Total vertebrae 25; deep bodied; pigmented, peaked supraoccipital crest forms at about 3 mm; heavily pigmented preanal finfold; strong preopercular spination, up to 6 below and 4 above elongate angle spine in posterior series and up to 1 above and 4 below angle in anterior series; single spines on posttemporal and supracleithrum but none on supraocular or pterotic ridge.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: By 2.5 mm, above gas bladder and gut, several on ventral margin of gut coil, 1 on terminal gut section anterior to anus, opposing blotches on dorsal and ventral margins of tail, series (minute) of about 7 posteriorly on ventral margin of tail, and 1 to several (minute) below notochord tip; by 3.0 mm, 1 to several above midbrain, 1 or more on supraoccipital crest, a pair at tip of snout, 1 on dorsum at midtrunk, streaks on dorsal and ventral margins of tail with lateral streak forming between them; by end of stage, many above brain, laterally on upper jaw, on tip of lower jaw, on gular and branchiostegal membranes, posteriorly on isthmus, on preanal finfold, spreading ventrad on trunk from dorsum, spreading onto tail and dorsal fin and anal fin bases from midline streaks, and embedded above spinal column at lateral streak.
Flexion: Scattered over upper half of head and on trunk and tail except for caudal region; heavier laterally in region of tail streaks; streaks on dorsum and ventrum extend on each side of dorsal fin and anal fin.
Postflexion: By 5.5 mm, entire head and body covered except for caudal peduncle, and blotch forming on first dorsal fin.
Transformation: By about 14 mm, caudal peduncle covered and bars beginning to form.
Juvenile: 6 bars (1 at nape, 2 at first dorsal fin, 3 at second dorsal fin).
Sequence of fin development: principal caudal fin rays and dorsal fin and anal fin and pectoral fin, procurrent caudal fin rays, pelvic fin. |