Table 2.— Primary depth distribution of larvae (<10 mm SL) of some abundant taxa of fishes from the 

 northern Gulf of Mexico above lat. 26°00'N. Depths are those reported In the literature at which >75% 

 of larvae were collected. Asterisk (') indicates larvae are estuarine-dependent. 



crepancy in Spanish sardine seasonal occurrence 

 reported by Houde and Fore (1973) (September- 

 February) and that found by Shaw and DrulHnger 

 (1985, 1986), Shaw et al. (1987), and this review 

 (March-November). Finally, seasonality data re- 

 ported in Ditty (1986) for larvae of finescale men- 

 haden, Brevoortia gunteri, was based on specimens 

 subsequently believed to be a morph of gulf menha- 

 den {B. patronus). 



In general, the seasonal occurrence of many taxa 

 of larval fishes (i.e., scaled sardine, Harengula 

 jaguana, and Atlantic thread herring, Opisthonema 

 oglinum) began both earlier and extended later in 



studies conducted on the Florida continental shelf 

 and southern parts of the study area than those in 

 the northern-most GOMEX. Likewise, in studies in- 

 volving bays (e.g., Phillips et al. 1977; Blanchet 

 1979; Williams 1983), tidal passes (e.g.. King 1971; 

 Sabins 1973; Allshouse 1983), and barrier islands 

 (e.g., Guillen and Landry 1981; Ruple 1984), peak 

 seasonal occurrence of larvae of some fishes was 

 usually later than in studies conducted offshore, 

 primarily because of the time delay necessary for 

 shoreward migration of estuarine-dependent larvae 

 such as Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), 

 striped mullet {Mugil cephalus), pinfish {Lagodon 



817 



