REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIAENIDAE 
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as C. regalis has 11 to 13. According to the preserved specimens at hand, C. nothus 
is somewhat plainer in color and some of the markings present are a little differently 
placed. C. regalis at a length of 9 to 11 millimeters has numerous dusky dots on the 
side, which C. nothus does not possess. C. regalis generally has more numerous spots 
on the back also. On the other hand, C. nothus has two elongate dusky spots at the 
base of the anal, one being below the anterior rays and the other one at the base of 
the last rays, whereas only one spot placed near the middle of the anal base is 
present in C. regalis. 
The specimens described are the smallest ones of the species recognized. It is 
possible that this species and C. regalis are so similar in the younger stages that they 
were not recognized as distinct. Identification apparently would be somewhat un- 
certain until the anal fin is developed sufficiently to permit the enumeration of the 
rays. However, it is thought that the markings on the ventral surface of the tail 
might be useful in separating the species, since the spots appear to be a little dif- 
ferently placed in the two species, as already stated. In the younger specimens the 
markings are quite uniformly placed, and the large spot near midcaudal length 
(being the one that is situated below the base of the anal when that member be- 
comes developed) is steadfastly present and is thought to be diagnostic for C. regalis. 
Figure 43 .— Cynoscion nothus. From a specimen 26 millimeters long. 
Specimens 24 to 26 millimeters long. — The fish has become more shapely since a 
length of 9 to 11 millimeters was attained (no specimens of intermediate sizes are at 
hand), that is, the head and trunk are not as disproportionately deep in comparison 
with the tail as in the smaller fish. The greatest depth is contained 3.2 to 3.6 times 
in the standard length, and the head now is considerably longer than deep, its length 
being contained 2.5 to 2.7 times in the standard length. The snout is a little sharper 
than in smaller fish; its length remains about equal to the diameter of the eye, and 
is contained 3.7 to 4.3 times in the head. The mouth is moderately oblique; the 
lower jaw projects little; and the maxillary reaches to or a little beyond the pos- 
terior margin of the pupil, 2.0 to 2.2 in the head. Gill rakers are developed, 11 were 
counted on the lower limb of the first arch in each of two specimens. Scales are 
evident on the side, though the sides are not completely covered. The caudal fin is 
sharply pointed and the middle rays are much longer than the head. The ventral 
fins have increased greatly in length and are about twice as long as the eye. Dark 
color markings have become much more numerous; the markings (chromatophores) 
mostly remaining small and rather scattered, and are present on the sides, on the 
head, on the back, and along the ventral outline. In some specimens congregations 
of dark marks are present along the lateral line, forming indefinite quadrate spots. 
In some specimens a concentration of dark markings, also, has occurred on the back 
