POSTLARVAL STAGES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES. 
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shown in text fig. 7F. At this size the development of the short dermal spines 
is evident and many can be seen clearly in the belly region. The dorsal, anal 
and pectoral fin-rays are well defined but all of the caudal rays are not 
completely differentiated. The fin formula is D. 9 ; A. 7 ; P. 15, which is modal 
for S. hamiltom. The smallest postlarva taken in the seine net measured 
8-5 millimetres. It was collected in the creek at the north end of Bribie Island 
on October 1 6th., 1944 along with the 10-5 millimetre specimen shown in text 
fig. 8B. The 8-5 millimetre specimen possessed the ability to inflate itself, as 
is characteristic of adults of this family. The postlarvae appear to leave the 
plankton when a length slightly greater than 4-6 millimetres is attained. The 
larger postlarva shown in text fig. 8B (10-5 mm.) has the body proportions 
and meristic characters of adult S. hamiltoni but its pigmentation is different. 
The larger, stellate, black chromatophores, that are interspaced with smaller 
ones on the dorsal surface, apparently represent the rudiments of the adult 
mottling of large round spots with minute specks in the interstices. The dark 
lateral stripe, composed of closely packed black chromatophores, presumably 
represents the rudiment of the series of discontinuous, oval blotches which 
ornament the flanks of adult toadfish. 
8. SPHEROIDES PLEUROGRAMMA (Regan). GOLD-BANDED TOADFISH. 
TetrocJon pleurogramma Regan (1903), p. 300, pi. xxiv, f. 2. 
As indicated in the account dealing with the previous species, a few 
larvae, which, by virtue of their possession of an angular opercular spine can 
be identified as Spheroides pleurogramma, have been collected in the surface 
plankton of the Noosa River. All these were obtained near the mouth of that 
river, the first (1-8 mm.) being obtained on 7/8/44 and a further three examples 
(1-7 to 2-0 mm.) were collected on 17/9/44 together with a similar number 
identified as the preceding species S. hamiltoni. The spawning season appears 
shorter than that of this other species and is restricted to the late winter months 
of August and September. No eggs have been seen, but it is thought that they 
are probably demersal. 
A newly hatched larva, measuring 1-7 millimetres in length, was amongst 
the September collection and is illustrated in text fig. 7B. In shape and size 
it closely resembles those of 8. hamiltom but is very different in its pigmentation. 
The head is naked except for a few dark cells situated behind the eyes. Instead 
of several rows of stellate cells, the caudal flank pigment is in the form of an 
intense, brownish black band formed from the matting together of the fine 
processes of spider-like cells. The yolk-sack is completely invested with large 
numbers of very small, stellate, black cells and these are considerably smaller 
than those of similar disposition in S. hamiltom. Some of these cells extend on 
to the ventral part of the trunk somites and are particularly intense around 
the hind-gut. 
In older larvae (text figs. 7C and 7D) the prominent band of caudal 
pigment completely disappears. The stellate cells of the yolk-sack proliferate and 
form an intensely black pigmentation on the skin adjacent to the visceral cavity. 
At a length of 2-0 millimetres there appear large, stellate, black cells on the 
operculum behind the eye and on the snout and back (text fig. 7C). With 
continued growth to a size of 3-2 millimetres (text fig. 7D) this pigment spreads 
