Main Ref: | Moser, H.G. and E.H. Ahlstrom 1996 |
min | max | mod | Ref. | |
Length at birth (mm) | ||||
Preanal L. % TL | 36 | 58 |
Place of development | planktonic | |||
Larval area | California Current region | |||
Yolk-sac | Ref: | |||
Yolk | Oil globules | |||
Rows on tail | ||||
Other melanophores on tail |
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 | dorsal row | |||
Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head | |||
Urostyle region early | unpigmented | late | unpigmented | |
Pectorals | normal without melanophores | |||
Pelvics | fin rays only without melanophores | |||
Gut short in preflexion stage, becoming longer in subsequent stages; extremely large, nearly round eye; distinct pigment pattern, with apposing caudal peduncle melanophores in postflexion stage; Br2 phtophores form in postflexion larvae; distinguished from other myctophids with round eyes by: dorsal midline melanophores restricted to 1-2 spots posterior to adipose fin; head and eyes large with the body tapered. Pigmentation: Preflexion: by 5.6 mm, 1 midventral to hindbrain; by 6.5 mm, 1 or more above gas bladder. Flexion: by end of stage, 1 in midline anterior to brain, 1 in midline posterior to cerebellum, and 1 embedded anterior to gut. Postflexion: apposing midline pair on caudal peduncle, dorsal slightly posterior to ventral; largest specimens may have 1 or 2 on dorsal midline of caudal peduncle; myosepta becoming outlined in gut region in late postflexion stage; postflexion larvae have pigment above brain, internally above otic region, lateral to cleithrum, and in anteroventral region of liver (Ref. 265). Sequence of fin development: caudal, pectorals, anal, dorsal, pelvics. |
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 |