Larvae Information Summary for Lampanyctus ritteri
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Main Ref: Moser, H.G. and E.H. Ahlstrom 1996
Yolk-sac larvae
  min max mod Ref.
Length at birth (mm)   3    
Preanal L. % TL 29 57    
Place of development planktonic
Larval area California Current region; Taiwan Strait
Yolk-sac       Ref:  
Yolk   Oil globules  
Rows on tail  
Other melanophores on tail  
Post larvae
Striking feature light organs
Striking shape lateral normal (not striking) dorsal  
Striking feature light organs
Shape of gut triangular
Gas bladder   early pigmented late  
Spinal armature   early no spines late no spines
Pigmentation early
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head
Pigmentation late
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head + trunk
Urostyle region   early unpigmented late unpigmented
Pectorals normal melanophores at fin base
Pelvics fin rays only with melanophores
Initially, small rounded head, slender body, and short, strongly sigmoid gut; head and body become deep and compressed, gut elongates during preflexion stage; body stout in postflexion stage; eyes relatively large, jaws large with large teeth, especially at upper jaw tip; snout somewhat elongate but blunter than in N. regalis; diagnostic pigment, especially on midline of brain; Br2 photophores form at about 7.0 mm; remaining photophores develop synchronously at end of transformation period; large spot at adipose fin. Pigmentation: Preflexion: at about 4.0 mm, 1 in midline anterior to forebrain; by about 4.5 mm, 1 embedded in midline below hindbrain and 1 in midline anterior to midbrain; by 5.0 mm, 1 embedded anterior to gut, 1 or more above gas bladder, 1 on inner surface of pectoral fin base, 1 above terminal gut section, and 1 above nape. Flexion: 1 at cleithrum anterior to upper pectoral fin base. Postflexion: myosepta becoming outlined at gut, spreading dorsally and ventrally; 1 anterior to adipose fin in some specimens; 1 or more on ventral midline below gut; on pelvic fin rays. Sequence of fin development: caudal, dorsal and anal and pectorals, pelvics.
Meristic characters
  min max mod Ref.
Total number of vertebrae 35 38   31442
  L 1st feeding Ref. Months of presence of larvae  
max     Jan Feb Mar Apr
min   May Jun Jul Aug
mod     Sep Oct Nov Dec
Water parameters     Metric characters
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