| Myomeres 9-12+13-16=24-26 (usually 11+14); preopercular spines lacking; prominent hook-like projection present at anterior end of maxillary; precocious pelvic fin formation; robust form, more compressed than Scopelogadus; flexion and transformation at small size; trunk and tail pigment form discontinuous diagonal bar at midbody.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion-flexion: few externally, posteriorly over midbrain beginning at about 3 mm; internally under mid- and hindbrain; present or absent in floor of otic capsule (usually present); anterodorsally over gut and gas bladder, spreading posteriorly to near anus by 3-3.5 mm; pair present or absent near cleithral symphysis after 3 mm (usually absent); 1-few dorsolaterally in vicinity of last 2-3 preanal and first 2-3 postanal myomeres; 1-few along lateral midline in vicinity of last 1-2 preanal and first 1-2 postanal myomeres, spreading caudad; ventral and ventrolateral blotch near terminus of gut, shifting caudad 2-3 myomeres; few along ventral margin of tail; 0-few along hypural margin in flexion stage; 0-few on pelvic fins.
Postflexion: on nostril and posterior margin of orbit after 5 mm; increasing on dorsum, laterally, and on pelvic and caudal fins; on dorsal and anal fins after 7 mm.
Sequence of fin formation: pelvics, dorsal, anal and caudal, pectorals. |
