secondary caudal fin rays. Melanophores are more 

 numerous along the insertion of the dorsal fin fold 

 (18-19 each side), internally along the notocord 

 (27; vague, not illustrated), along the ventral mid- 

 line of the lower jaw (10), in the cranial region (7 

 large, 23 small ), and on the posterior margin of the 

 hypurals (6). Melanophores appear larger and 

 more dense on the dorsal gut surface as well. Two 

 melanophores are present laterally at the angle of 

 the notocord and 10 melanophores are visible on 

 the principal caudal rays. Pectoral fin ray devel- 

 opment is complete (21 rays ) and four preopercular 

 spines are evident. 



By 25 d hatching age the melanic pigmentation 

 of the dorsal body surface, jaw, and snout has pro- 

 liferated considerably, while dorsal and anal fin 

 ray development has started (Table 1) and pelvic 

 fin buds are visible. Paired rows of 38 large 

 melanophores occur on the dorsal body along the 

 entire length of the dorsal fin. Cranial 

 melanophores appear as a pair of dense patches 

 (one on each side) with a third median patch on the 

 nape region. The postanal ventral midline 

 melanophores appear more internal than at 



younger ages. A new row of superficial 

 melanophores has appeared on the mediolateral 

 trunk musculature (posterior half of body), while 

 the angle of the notocord is overlaid by an angular 

 "bracket" of small melanophores, the dorsal leg of 

 which continues anteriorly as a faint internal row 

 dorsal to the notocord. The melanophores at the 

 posterior margin of the hypurals form continuous 

 vertical bands on each plate. Finally, a fifth 

 preopercular spine is becoming visible ventrally. 



The 29-d specimen I not illustrated in Figure 1) 

 is marked by the appearance of a ring of small 

 melanophores around each eye, the development 

 of both internal and superficial ventral midline 

 melanophores (Table 1) and doubled rows of 

 melanophores along each side of the dorsal fin base 

 on the anterior half of the body. Cranial and dorsal 

 gut melanophores have continued to become more 

 dense and the pelvic fins are formed, without 

 elements. 



At 35 d hatching age, melanophores are on the 

 dorsal margin and dorsal insertion of the pectoral 

 fin and melanophores are arrayed in double or 

 triple rows on each side of the dorsal fin bases 



5 mm 



B 



962 



