NEIRA: LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIAN DEVILFISH 



from G. marmoratifs by a lower number of 

 myomeres, whereas Maxillicosta and Neose- 

 bastes possess a higher number of pectoral 

 fin rays (18-21) (Scott et al. 1980; Leis and 

 Rennis 1983). Larvae of Centropogon and Glyp- 

 tauchen are distinguished from G. mannomtus 

 by theii- possession of a higher number of spines 

 (15-18) in the dorsal fin (Washington et al. 

 1984b). Juvenile G. marmoratus can also be dis- 

 tinguished from other known scorpaenids in the 

 area by their distinctive head spination and 

 scaleless skin (Hutchins and Thompson 1983). 



Larvae of G. marmoratus can be confused 

 with some platycephalids and triglids, which also 

 have pigmented pectoral fins and well-developed 

 head spination. However, platycephalid larvae 

 have numerous small melanophores scattered 

 over the body surface, depressed heads with 

 flattened snouts, and smaller parietal spines 

 (Leis and Rennis 1983). Triglid larvae can be 

 distinguished fi-om G. marmoratus by the de- 

 pressed profile of their heads and by large pec- 

 toral fins in which the lowest three rays become 

 detached during transformation (Washington et 

 al. 1984a). 



Occurrence of Larvae in the 

 Swan Estuary 



Gymnapistes marmoratus larvae were found 

 in surface waters of the Swan Estuary between 

 July and September 1986, and peak numbers 

 were obtained in July (Neira, unpubl. data). 

 Larvae were collected in the area of the lower 

 Swan Estuary located between 3.0 and 9.0 km 

 upstream from the estuary mouth. The trans- 

 forming larva and juveniles from the Peel- 

 Harvey Estuary were collected by beach seines 

 in October and August 1985 respectively. The 

 occurrence of larvae and juveniles from both 

 estuaries indicates that a population of G. mar- 

 moratus from southwestern Australia spawns in 

 late winter and early spring. This spawning 

 period is coincident with that reported in other 

 regions of southern Australia such as Tasmania 

 (Grant 1972), Port Phillip Bay (Jenkins 1986), 

 and the Gippsland Lakes (Ramm 1986). 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



I would like to thank B. B. Washington, J. M. 

 Leis, and L C. Potter for then- helpful comments 

 on the manuscript. Thanks are also due to D. 

 Gaughan, L. E. Beckley, and M. Cliff for their 



help in the collection of the larvae. This research 

 was can-ied out during the term of a Murdoch 

 University Research Studentship given to the 

 author. 



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