Total vertebrae 25; deep-bodied; dorsal, lateral and ventral streaks on tail; strong preopercular spination, a maximum of 5-6 above the enlarged spine at angle and 8-9 below angle in posterior series and a maximum of 1 above and 5 below the angle in anterior series; 1 posttemporal and 1-2 supracleithral spines; no spines on supraocular and pterotic ridges; scalloped supraoccipital crest forms at about 3.0 mm.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: By 2.2 mm, blotch above gas bladder, 2 (large) above terminal gut section, 3 on ventral margin of gut (1 posterior to cleithrum, 1 posteriorly on gut coil, and 1 on terminal section near anus), 1 on dorsal margin at midtrunk, short opposing streaks on dorsal and ventral margins of tail with streak between them on lateral midline, series of about 9 on ventral midline of tail, 1-3 below tip of notochord, and 1 (usually) above tip; by 3.0 mm, 1 above midbrain; by end of stage, 1 to several more above midbrain, a pair on snout, 1 on tip of lower jaw, 1 or more on trunk above gut.
Flexion: Scattered lightly over head and body; laterally on lower jaw; 1 to several at angular and on branchiostegal membrane; more ventrally and laterally on gut; streaks on tail longer; embedded series above spinal column of tail; series on anal fin base.
Postflexion: By 5.5 mm, becoming heavier on head and body, on pelvic fin and spinous part of anal fin, bar forming in region of tail streaks; by about 6.2 mm, on first dorsal fin, and most of head and body covered except for caudal region; by about 13.0 mm, on caudal peduncle; by about 17 mm, series of bars on body (1 at nape, 3 at first dorsal fin, 4 at second dorsal fin and 1 on caudal fin base).
Sequence of fin development: principal caudal fin rays and dorsal fin and anal fin, pectoral fin and pelvic fin and procurrent caudal fin rays. |