FABLE ET AL.: DESCRIPTION OF EGGS AND LARVAE OF SPOTTED SEATROUT 



1.0 m 



m 



1.0 mm 



Figure 2.— Spotted seatrout larva: A) 16 h posthatching (SL 2.03 mm); B) 64 h posthatching (SL 2.12 mm); C) 112 h posthatching (SL 

 2.12 mm); D) 232 h posthatching (SL 2.71 mm); E) 328 h posthatching (SL 4.21 mm). 



Eye pigmentation is complete and very reflec- 

 tive. The diffuse band found in 40-h fish is still 

 present but is indistinct. Basic pigment patterns 

 and melanophore placement remain similar to 

 40-h fish except in the following cases. Pigment is 

 increasing along the dorsal surface of the abdo- 

 men, and anteriorly towards the eye. The melano- 

 phores on the tip of the lower jaw are more distinct. 

 Some pigment is also present on the ventral sur- 

 face of the abdomen. 



Four and Five Days Posthatching (Figure 2C) 



In a typical spotted seatrout 112 h old, standard 

 lengths vary from 2.04 to 2.15 mm and average 



2.12 mm. The mouth is well-developed and the 

 maxillary is prominent. 



Dendritic melanophores are found from the 

 upper surface of the abdomen posteriorly to two- 

 thirds of the length of the tail along the ventral 

 midline. They radiate ventrally over the outer ab- 

 dominal surface. Melanophores on the tail radiate 

 dorsally from the ventral margin and ventrally 

 from the dorsal margin. Large dark melanophores 

 are present on the preserved larvae at this age but 

 are somewhat variable. One is found immediately 

 ahead of the anus (an important characteristic in 

 sciaenid larvae), and two to three more occur an- 

 teriorly below the abdomen. Another is located at 

 the angle of the lower jaw. One or two are on the 



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