| Series of melanophores on dorsal and ventral margins and along lateral midline through at least early postflexion stage; no branchiostegal membrane pigment; 24 myomeres (8 preanal in preflexion stage, 9-10 in postflexion stage).
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: Anteriorly over forebrain; anteriorly and posteriorly over midbrain, spreading from both areas toward center along longitudinal midline to form medial band over midbrain by 3 mm; internally over hindbrain by 2.7 mm and laterally on hindbrain by 3 mm; internal series along base of skull, decreasing after 3 mm; 0-1 at angular; 11-15 on dorsal margin at myomeres 1 through 15-16; about 9-10 along lateral midline at myomeres 1-5 through 16-17; 7-8 on ventral margin of tail at postanal myomeres 1 through 6-8; over gas bladder and hindgut; on gular membrane, isthmus, and ventral margin of gut.
Flexion: Increasing over fore- and midbrain and internally posteriorly on midbrain and hindbrain; little or none ventrally on skull; decreasing on dorsal margin, lateral midline, and ventrum.
Postflexion: Little or none on trunk and tail after 5 mm; slowly increasing dorsally on head and internally on mid- and hindbrain.
Sequence of fin development: principal caudal fin rays, second dorsal fin and anal fin and first dorsal fin, pectoral fin, pelvic fin and procurrent caudal fin rays. |