38 



Fishery Bulletin 92(1), 1994 





Figure 2 

 Scanning electron micrograph of the supraoccipital and frontal bones of a 6.3-mm standard length 

 tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis, from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Magnification: 280x. 



elements (I, 5) by 5.0 mm (Table 2). We were unable 

 to determine when the pelvic-fin buds formed or 

 flexion began because of a lack of specimens between 

 2.4 and 4.0 mm. Development of the hypural com- 

 plex (by 4.0 mm) coincided with that of the 

 pterygiophores of the dorsal and anal fins. Anlagen 

 of caudal-fin rays formed obliquely in the caudal 

 finfold. The central-most caudal-fin rays formed first 

 and development proceeded outward from mid-base. 

 Notochord flexion was complete by 5.0 mm. The 



adult complement of 9+8 principal caudal rays were 

 present by 7.0 mm, as were all procurrent caudal 

 rays by 9.0-9.5 mm. All dorsal- and anal-fin ptery- 

 giophores were present by 4.5-5.0 mm and both 

 dorsal and anal spines developed before their rays 

 in each fin. Dorsal and anal spines began to develop 

 anteriorly and proceeded posteriorly to a full comple- 

 ment of elements in each fin by 6.5 mm. Pectoral 

 rays began to form at 5.5-6.0 mm and a full comple- 

 ment (16 rays) was present by 7.0 mm (Table 2). A 



