| Diagnostic characters: preflexion pigment: three opposing blotches inmedian finfold, one in caudal finfold; pelvic fin present in larvae, lost in adults; dorsal and anal fin begin to develop in finfold, have deep bases; morphological changes with development, from elongate to deep-bodied; blunt head; small preopercular spines.
Pigment: head and gut covered with discrete spots; dorsal body margin; caudal finfold pigment becoming less prominent with development; pectoral and pelvic fin bases (postflexion); three opposing blotches on dorsal and ventral finfolds in preflexion larvae.
Sequence of fin development: pectorals, pelvics, dorsal, anal; caudal not complete in 28.5 SL specimen. |
