lower jaw strongly projecting |
short and/or deep |
|
lower jaw strongly projecting |
triangular |
visible |
|
opercular spines only |
|
ventral row |
no other melanophores |
no melanophores on head or trunk |
ventral row |
no other melanophores |
no melanophores on head or trunk |
unpigmented |
unpigmented |
covered with melanophores |
normal without melanophores |
normal (i.e. small or absent) without melanophores |
Diagnostic characters: presence of 12 anal rays, truncate caudal fin, relative lack of pigmentation (Ref. 1184).
At 1.5 mm, yolk-sac completely absorbed; body depth tapers toward tail; dark covering (peritoneum) above air bladder.
At 2.8 mm, mouth oblique to vertical; anterior portion of body deep; prominent hump over eyes and another at nape.
At 3.6 mm, principal caudal ray rudiments appear on ventral side of tail; humps on head are mostly gone.
At 6.0 mm, caudal fin well formed; gut protrudes ventrally.
At 7.0 mm, anal rays beginning to appear; dorsal fin rays less developed; gut no longer projects.
At 10.0 mm, soft dorsal and anal fins show full complements of rays, spinous dorsal just beginning to appear; posterior margin of caudal fin is straight.
At 15.0 mm, most spines of 1st dorsal are developed; black peritoneum no longer visible; young fish still more slender than adult. |