WASHINGTON ET AL.: SCORPAENIFORMES 



419 



Fig. 227. Larvae of the Myoxocephalus group of cottids of Washington and Richardson (MS) (see Washington et al., this volume). (A) 

 Paricelinus hopliticus. 13.8 mm SL (from Richardson and Washington, 1980); (B) Triglops sp.. 15.4 mm SL (ibid.); (C) Icelus hicornis. 25 mm 

 (from Ehrenbaum, 1905-1909); (D) Chitonotus pugetensis. 11.5 mm SL (from Richardson and Washington, 1980); (E) Artednis meanyi. 13.8 

 mm SL (ibid., as Iceiinus sp.); (F) Icelinus sp., 1 1.9 mm SL (original); (G) Ascelichthvs rhodorus. 1 1.0 mm SL (from Matarese and Marliave, 

 1982). 



Choridactylinae.— The developmental stages of Ininucus ja- 

 ponicus have been described by Fujita and Nakahara (1955) and 

 Sha et al. (1981). Larvae are 3.2 mm at hatching, 6.4-8.2 mm 

 at flexion and about 10 mm at transformation. Yolk-sac larvae 

 are similar to those of Scorpaeninae. Larvae are relatively slen- 

 der and blunt-headed, with a compact short gut (Fig. 223). The 

 pectoral fins are large and fan-shaped, with a scalloped margin; 

 they develop a series of large blotches distally. One to several 

 large postanal melanistic blotches form on the postanal ventral 

 midline and the gas bladder region is pigmented. Sha et al. ( 1 98 1 ) 

 show the larvae to be heavily xanthic. 



Minoinae. — Leis and Rennis (1983) described a larval series 

 tentatively identified as Minous sp. It- is generally similar in 

 morphology and pigmentation to Jnimicus; however, the pec- 

 toral fin is relatively larger and has a different pigment pattern. 



Triglidae (Fig. 223). — E^s are only known for 3 of the 8 genera 

 of triglids. The new world genus Prionotus has multiple oil 

 globules whereas single oil globules are known for Chelidonich- 

 thys and Lepidotrigla. Larvae are poorly known with complete 

 series having been described for 4 species in 3 genera (Table 

 107). There are approximately 90 species in this family and 

 many are very difficult to identify as adults. The genus Lepi- 

 dotrigla has 40+ species and is poorly known in many areas. 

 Diagnostic features include the depressed profile of the head and 

 large pectoral fins of which the lowest three rays become de- 

 tached during transformation. Meristics are very similar to 

 platycephalids and caution is advised. However, most triglids 

 have fewer pectoral rays than most scorpaenoids. Prionotus. 

 including Bellator, has 1 3 to 15 plus 3 free rays; Trigla, Chel- 

 idonichthys. Lepidotrigla, and Uradia have 11 plus 3 free rays; 

 and Pterygotrigla and Parapterygotrigla have 11 to 13 plus 3. 



Peristediidae. — ELH information has been published only for 

 Peristedion cataphractum of the eastern Atlantic (Table 107). 

 Larvae and transforming juveniles have elongated upper pec- 

 toral rays and strong head spination (see plate 40 in Padoa, 

 1956e). This family is often combined with the Triglidae, but 

 differs in many characters such as the presence of barbels, 2 

 rather than 3 free pectoral rays, and the body is encased in bony 

 scutes rather than scales. Three genera (Heminodus. Parahem- 

 inodus and Gargariscus) have jaw teeth and two genera (Per- 

 istedion and Satyrichthys) lack jaw teeth. There are about 25 

 species found in the tropics of all oceans in deep water (>200 

 m). 



Congiopodidae (Fig. 223). — Eggs are known for only 1 {Con- 

 giopodus) of the 4 genera of Congiopodidae (Brownell, 1978; 

 Gilchrist, 1904; Robertson, 1974). The pelagic eggs are rela- 

 tively large (1.7-2.18 mm) and spherical, with a narrow peri- 

 vitelline space and no oil globules. The egg surface is covered 

 with striations. Early life history stages have been illustrated for 

 one species, Congiopodus spimfer{Qvov<mt\\, 1979; Gilchrist and 

 Hunter, 1919). Robertson (1975a), illustrated a well-developed 

 embryo of C. leucopaecilus. Larvae hatch at about 5 to 6 mm 

 NL and are elongate with long guts reaching 50% SL. The pec- 

 toral fins are extremely large and fan-shaped. Melanistic pig- 

 ment is present on the head, nape and on the dorsal and ventral 

 surface of the gut. Two large blotches of pigment on the dorsal 

 and ventral midlines form a band midway between the vent 

 and tail tip. The large pectoral fins have a distal band of pigment 

 which gradually expands over the entire fin with development. 

 Larvae develop large postocular and parietal spines. The pres- 

 ence of preopercular spines can not be determined from the 

 description by Brownell (1975). 



