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Larvae Information Summary for  Protomyctophum thompsoni
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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) 2.8      
Preanal L. % TL 48 33    
Place of development planktonic
Larval area Northeastern Pacific (California Current region); Northwestern Pacific (Japan)
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 pigmented
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 trunk
Pigmentation late
Rows on tail lateral row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on trunk
Urostyle region   early unpigmented late unpigmented
Pectorals normal without melanophores
Pelvics fin rays only without melanophores
Morphology similar to P. crockeri but pigmentation different; postanal series present (absent in P. crockeri); 1-3 lateral gut melanophores (no more than 1 in P. crockeri); Br2 photophores appear at about 8.5 mm; PO series and upper OP photophores the first to form at transformation. Pigmentation: Preflexion: 10-14 in median ventral postanal series. Flexion: postanal series coalesced to 6-11; 1-3 laterally on foregut. Postflexion: postanal series reduced from a maximum of 9 at beginning of postflexion stage to none by 17.0 mm; above gas bladder by about 13.0 mm; beginning at about 13.5 mm, 1-4 embedded in vertical series in lateral hypural region. Sequence of fin development: caudal, pectorals, anal, dorsal and pelvics.
Meristic characters
  max min mod Ref.
Total number of vertebrae 39 37   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
Water parameters     Metric characters
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