| Heavily pigmented except end of tail; myomeres 11-12+13-14 (usually 12+14); transformation specimens and juvenile deep-bodied with very large, black pelvic fin; juveniles spotted.
Pigmentation:
Yolk-sac-preflexion: Heavy on head, trunk, and tail except little or none on last 3-4 myomeres; denser ventrolaterally with broad bar forming near midbody in preflexion stage; 2-4 on dorsal margin of notochord tip, disappearing by end of yolk-sac stage; few on yolk sac and oil globule; gut with few at terminus early in yolk-sac stage, becoming completely pigmented by end of stage; on pectoral fin base in preflexion stage; internally in roof of mouth and under brain, becoming dense stripe in preflexion stage.
Transformation-juvenile: Body and fins completely pigmented except none on pectoral fin rays and only narrow band proximally on caudal fin; early juvenile orange to red with scattered black spots; pelvic fin and first dorsal fin intensely black. |