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Fishery Bulletin 90(2). 1992 



Figure 7 



Dover sole MicrostoTOMA- poci/iCTis right lateral view: (A)OS13214, Stage 1, 20.4mmSL; (B)OS11377, Stage 2, 54.5mmSL; (C)OS13202, 

 Stage 3 benthic capture, 52.4 mm SL; (D) OS 13202, eariy Stage 4, 61.5 mm SL (intestinal loop is dark area above anal fin); (E) OS13203, 

 late Stage 4, 58.4 mm SL; (F) OS13204, early Stage 5, 78.4 mm SL, arrow points to posterior end of intestinal loop. 



Stage 4 (metamorphic postcompetent larvae), 41 .7- 

 79.3 mm SL Adult Dover sole have a long intestinal 

 loop in the secondary body cavity above anal fin ptery- 

 giophores (Hagerman 1952). This intestinal loop (Fig. 



7) forms after settlement, and its initiation is the de- 

 fining feature of Stage 4. Continuous metamorphic 

 changes in morphology, such as shrinkage in body 

 depth, are completed during Stage 4 (Fig. 2). 



