556 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



Table 135. Characteristics of Trachinoid Eggs. 



Trunk and tail. — Most trachinoid larvae display some degree 

 of pigmentation along the ventral margin of the tail (absent in 

 some mugiloididsand preflexion trachinids). Pigmentation (typ- 

 ically rather light) occurs along the dorsal margin of the trunk 

 and tail at some time during larval development in many tra- 

 chinoids. Internal pigment may develop above and below the 

 vertebral column (e.g., Trichodontidae). 



Hypural margin. — Hypural pigment typically is light or absent 

 although its presence as a bar is diagnostic for the Trichodon- 

 tidae. 



Fins. — Fins typically are unpigmented in trachinoid larvae, al- 

 though for some groups fin pigmentation can be diagnostic (e.g., 

 the caudal and posterior dorsal and anal fin pigment of Trich- 



Table 136. Size (mm SL) of Trachinoid Larvae at Selected Developmental Stages. 



