WATSON ET AL.: TRACHINOIDEA 



557 



B 



^^S^ 



D 



Fig. 299. (A) Trichodontidae: Trichodon trichodon. 13.0 mm, from Marliave (1981); (B) Chiasmodontidae: Pseitdoscopelus sp.. 14.0 mm, 

 CalCOFI station 5710-5-130.80 (approximately 24°49'N, 1 16°49'W); (C) Percophididae: Hemerocoeles sp., 16.0 mm, redrawn from Crossland 

 (1982); (D) Tnchonotidae: Tnchonotus sp., 5.9 mm, from Leis and Rennis (1983); and (E) Creediidae: Limmchlhys donaldsom. 1 1.0 mm, from 

 Leis(1982). 



onotidae or the early developing heavily pigmented pelvic fins 

 of trachinids), 



Meristic characters— WtrXthraX and fin ray counts are summa- 

 rized in Table 138. The sequence of fin ray formation, incom- 

 pletely described for most families, appears to be quite variable 

 except that the caudal fin is first to begin ossification of rays in 

 all but the trachinids (the caudal is second in this family, fol- 



lowing the pelvic fins). Dorsal and anal fin rays are second to 

 form in four families (Mugiloididae, Tnchonotidae. Creediidae, 

 Uranoscopidae), while pectoral fin rays are second in two (Trich- 

 odontidae and Chiasmodontidae) and pelvic fin rays in one 

 (Champsodontidae). 



Special structures. Sipec\a.\ structures are generally lacking in 

 trachinoid larvae. Only the elongate opercular appendage of 



