Larvae Summary

Larvae Information Summary for Megalops atlanticus

( not available )

Main Ref:

Yolk-sac larvae

	max	min	mod	Ref.
Length at birth (mm)			0.68	124134
Preanal L. % TL

Place of development	planktonic
Larval area	Mid-Atlantic Bight
Yolk-sac		Ref:
Yolk		Oil globules
Rows on tail
Other melanophores on tail

Post larvae

Striking feature	none
Striking shape lateral	eel-like	dorsal	compressed
Striking feature	none
Shape of gut
Gas bladder early	pigmented	late	pigmented
Spinal armature early	no spines	late	no spines
Pigmentation early
Rows on tail	lateral row
Other melanophores on tail	more than two dorso-ventral clusters or bands
Melanophores on head + trunk	melanophores on head + trunk
Rows on tail	dorsal row
Other melanophores on tail	more than two dorso-ventral clusters or bands
Melanophores on head + trunk	melanophores on head + trunk
Pectorals	normal melanophores at fin base
Leptocephalus-like with forked caudal fin, triangular head, and ribbon-like body; gut long, about 70% TL; air bladder conspicuous after flexion; teeth prominent in early larvae; period of larval growth followed by shrinkage and thickening of body during metamorphosis, and then resumption of growth up to juvenile stage. Pigmentation: dorsal edge of gut, anal base, and over eye; pigment scatters with growth. Sequence of fin formation: caudal (10-11 mm SL); dorsal and anal (16-20 mm SL); pectoral; pelvic.

Meristic characters

	max	min	mod	Ref.
Total number of myomeres	57	54		68

	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

php script by kbanasihan, 09/07/10 , last modified by sortiz, 09/08/17