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Fishery Bulletin 102(4) 



changed in finescale menhaden, although the number 

 of postdorsal-preanal vertebrae only decreased from 

 three to zero. 



Pigmentation 



Early pigmentation patterns in finescale menhaden (Fig. 

 2) were similar, but not identical, to the pigmentation 

 described for gulf menhaden (Suttkus, 1956; Hettler, 

 1984). Both dorsal and ventral notochord tip pigment, 

 which are diagnostic for the genus Brevoortia (Fig. 2), 

 were found in all individuals examined. In specimens 

 <14 mm, pigmentation was sparse and found primarily 

 along the ventral margin of the caudal peduncle, the 

 base of the anal fin, at the end of the gut near the vent. 



and ventrally as two lines beginning at the pectoral fin 

 bases below the foregut. Along the dorsal margin of the 

 hindgut, 3-6 fine melanophores were usually present. 

 At the base of the pelvic fins, 1-2 small, paired stellate 

 melanophores were present. Additionally, all individuals 

 had a medial melanophore along the isthmus (ventral 

 midline anterior to the cleithrum) and most had an 

 internal melanophore at the nape. Other pigment pres- 

 ent in the smallest finescale larvae included a series of 

 paired melanophores anterior to the dorsal fin base (seen 

 in 26^ of the larvae examined). This predorsal mid-line 

 pigment series increased both in size and number as the 

 larvae grew. The head was unpigmented. 



By 16 mm, pigment increased along the dorsal sur- 

 face of the hindgut, the base of the dorsal fin, and the 



