FishBase
Larvae Information Summary for  Leiostomus xanthurus
Show available picture(s) for

Main Ref: Scotton, L.N., R.E. Smith, N.S. Smith, K.S. Price and D.P. de Sylva 1973
Yolk-sac larvae
  max min mod Ref.
Length at birth (mm)        
Preanal L. % TL        
Place of development planktonic
Larval area Delaware Bay
Yolk-sac       Ref:  
Yolk   Oil globules  
Rows on tail  
Other melanophores on tail  
Post larvae
Striking feature lower jaw strongly projecting
Striking shape lateral short and/or deep dorsal  
Striking feature lower jaw strongly projecting
Shape of gut triangular
Gas bladder   early visible late  
Spinal armature   early opercular spines only late  
Pigmentation early
Rows on tail ventral row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk no melanophores on head or trunk
Pigmentation late
Rows on tail ventral row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk no melanophores on head or trunk
Urostyle region   early unpigmented late unpigmented
Peritoneum covered with melanophores
Pectorals normal without melanophores
Pelvics 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.
  L 1st feeding Ref. Months of presence of larvae    Ref. 
max     Jan Feb Mar Apr
min   May Jun Jul Aug
mod 1.5 39467 Sep Oct Nov Dec
Water parameters     Metric characters
Back to Search
Comments & Corrections

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