| External pigment over hindbrain in larvae; dorsal and ventral tail pigment only on caudal peduncle; midlateral stripe extends to 2nd-4th from last myomere in larvae, to hypural margin with no posterior constriction in juveniles; 2nd dorsal fin insertion above last or next to last anal fin ray; myomeres 9-10 + 25-26 = 40 in juveniles.
Pigmentation:
Postflexion-transformation: 3 (large) in triangular pattern over midbrain; 1 to several anteriorly over hindbrain; over forebrain, near nostrils, and on upper lip and dentary by 10.8 mm; under gill cover, spreading onto branchiostegal membrane by about 11.7 mm; laterally and ventrally on brain, surrounding it after 12.8 mm; heavy dorsally on gut, scattered and increasing laterally and ventrally; midlateral series on tail at myomeres 8 to 35-38, broadening and extending to pectoral fin base after 12.8 mm; internal series above and below vertebral column; 1-2 each on dorsal and ventral margins near the caudal fin.
Juvenile: heavy around brain, on snout, under gill cover, and around gut; broad stripe from pectoral fin base to hypural margin; on anterior dorsal and anal fin ray bases; on caudal fin, primarily outer third of fin.
Sequence of fin development: caudal, 2nd dorsal and anal and pectorals, pelvics, 1st dorsal. |