Diagnostic characters: distinguished from other pleuronectids without pigment bands by: dorsal and ventral midline pigment, hypaxial pigment; finfold pigment restricted to anal finfold.
Pigment: initially, anteroventrally on gut; with development, extending posteriorly; in postflexion, a line of pigment forms along the posterior hindgut and anus; dorsal and ventral midline: ventral beginning prior to anus (about myomere 5) and dorsal at about myomere 15 (pigment is variable); dorsal midline becoming less prominent with development as internal pigment develops above notochord through flexion stage; myoseptal pigment develops along hypaxial myomeres in postflexion larvae; finfold pigment restricted to anal finfold.
Sequence of fin development: caudal, dorsal and anal, pelvics, pectorals. |