| In preflexion larvae, extensive pigmentation on head and dorsal and ventral margins of tail (series on dorsum limited to tail region in contrast to S. caurinus where it extends forward to nape); preopercular spines become heavily pigmented (sparsely pigmented in S. caurinus); cheek becomes heavily pigmented in flexion and postflexion stages (not in S. caurinus); upper and lower patches on opercle vs. single central patch in S. caurinus.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: initially, 3-10 above midbrain, 0-8 above hindbrain, 0-3 at otic region, at angular (some specimens), at lower jaw tip (most specimens), dorsally and ventrally on gut, 1 anterior to and 1 posterior to anus, at cleithral symphysis, 35-38 in series on ventral margin of tail (from postanal myomere 1 to 15), 9-22 in series on dorsal margin of tail (typically from postanal myomere 3 to 14), and 1 to several laterally on the tail; by end of stage, laterally on lower jaw, other head loci augmented, some laterally on gut, at tip of snout, 1 at hypural region, and few on pectoral fin base and blade.
Flexion: series on dorsal margin of trunk (beginning on 3rd-5th myomere), becoming continuous with series above tail.
Postflexion: more on head loci; on upper and lower opercular patch; on pectoral fin base (heavy) and blade (moderate); gut covered; diffuse bar on tail.
Juvenile: heavy on upper half of head; large patch on opercle; heavy on dorsum; concentrated on myomeres; pale on ventrum.
Sequence of fin development: caudal, pectorals, dorsal and anal and pelvics.
Also Ref. 34817. |
