-^g 



Figure l. — Larvae and early juveniles of Trichodon tnchodon (preserved lengths). A. d, 13 mm SL; 

 B. 9 d, 14.5 mm SL; C. 18 d, 17.2 mm SL; D. 25 d, 20 mm SL; E. 35 d, 27 mm SL; F. 56 d, 32 mm SL. 



posteriorly to the middle of the second dorsal, con- 

 tinuing as single rows across the peduncle. 

 Melanophores are on the first three elements of 

 the first dorsal fin. On the lower jaw, melanin has 

 extended posteriorly to the juncture with the 

 maxillaries. A patch of melanophores has devel- 

 oped on the dorsal preoperculum. About 26 scat- 

 tered melanophores appear dorsolaterally on the 

 trunk musculature, above the mediolateral row, 

 and melanophores occur closely spaced, lining the 

 edges of principal caudal rays. The melanophores 

 on the hypural margins have spread anteriorly 

 along the insertion of the secondary caudal rays. 

 Allometric growth at this age includes an increase 

 in the relative snout-anus length (Table 1) and a 

 slight upturning of the jaw. 



The 43-d specimen (not illustrated) exhibits 

 more regular arrays of the most recently devel- 

 oped melanophore patterns: the mediolateral row 



consists of 33 melanophores, the dorsolateral 

 melanophores now form broken rows along the 

 margins of myomeres, and the caudal rays are 

 lined with rows of melanophores. By this age, gut 

 melanophores appear internal rather than exter- 

 nal. Only superficial ventral midline 

 melanophores (25) are visible. 



The 56-d specimen is easily recognized as a 

 young sandfish. The entire snout, jaw, cranium, 

 and nape regions are densely covered with 

 melanophores, continuous with rows along the 

 dorsal fin bases. The upper pectoral fin rays are 

 lined with melanophores, as are the spines on the 

 anterior half of the first dorsal fin. More 

 melanophores have appeared over the caudal 

 peduncle. All fins are completely formed by this 

 stage and the five preopercular spines appear to 

 radiate from a centrum. 



By 70 d hatching age the body proportions re- 



963 



