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Larvae Information Summary for  Diogenichthys atlanticus
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Main Ref: Moser, H.G. and E.H. Ahlstrom 1996
Yolk-sac larvae
  max min mod Ref.
Length at birth (mm) 2.9      
Preanal L. % TL 62 50    
Place of development planktonic
Larval area California Current region; Agulhas Current Region
Yolk-sac       Ref:  
Yolk   Oil globules  
Rows on tail  
Other melanophores on tail  
Post larvae
Striking feature light organs
Striking shape lateral normal (not striking) dorsal  
Striking feature light organs
Shape of gut elongated
Gas bladder   early   late  
Spinal armature   early no spines late no spines
Pigmentation early
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head + trunk
Pigmentation late
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail tail with single melanophore
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head + trunk
Urostyle region   early unpigmented late unpigmented
Peritoneum with row of melanophores
Pectorals normal melanophores at fin base
Pelvics fin rays only without melanophores
Moderately slender body, becoming somewhat compressed; gut to midbody, slightly sigmoid; head size moderate; wider in later stages, no ventral choroid tissue, although the scleral envelope may extend ventrad from the eye through the early postflexion stage; symphyseal barbel forms at about 5.0 mm; melanophore on trunk above preanal arch of gut; Br2 photophores form at about 6.0 mm; PO2 at about 7.0 mm; PO5 at about 8.5 mm; Aoa1 at about 11.0 mm. Pigmentation: Preflexion: by about 3.0 mm, ventrolateral pair just posterior to cleithrum, dorsolateral pair on terminal gut, 2 pairs on lateral midgut, and about 3 in postanal series at ventral margin; 1 laterally above preanal arch of gut; at about 5.0 mm, first of 3 on dorsal surface of symphyseal barbel; 1 or 2 laterally on gut and up to 4 more postanally by end of stage. Flexion: 1 (large) at base of rays on caudal fin; pair embedded below and pair above hindbrain; 1 on anterior part of pectoral fin base. Postflexion: at about 7.0 mm, paired series beegin to form at bases of anal fin rays; up to 6 laterally on gut and 12 in postanal ventral midline in largest larvae; 1 posterior to dorsal fin and one posterior to adipose fin in largest larvae. Sequence of fin development: caudal and pectoral and anal, dorsal and pelvics.
Meristic characters
  max min mod Ref.
Total number of vertebrae 35 31   31442
  L 1st feeding Ref. Months of presence of larvae  
max     Jan Feb Mar Apr
min   May Jun Jul Aug
mod     Sep Oct Nov Dec
Ease of identification:
easy to distinguish from other species.
Similar species 1 16757Diogenichthyspanurgus
Remarks
At >5 mm, larvae are easily differentiated from D. panurgus by the presence of a barbel at the symphysis of the lower jaw, a feature absent in D. panurgus. Smaller stages may be differentiated by the presence of pigmentation at the symphysis of the lower jaw in D. panurgus, and its absence in D. atlanticus. Furthermore, in larvae <5 mm, the Br2 photophore is already developed in D. panurgus, but appears later in D. atlanticus.
Water parameters     Metric characters
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