none |
short and/or deep |
tadpole-like |
none |
elongated |
visible |
visible |
|
|
dorsal + ventral row |
one dorso-ventral cluster or band |
melanophores on head + trunk |
dorsal + ventral + lateral row |
tail partly covered with melanophores |
melanophores on head + trunk |
pigmented |
pigmented |
with row of melanophores |
fin rays only with rows of melanophores |
fin rays only with melanophores |
Diagnostic characters: gut long; body moderately pigmented dorsally and ventrally; internal pigment along base of hindbrain; melanophores scattered on isthmus, cleithral symphysis and ventral surface of gut; melanophores along edges of rays of all fins.
Sequence of fin development: caudal (5.8-13.6 mm); dorsal (7.5-13.6 mm); anal (7.5-13.6 mm); pectoral (9.4-13.6 mm); pelvic (>12.0 mm).
Presence of minute villiform teeth along both jaws by early flexion stage, relatively large by early postflexion stage. Gut initially straight and without a distinct stomach, looped by transforming stage; stomach is clearly formed by flexion stage and lies to the right of the intestine in ventral view. Small gas bladder over foregut. Yolk sac is resorbed by early flexion stage. Preanal membrane and remnants of dorsal finfold still present in transforming larvae. |