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Larvae Information Summary for  Diplecogaster bimaculata
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Main Ref: Russell, F.S. 1976
Yolk-sac larvae
  max min mod Ref.
Length at birth (mm) 4.26 2.97 3.2 37
Preanal L. % TL 58.8 54.2 56.1  
Place of development planktonic
Larval area Northeastern Atlantic
Yolk-sac spherical   pigmented Ref:  
Yolk unsegmented Oil globules one oil globule
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail tail partly covered with melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on trunk
Pigmentation: Rounded stellate melanophores in fairly regular lines along sides of body about 4 deep preanally and 3 deep postanally. Similar lines of yellow chromatophores slightly more spaced out and less numerous. The dorsal body contour chromatophores are yellow only and of a larger size than the others and more dense. Yellow pigment is sparse or sometimes lacking on the sides of the abdominal region. About 1 mm of the caudal end is unpigmetned. There are 3-5 melanophores on the anal fin immediately behind the anus. No pigmentation on the head and only black pigment is visible.
Post larvae
Striking feature none
Striking shape lateral normal (not striking) dorsal normal (not striking)
Striking feature none
Shape of gut tube-like
Gas bladder   early visible late invisible
Spinal armature   early no spines late no spines
Pigmentation early
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail tail partly covered with melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head + trunk
Pigmentation late
Rows on tail no rows
Other melanophores on tail tail partly covered with melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head + trunk
Urostyle region   early unpigmented late unpigmented
Peritoneum without melanophores
Pectorals normal without melanophores
Pelvics joint at base or sucker disk  
Sucker appears at 8 mm and is well developed at 10 mm length. At 7.0 mm, the head was noticeably flattened dorsoventrally. Pigmentation: About 4.8-4.9 mm long (soon after the yolk has been ebsorbed), postlarvae still resemble the newly hatched larva. At 5.5 mm, pigment begins to develop on top of the head. In specimens 7.5-10 mm long, the melanophores were arranged in four more or less regular longitudinal rows on the body. Sequence of fin development: pelvic fins developing into a sucker; unpaired fins (at about 7.0 mm, the dorsal and anal fin rays were developing).
  L 1st feeding Ref. Months of presence of larvae    Ref. 
max 4.9 40658 Jan Feb Mar Apr
min 4.8 40658 May Jun Jul Aug
mod 4.8 40658 Sep Oct Nov Dec
Water parameters     Metric characters
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