406 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



pigmentation between larvae lengths of 3.7 and 

 14.5 mm. is illustrated in figures 8 to 13. 



By the time young silver mullet have reached a 

 length of 25 mm., the pigmentation has decreased 

 in intensity. The specimens have a peppered 

 appearance, with lighter pigmented areas appear- 

 ing on the lower part of the head and belly, and a 

 scattering of pigment spots on the dorsal and 

 caudal fins (fig. 14). Juveniles at a length of 



about 50 mm. have so few pigment spots on the 

 belly that it is beginning to appear white, and 

 pigment is present on the anal fin (fig. 15). 

 Juveniles 110 mm. long are heavily pigmented on 

 the dorsal surface of the body to about the mid- 

 line, where the intensity of color decreases rapidly 

 so that the lower third of the body from head to 

 caudal fin is silvery or white; head pigmentation 

 is largely on the dorsal surface, but patches of 



1 1 I I ( M I 



1 r 



I I MM 



1 I I I I I I I 



80 

 60 - 



40 



20 



1 5 



10 



8 



ui 



< 



uj 1.5 



>- 



lij 



J I I I I I I 



J_ 



I t M I J- 



J I I t I I 



' See footnote 1, p. 405. 



16 8 10 20 40 60 80 too 



STANDARD LENGTH IN MM. 



Figure 18. — Relation of eye diameter to standard length.^ 



200 



400 bOO 



