JOHNSON: EVERMANNELLIDAE 



251 



Fig. 129. Larvae and juveniles and Evermannellidae. (A) E. balbo. showing larval phase pigmentation, D 3553 II, 8-10 mm SL; (B) E. indica. 

 showing juvenile phase pigmentation, ORSTOM CY III-5, 28.0 mm SL; (C) O. normalops. illustrating larval phase pigmentation and multiple 

 peritoneal pigment sections (shown in solid black), UH 73/8/38, 10.5 mm SL; (D) C. allantica. showing juvenile phase pigmentation, RHB 2960, 

 6.3 mm SL; (E) C. allantica, arrow shows location of cephalic extension of pyloric caecum, ACRE I2-18A, 25.2 mm SL (peritoneal pigment 

 sections not shown). 



Development 



Eggs of evermannellids are unknown. Larvae are known for 

 all species and developmental series have been partly illustrated 

 and described (Schmidt, 1918; Rofen, I966d; Wassersug and 

 Johnson, 1976; Johnson, 1982). Osteological examination has 

 been confined to adults. Development is direct, transformation 

 gradual, adult characteristics are acquired essentially one by one 

 but for the most part such acquisition is complete in specimens 

 exceeding 30 mm SL. 



For all species the great majority of larval specimens has been 

 taken in the upper 100 m but only the larvae of three species 

 (Evermannella balbo, E. indica, Odontostomops normalops) have 

 been commonly taken in hauls to 50 m or less. The distributional 

 ranges of larvae and adults are coextensive and there is no 

 evidence (the data are very incomplete) for seasonality in re- 

 productive effort. Evermannellids are synchronous hermaph- 

 rodites. 



The following paragraphs describe those characters most ev- 

 ident in the early life history of evermannellids including those 

 of value in distinguishing genera and species. 



Gross aspect (Fig. /29A — Larvae and smaller juveniles of all 

 three genera are similar in general proportions and in having a 

 relatively smaller eye, smaller lens, broader interorbital, and 

 larger snout than larger juveniles and adults. The body is deepest 

 just behind the pectoral fin base. The anterior dorsal profile 

 descends gradually and is not bowed down. The eye in larvae 

 of Evermannella and Coccorella but not Odontostomops is el- 

 liptically narrowed, broader dorsoventrally than antero-poste- 

 riorly. The gut cavity is essentially triangular and quite deep 

 anteriorly. The snout is pointed, the mouth large, and teeth 

 appear in very small larvae. The most striking changes in body 



proportions, in all evermannellid larvae, are correlated with the 

 transition from individuals with a "larval phase" pigment pat- 

 tern to those with a "juvenile phase" pigment pattern (see pig- 

 mentation, below), with the result that individuals exceeding 

 ca. 25 mm in the latter category are essentially miniature adults. 



Meristic characters.— Counts of fin rays (Table 67) do not differ 

 between larval and adult specimens. The caudal is the first fin 

 to form, it develops 10 + 9 principal rays, as in all Aulopiformes 

 and Myctophiformes (sensu Rosen, 1973). Next to form, in 

 order, are the dorsal, pelvic, anal and pectoral fins. The pelvic 

 fins do not greatly change position during ontogeny, they appear 

 ventrolaterally beneath the posterior half of the dorsal fin and 

 are inserted beneath the anterior half of the dorsal fin in adults. 

 An adipose fin connects the incipient dorsal fin with the caudal 

 fin in small larvae but loses this connection and shrinks in extent 

 with growth of the individual, inserted over posterior one-third 

 of anal fin base in adults. There is apparently no variation in 

 the above-described features among evermannellid larvae. 



Peritoneal pigment sections (Fig. 129). — In all adult everman- 

 nellids the gut is completely enclosed by a uniform lube of dark 

 brown to black peritoneal pigment. In larvae, this peritoneal 

 pigment appears in discrete sections. In Odontostomops there 

 are 12 or more peritoneal pigment sections, typically 13 to 15. 

 In Evermannella and Coccorella there are invariably 3 sections, 

 one centered over and medial to the pectoral fin insertion, one 

 centered (or nearly so) under the dorsal fin insertion, and one 

 (roughly) centered between the posteriormost pelvic fin ray base 

 and the anal fin origin. In all cases the sections are unpaired 

 and are connected broadly over the dorsal surface of the stom- 

 ach. In small larvae the sections form canopy-like continuous 



