FISHERY BULLETIN; VOL. 77. NO 4 



Table 3. — Meristic characters and notochord flexure of larval and juvenile Lutjanus campechanus. 



^An accurate count was not possible. 

 'Juvenile 



ent in the form of 2 spines and 10 soft rays (Figure 

 IC). The transformation of the anteriormost soft 

 ray into the third anal spine occurred between 7.6 

 and 8.0 mm and marked the end of the larval 

 period. Anal spines were not serrated. 



Pectoral Fin 



The 4.0 mm larva had only a pectoral finfold 

 (Figure lA). Between 4.0 and 6.5 mm ray de- 

 velopment began, but ossification was not com- 

 pleted and the exact number of rays was difficult to 

 determine. The 6.6 mm larva had 14 pectoral rays, 

 and 2 more rays were added by 7.3 mm. The 16 

 rays on the 7.3 mm specimen were within the 

 16-18 range for adult pectoral rays (Rivas 1966). 

 The number of pectoral rays on specimens 7.3-22.4 

 mm varied from 16 to 18 (Table 3). 



Squamation 



Scales were present on the 22.4 mm specimen 

 only. An accurate lateral line scale count was not 

 possible. 



Head 



The head of the larval and juvenile L. cam- 

 pechanus was large, ranging between 32.5 and 

 44.9^r SL (Table 4). Head size (head length as 

 percent of SL) generally increased in larvae and 



Table 4. — Measurements and body part proportions for larval 

 and juvenile Lutjanus campechanus. 



decreased in juveniles. The smallest and largest 

 specimens had the smallest head proportions, 

 32.5% on the 4.0 mm larva and 34.8% on the 22.4 

 mm juvenile. The head was proportionally largest, 

 44.9 and 44.4%, on the 4.9 and 5.4 mm larvae, 

 respectively. Head length was about equal to body 

 depth in all specimens. Head length ranged from 

 32.5 to 44.9% SL and body depth from 32.5 to 

 43.9% SL. 



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