FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 87, NO. 3, 1989 



Fin Formation and Meristics 



The first rays to calcify are the central prin- 

 cipal caudal rays beginning in preflexion at about 

 4.1 mm (Table 7). The full complement of 9+8 

 principal rays is acquired during flexion at ca. 

 5.6 mm. Procurrent rays also may begin to cal- 

 cify during flexion, as early as 5.6 mm, although 

 more commonly they are not apparent until post- 

 flexion at ca. 6.4-6.5 mm. The full complement of 

 10+10 procurrent rays is completed early in the 

 juvenile stage, by 14.3 mm. 



The first dorsal and anal rays form simulta- 

 neously, early in flexion, beginning by 5.2-5.3 

 mm. Dorsal rays are added from anterior to 

 posterior, with the full complement of 11 present 

 by 5.6 mm, before the end of flexion. Dorsal 

 spines calcify from posterior to anterior, begin- 

 ning in flexion at 5.6 mm, with the full comple- 

 ment of 11 present in postflexion larvae by 9.4 

 mm. Anal rays are added from anterior to pos- 

 terior, with the full complement of 10 present in 

 flexion larvae ca. 5.3 mm long. Anal spines are 

 added from posterior to anterior, beginning dur- 

 ing flexion at ca. 5.6 mm; the third anal spine 

 calcifies from the first anal ray; all three spines 

 are present early in the juvenile stage, by 14.3 

 mm. 



The pectoral fins initially are rounded with 

 rounded bases, but begin to elongate during 



flexion when the first upper rays calcify. Addi- 

 tion of pectoral fin rays is from top to bottom of 

 the fin, beginning at ca. 5.2 mm, with the full 

 complement of 15 present by the early juvenile 

 stage. The pelvic fins are the last to begin calci- 

 fying in the flexion stage by ca. 6.4 mm. The full 

 complement of I, 5 rays is present by 9.4 mm. 



Branchiostegal rays begin to ossify in pre- 

 flexion larvae at about 4. 1 mm; the full comple- 

 ment of 7 rays on each side is ossifying during 

 flexion at ca. 5.2 mm. Vertebral ossification be- 

 gins by 4.6 mm, just before flexion. Ossification 

 is from anterior to posteiior; all 25 centra are 

 ossifying by the end of flexion. 



Pigmentation 



Preflexion larvae are relatively heavily pig- 

 mented, principally over the gut and along the 

 dorsal and ventral midlines. In the smallest spec- 

 imen examined (2.5 mm), the dorsal midline 

 pigment consisted of a single row of 7 large stel- 

 late melanophores irregularly arranged from the 

 midbrain to myomere 20. The number of mela- 

 nophores in this dorsal row increases, so that by 

 the beginning of flexion the dorsal and upper 

 dorsolateral surfaces of the trunk and tail (ex- 

 cept the last 4 or 5 myomeres) are almost 

 completely pigmented. Dorsal and dorsolateral 

 pigmentation on the trunk and tail becomes in- 



Table 7. — Meristics of cleared and stained specimens of Hermosllla azurea. Broken lines enclose specimens 

 undergoing notocfiord flexion and specimens below solid line are pelagic juveniles. 



Principal Procurrent Brancfii- Pectoral pi i a i Pelvic 



caudal fin rays caudal fin rays ostegal rays fin rays Dorsal Anal fi n rays , , ^ 



Length ' ' — fm fin Verte- 



(mm) Superior Inferior Superior Inferior Left Right Left Right rays rays Left RIgfit brae 



2.6 — — — ______ ____ 



4.1 1 1 — ______ ____ 



4.1 — — — — 22— — — ____ 



4.6 6 5 — _44___ ___15 



46 6 6 — — 5 5....— — — — — ._.— 1?... 



4.6 6 5 — _44— — — — — — 16 



4.9 4 5 — _44— — — — — — 16 



5.2 7 7 — — 66— — 7 8— — 21 



5.2 6 6 — — 55— — — — — — 20 



5.3 8 8 — — 66— — 5 8— — 21 



5.3 8 8 — _ 6 6 — — 10 10 — — 22 

 5.6 9 8 1 16 6 6 6 111,11 1,10 — — 23 

 6.0 9 8 — — 6 6 8 8 V, 11 11,10 —......— 25. _ 



7.4 9 8 3 3 6 6 13 12 X,11 111,10 3 3 25 

 9.4 9 8 6 6 7 7 15 15 XI. 11 111,10 1.5 1,5 25 



22.2 9 8 10 10 7 7 15 15 XI, 11 111,10 1,5 1,5 25 



762 



