508 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



that most share common patterns (e.g., species groups E. sthatus 

 and E. adscensionis), although there are some notable problems 

 (subgenera Cephalopholis and Alphestes). Thus, in Epinephehis 

 there is general concordance between the only distinguishing 

 characters of the larvae (spinelet patterns) and the relationships 

 hypothesized based on a variety of adult characters; but thor- 

 ough analysis must be done to resolve apparent discrepancies. 



Paranthias. — One species (P.furcifer) occurs in American waters 

 of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The larvae have a unique 

 spinelet pattern on the dorsal fin spines, and have internal no- 

 tochord pigment not found in other epinephelines (Johnson and 

 Ashe, 1984). This genus as an adult is quite distinct ecologically 

 and morphologically. 



Mycteroperca.— This American genus with 13 species is distin- 

 guished from the other epinepheline genera by several charac- 

 ters, including usually having more anal rays (11-13). The species 

 of Mycteroperca cannot be distinguished as larvae, and their 

 spinelet patterns resemble those of several members of Epineph- 

 elus (e.g., E. niveatus, E. flavolimbatus, and E. acanthistius). 

 However, Mycteroperca larvae have a melanophore at the 

 cleithral symphysis, which is not found in any of these species 

 oi Epinephelus (Johnson and Ashe, 1984). 



Gon/op/ec/rus. — Postflexion larvae of the only species, Gonio- 

 plectrus hispamis, are known (Kendall and Fahay, 1979). The 

 larvae are more robust and have shorter elongate dorsal and 

 pelvic spines than other American epinephelines. Also, these 

 elongate spines are different in cross section and spinelet ap- 

 pearance than those of other epinephelines (Johnson and Keen- 

 er, 1984). 



Diploprionini. — A photograph of a transforming larva, a draw- 

 ing of a juvenile, and a brief description of the juvenile showed 

 fish with long flexible dorsal spines and rather deep bodies (Hubbs 

 and Chu, 1934). The second and third dorsal spines are ex- 

 tremely produced in the larva, but only the third is in the ju- 

 venile. The photograph of the larva does not allow more detailed 

 observation. 



Liopropomini. — Larvae of Liopropoma/ Pikea are known and 

 cannot presently be distinguished on the basis of larval char- 

 acters (Kendall, 1977, 1979). They were first described as a new 

 genus, Flagelloserranus. by Kotthaus ( 1 970). Jeboehlkia is known 

 from a single, small specimen which shows traits of being a 

 transforming larva (Robins, 1967). 



Lioproma/Pikea. — The general body shape is similar to that of 

 the serranines, although the gut is shorter and there is a space 

 between the anus and the origin of the anal fin. The caudal 

 peduncle is both longer and deeper than it is in serranines. The 

 most outstanding developmental feature is the presence, even 

 in small larvae, of two elongate, thin dorsal spines. These de- 

 velop before other fin rays, reach a length of up to three times 

 the fish length, and become the second and third dorsal spines. 

 These spines are delicate and are broken in many specimens. 

 Kotthaus ( 1 970) described the presence of thick tissue surround- 

 ing these spines; the tissue around the second spine has two 

 vane-like swellings on its distal third and the tissue around the 

 third spine is tubular for its entire length. The distal portion of 

 both spines is pigmented with several large melanophores. The 



remaining fin rays develop their adult proportions without any 

 pronounced elongations. The ventral fins develop more slowly 

 than those of most other serranids. 



Except for the pigment on the elongate dorsal fin spines, most 

 larvae are unpigmented. Some spots develop on the hindbrain 

 surface in larger larvae, probably representing the onset of ju- 

 venile pigment. 



Jeboehlkia.— The single species {J. gladifer) is known only from 

 the holotype, a 40.8 mm female. Characters that indicate that 

 it may not have completed transformation, or may be paedo- 

 morphic, include the virtual lack of pigment, the enlarged eye, 

 and the elongate first dorsal spine (see Robins, 1967). 



Grammistini. — Fishes in this tribe have been variously grouped 

 as members of families separate from the serranids and as 

 subfamilies of the serranids. Larvae of four of the seven genera 

 placed in this tribe by Johnson (1983) are known. The first or 

 second dorsal spine is elongate and flexible, and the preopercular 

 margin is armed with about five subequal spines in larvae of all 

 four genera. 



Grammistes.—A single, 1 1 mm postflexion larva of G. se.xiline- 

 atus illustrated by Fourmanoir (1976) has an elongate flexible 

 first dorsal spine and five spines on the preopercular margin. It 

 is well developed, rather deep-bodied, and appears to lack pig- 

 ment except on the pectoral fin which is covered with fine me- 

 lanophores on its distal third. 



Aporops.— The anterior portion of a 12 mm postflexion larva 

 of Aporops bilinearis illustrated by Fourmanoir (1976) has the 

 first dorsal spine elongate and flexible and five spines on the 

 preopercular margin. It is well developed and is not as deep- 

 bodied as the aforementioned Grammistes larva. No pigment 

 is evident in the illustration. 



Pseudogramma. — A developmental series of P. gregoryi was 

 described by Kendall (1977, 1979) and Leis and Rennis (1983) 

 illustrated a series of P. polyacantha. These larvae have shallow 

 tubular bodies; a greatly elongate, flexible dorsal spine (the first 

 or second); precocious enlarged pectoral fins; a gap between the 

 anus and the anal fin; and a general lack of pigment except on 

 the pectoral fin of small larvae and on the sheath that surrounds 

 the elongate dorsal spine. 



i?.V77;;cM.s. — Aboussouan (1972b) illustrated and briefly de- 

 scribed two larvae, and Kendall (1977, 1979) compared these 

 with specimens he described from the western Atlantic. These 

 larvae have the first dorsal spine produced, flexible, and sur- 

 rounded by a pigmented sheath; about five preopercular spines; 

 an enlarged pectoral fin that may be pigmented; rather long rays 

 in the second dorsal, caudal, and anal fins; small, late-developing 

 pelvic fins; a lack of body pigment; and are moderately deep- 

 bodied at the nape. 



Relationships 



Although known larvae of serranids show a diversity of char- 

 acters that will probably permit them to be used in definitive 

 studies of relationships within the group, such studies are pres- 

 ently premature (Fig. 269). More characters need to be traced 

 ontogenetically, and larvae of more species, particularly in the 

 Anthiinae and several tribes of Epinephelinae, need to be de- 



