain case above the eye, 

 and less-deeply pigmented areas on the upper 

 portion of the operculum and the fleshy part of 

 the tail. The first dorsal fin, the pelvic fins, and 

 the interspinous membranes of the anal fin have 



40 



30 



CD 

 LLl 



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 o 



C/5 



O 



£20 



10 



Ol I I I I L 



J I I L 



pigment spots. The other fins are unpigmented 

 (fig. 69). 



The two damaged BOC specimens have vague 

 and physically distorted bars. Other specimens 

 from 16.1 to 90.5 mm. standard length have 

 five bars, with the exception of a few whose 

 pigment had faded out. Pigment of four speci- 

 mens of 104 to 118 mm. had obviously faded after 

 preservation. Specimens of 116 mm. and  131 

 mm. and larger appear to lack bars from growth 

 changes rather than from fading. Apparently, 

 the bars disappear between 90 and 116 mm. The 

 pigmentation of the posterior three bars is not 

 pronounced below the lateral line on the 16.1 -mm. 

 specimen, and on most specimens 20 mm. and 

 larger the pigmentation of the last three bars 

 terminates a short distance below the lateral line. 

 At 26 mm. and above the body bars are wider 

 than the interspaces (figs. 71 and 72). On a 

 34.1-mm. specimen, apparently normal in other 



1 — r 



-1 — 1 — 1 — r 



-1 — r 



J L 



J I I L 



J I I L 



50 



100 150 200 



STANDARD LENGTH IN MM. 



250 



Figure 77. — Caranx lalus: Relation of the mean number of scutes to standard length. 



