592 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



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SCOMBRIDAE Qo] (g) 



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Fig. 312. Wagner tree of scombroid fishes based on 40 characters (Appendix). Numbers are inserted where a character changes from a 

 plesiomorphous (Scombrolabrax condition) to an apomorphous state. Numbers in darlc circles show no homoplasy, those in light circles show 

 reversals in character state, and those in squares show independent acquisitions. 



der. The presence of this autapomorphy is not sufficient reason 

 to place Scombrolabrax in a monotypic suborder. Taxa should 

 be grouped based on shared specializations. 



Development 



Scombrolabrax heterolepis (Fig. 313). — Larval development 

 was described by PottholTet al. (1980). Early larvae from 3-4 



mm NL resemble the scombrid Thunmis in pigmentation, but 

 Scombrolabrax can be distinguished from Thunnus in having 

 only 30 myomeres as opposed to 39 myomeres in Thunmis. 

 Larger larvae acquire characteristic melanophores on the lower 

 jaw ramus and on the caudal peduncle. 



Scombrolabrax shares characters with the Gempylidae and 

 the most primitive scombrid tribe Scombrini (Scomber, Ras- 



