Figure 2. -Larvae of Hemilepidotus zapus: A) 6.7 mm SL; B) 8.7 mm SL; C) 11.0 mm SL; 



Fins -All fin rays show their initial ossification in 

 larvae between 12 and 13 mm SL. Fin formation oc- 

 curs in the sequence: dorsal spines and fin rays, anal 

 fin rays, and principal caudal fin rays (12-13 mm SL); 

 pectoral fin rays (13-14 mm SL); pelvic spine and fin 

 rays (15-16 mm SL); and secondary caudal fin rays 

 (16-17 mm SL). The pterygiophores supporting dor- 

 sal fin rays begin ossifying at 16-17 mm SL, and 

 those supporting anal fin rays begin ossifying at 

 17-18 mm SL. The largest specimen (20.0 mm SL) 

 has completely ossified dorsal and anal pterygio- 

 phores. 



Axial skeleton - Neural and haemal spines have 

 started ossification in the smallest larvae 7-8 mm SL, 

 and are fully ossified in larvae 15-16 mm SL. Abdom- 

 inal vertebral centra are completely ossified in larvae 



12-13 mm SL, but the caudal vertebral centra are 

 not fully ossified until larvae are slightly larger at 

 about 14-15 mm SL. 



Lateral line scales do not begin ossifying until 

 larvae are 18.0 mm SL, and our largest specimen 

 (20.0 mm SL) has a fully ossified complement of 

 scales. 



Spination (Table 5) -The development of head 

 spines is summarized in Table 5. The parietal and 

 nuchal spines fuse in larvae > 13 mm SL and appear 

 as a single spine in the larger larvae 18-20 mm SL. A 

 postocular spine is ossified in larvae 12-13 mm SL 

 but disappears by 18-20 mm SL. A small spine below 

 the eye (infraorbital) ossifies by 14-15 mm SL, but is 

 no longer visible in specimens 20 mm SL. 



450 



