616 



Fishery Bulletin 90(3). 1992 



NL; upper and lower jaw lengths increase to 44.5% and 

 57.1%HL. Relative eye diameter decreases to 26.8% 

 HL (Table 1). 



The number and location of preopercular and oper- 

 cular spines remain almost constant. The pelvic fin 

 starts to develop at ~7.0mmNL. Up to 6 elongated fin 

 rays develop in the dorsal crest. There are 34 (9-11 

 preanal and 23-25 postanal) myomeres at the end of 

 the stage. 



The 6 (sometimes 7) fin rays of the dorsal crest con- 

 tinue to elongate during the postflexion stage. The 

 fourth and fifth rays are more than half the body 

 length; the first dorsal-fin ray is apparent but poorly 

 developed. Rays and pterygiophores of median fins 

 become more apparent. 



By the end of this stage, preopercular and opercular 

 spines start to disappear and the interocular region 

 begins to deform in preparation for eye migration. 

 Body depth increases (up to 44.7% SL) as does head 

 length (up to 37% SL), with a corresponding decrease 

 in relative jaw length and eye diameter (Table 1). There 

 are 34 (7-9 preanal and 25-27 postanal) myomeres at 

 the end of the stage. 



Finally, during metamorphosis as the right eye 

 migrates towards the left side of the body, the dorsal 

 crest is lost, the mouth changes form, and pectoral-fin 

 rays form (Fig. 5C). 



