REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIAENIDAE 
77 
advance of tlie vent. A small black spot is present on the median line of the abdomen 
immediately in advance of the vent, generally another elongate black spot is situated 
on the ventral outline of the tail at about midcaudal length. However, sometimes 
several small black spots occur on the ventral outline of the tail. The inner surface 
of the base of the primitive pectoral is black, and dark points are present on the sides 
along the upper margin of the abdomen. Three dark dots also are situated on the 
dorsal outline. The first is placed slightly in advance of the anterior margin of the 
eye, the next one is somewhat behind the posterior margin of the eye, and the third one 
is fully a half an eye’s diameter behind the second one (fig. 19). 
Specimens of this size differ notably from somewhat larger ones in the long 
slender tail, which becomes proportionately much shorter and stouter quite abruptly. 
The deep body, the moderately large oblique mouth, and the color markings are useful 
in identifying these small larvae with somewhat larger ones. 
Specimens 2.5 millimeters long . — The fish has increased greatly in depth since a 
length of about 1.8 to 2.0 millimeters was attained, and the tail has become propor- 
tionately much shorter and stockier. The distance from the snout to the vent is 
contained 1.75 to 1.9 times in the length to end of the notochord, distance posterior 
to vent (without finfold) 2.0 to 2.3 times, and the greatest depth 2.3 to 2.5 times. 
The cavernous nature of the skull, characteristic of the adult, already is indicated by 
an apparently vacant space over the brain. (The outline of the brain is plainly 
visible because of the transparency of the coverings of the head.) The mouth is 
moderately large and oblique; the gape anteriorly is about on a level with the middle 
of the eye and the maxillary reaches under the pupil. Distinct teeth are present on 
the jaws, and a few spines have appeared on the preopercular margin. The myomeres 
are partly indistinct; about 8 can be counted in advance of the vent and about 17 
behind it. A slight thickening of the vertical finfold is noticeable in those places 
where the soft dorsal, the caudal, and anal fins are developing. Slight indications 
of rays are present in the caudal fin (that is, below the end of the tail). The color 
markings of the smaller specimens described remain, though somewhat modified. 
A few dark points (more distinct in some specimens than in others) persist on the 
median line of the abdomen. The dark spot at about midlength of the ventral outline 
of the tail has become more distinct and quite elongate, and some specimens have a 
smaller spot in front of this one and another one behind it. The inner surface of the 
base of the primitive pectoral remains black. A few dark points persist along the 
upper margin of the abdomen, ending in a small dark spot dorsally of the base of 
the pectoral. These dark markings, in part at least, consist of dark membranes, 
visible through the body wall. The three dark markings on the head, noticed in 
smaller specimens, now have the appearance of dark cross partitions, lying below 
the surface of the skull (fig. 20). 
