none |
normal (not striking) |
compressed |
none |
elongated |
|
|
no spines |
no spines |
no rows |
tail with single melanophore |
melanophores on trunk |
no rows |
one dorso-ventral cluster or band |
melanophores on head + trunk |
unpigmented |
unpigmented |
with row of melanophores |
normal melanophores at fin base |
fin rays only melanophores at fin base |
Elongate gut; rounded head in preflexion larvae; large round ventrolateral blotches increasing from 4 at hatching to 7 at flexion stage; single ventral postanal blotch; hypural pigment; diamond-shaped lateral blotches in transformation specimens; large size (50-64 mm) at transformation; distinctive peritoneal patches (even); preanal finfold; deeper body than other Synodus species.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: ventrolateral blotches over intestine increase from 4 to 6; 1 postanal median ventral blotch and 1 at hypural region.
Flexion-postflexion: 7 ventrolateral blotches over intestine; on hypural margin; on anal fin base at about 25 mm; on hindbrain and cerebellum at about 40 mm; lateral blotch anterior to caudal fin.
Transformation: 8 lateral blotches, some diamond shaped; opercular region; brain covered.
Sequence of fin development: caudal, anal, pectorals, dorsal, pelvics. |