414 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



Fig. 223. Larvae of Minoinae (A). Triglidae (B, C), Congiopodidae (D, E), Platycephalidae (F), Hoplichthyidae (G, H). (A) Minous sp.?, 6.4 

 mm SL (from Leis and Rennis, 1983); (B) Prionolus sp., 6.4 mm SL (original); (C) Prionotus slephanophrys. 8.8 mm SL (CalCOFI 7510 sla. 

 1 1 7.70); (D) Congiopodus spimfer. 1 0.8 mm SL (from Brownell, 1 979); (E) Detail of pectoral fin of Congiopodus spmifer (ibid.); (F) Platycephalidae, 

 unidentified, 6.2 mm SL (from Leis and Rennis, 1983); (G) Hoplichthys sp., 7.1 mm SL (original, courtesy M. Okiyama); (H) Hoplichlhys sp. 

 17.2 mm SL (ibid.). 



at the median edges of the finfold. Flexion occurs at a small size 

 (4-6 mm) as does transformation (10-17 mm). Larvae are rel- 

 atively deep-bodied during preflexion and flexion and more so 

 during postflexion, when body depth averages 38-40% of body 

 length for the genera listed in Table 107. The gut is compact 

 and the head becomes massive. Snout-anus length increases 

 from 46-50% of body length in preflexion larvae to 61-67% in 

 postflexion larvae. The snout has a steep profile (Fig. 222). 



The pectoral fins are well developed and deep-based; fin base 

 depth is 13-15% of body length in preflexion larvae and 14- 

 1 8% in flexion and postflexion larvae. They are fan-shaped and 

 enlarged in Scorpaenodes; fin length attains 41% of body length 

 during the postflexion stage. They are smaller but distinctively 

 shaped in Scorpaena (fan-shaped with scalloped margin) and 

 Pontinus (slightly wing-shaped). Ossification of fin rays, as well 



as skeletal elements, occurs in early larvae (4-5 mm). The cau- 

 dal, pectoral, and pelvic rays begin ossifying almost simulta- 

 neously, followed immediately by the dorsal and anal fins. 



Preflexion larvae have a postanal ventral midline series of 

 melanophores ranging in number from 2-7 in Scorpaena guttata 

 to 12-18 in Scorpaenodes xyris. The most prominent pigment 

 is on the pectoral fins; typical patterns are a concentration at 

 the distal margin (Scorpaenodes, some Pontinus, some Scor- 

 paena spp.), a solid covering over most of the fin (some Scor- 

 paena spp.), or a diagonal bar (some Pontinus spp.). A melanistic 

 sheath develops over the dorsal surface of the gut and gas bladder 

 in most species of Scorpaena. whereas in Scorpaenodes and 

 Pontinus only the gas bladder is pigmented. Other pigment in 

 Scorpaena forms at the cleithral juncture and above the brain 

 (Fig. 222). 



Fig. 224. Larvae of the Oxylebius scorpaeniform group (A, B) and the hexagrammid group (C-F) of Washington and Richardson (MS) (see 

 Washington et al., this volume). (A) Oxylebius pictus. 8.5 mm SL (from Kendall and Vinter, 1984); (B) Zaniolepis sp., 7.7 mm SL (ibid.); (C) 

 Hexagrammos oclogrammus, 15.2 mm SL (ibid.); (D) Pleurogrammus monopterygius, 20.5 mm SL (ibid.); (E) Ophwdon elongalus, 1 5.4 mm SL 

 (ibid.); (F) Anoplopoma fimbria, 13.8 mm SL (Ahlstrom and Stevens. 1976). 



