436 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



Fig. 239. Caudal development of Cyclopterus tuinpus (A) 6.0 mm NL, (B) 12.5 mm SL. (C) 18.0 mm SL, HML H-3093, 43°12'N, 66°00'W; 

 and Liparis fahricii (D) ca. 20 mm NL, 72°30.4'N, 76°46.2'W, NMC 83-1 137; (E) ca. 34 mm NL, 74°27'N, 82°03'W, NMC 83-1 138; (F) ca. 145 

 mm SL, 70°07'15"N, 60°44'15"W, NMC 83-1 139). Scale bars equal one mm. 



The arrangement and degree of adherence of the soft flaccid 

 skin of cyclopterid larvae may be of taxonomic value. In Cy- 

 clopterus and all western North Atlantic forms examined (Able 

 et al., MS) the skin conforms loosely to the entire surface of the 

 body. In an unidentified cyclopterid from the eastern Pacific the 

 skin forms a distinct bubble over the anterior portion of the 

 body and then adheres tightly over the posterior portion (Fig. 

 236). 



Pi,^n7enl. — Cycloptennes are usually more heavily pigmented 

 at hatching (Kyushin, 1975; Matarese and Borton, in prep.; Fig. 

 235) than liparidines (Figs. 236, 238). An exception is L. fahricii 

 (Fig. 237) which has well-developed pigment. Throughout de- 

 velopment, all Liparis we examined from the western North 

 Atlantic possess melanophores on the medial surface of the 

 pectoral fin, on the abdomen, and a line of melanophores at the 

 base of the anal finfold and fin. The abdominal melanophores 



