| teeth clearly visible |
| eel-like |
compressed |
| teeth clearly visible |
| spherical or gut loop |
| visible |
visible |
| |
|
| dorsal + ventral row |
| one dorso-ventral cluster or band |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| dorsal + ventral row |
| one dorso-ventral cluster or band |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| pigmented |
pigmented |
| with row of melanophores |
| fin rays only melanophores at fin base |
| fin rays only with melanophores |
| Diagnostic characters: body elongate in postflexion larvae; snout length greater than or equal to eye diameter; melanophores on ligament joining dentary and maxilla from 15 mm; pelvic fin pigmented from 12.3 mm; large melanophores scattered along dorsal and ventral midlines of tail.
Sequence of fin development: pelvic (7.4-11.1 mm); anal (8.1-11.1 mm); dorsal (8.1-11.1 mm); caudal (8.1-13.8 mm); pectoral (8.1-12.3 mm).
Angle of lower jaw ventrally pronounced in preflexion larvae. Small, fine teeth aong both jaws from 6.4 mm. Gut moderate to long, initially straight, and with a single coil from 6.8 mm. Gas bladder above midgut between myomeres 3-8, inflated in some larvae. Dorsal and anal fin rays develop from posterior to anterior.
Larvae have been caught in coastal waters around Tasmania during spring and summer months. |