| FishBase |
Larvae Information Summary for
Myctophum nitidulum
| Main Ref: | Moser, H.G. and E.H. Ahlstrom 1996 | |||
Yolk-sac larvae
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Length at birth (mm) | 3.1 | |||
| Preanal L. % TL | 67 | 48 |
| Place of development | planktonic | |||
| Larval area | NE Pacific (California Current Region); SW Indian Ocean (Agulhas Current Region); NW Pacific (Japan, Taiwan Strait) | |||
| Yolk-sac | Ref: | |||
| Yolk | Oil globules | |||
| Rows on tail | ||||
| Other melanophores on tail | ||||
Post larvae
| Striking feature | light organs | |||
| Striking shape lateral | normal (not striking) | dorsal | ||
| Striking feature | light organs | |||
| Shape of gut | elongated | |||
| Gas bladder early | late | |||
| Spinal armature early | no spines | late | no spines | |
| Pigmentation early | ||||
| Rows on tail | no rows | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Pigmentation late | ||||
| Rows on tail | lateral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Urostyle region early | unpigmented | late | unpigmented | |
| Pectorals | strikingly large melanophores at fin base | |||
| Pelvics | fin rays only without melanophores | |||
| Stout body with broad massive head and robust gut; eyes oval on short stalks; conical ventral choroid tissue; pectoral fin precocious with large fan-shaped base and blade; pelvic fins form early; complex and highly distinctive pigmentation; Br2 photophores form at about 7.0 mm. Pigmentation: Preflexion: in larvae <4.0 mm, on tip of lower jaw, 1 at about midway along postanal ventral midline, 2 pairs on anterior ventral surface of gut, a dorsolateral pair on terminal section of gut, about 4 (ring-like) on medial surface of pectoral fin base, and peppering on pectoral fin blade; at about 4.0 mm, series on isthmus and upper and lower jaws, 1 on nostril, at posterior region of orbit, ventrolaterally on hindbrain, on opercle, and on dorsal midline slightly posterior to the one on ventral margin; by 6.0 mm, 1 on head above pectoral fin base, a series ventrally on cleithrum, a series associated with each branchiostegal ray, 2 pairs on ventral surface of terminal section of gut, and 1 at anal fin insertion. Flexion: one more on nostril, 1 or more in midline above brain; most series augmented. Postflexion: beginning of vertical series at posterior hypural margin. Eyes are stalked and narrow; gut deep; Br2 appears at 8 mm. Sequence of fin development: pectorals, caudal and pelvics, anal, dorsal. | ||||
Meristic characters
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Total number of vertebrae | 39 | 36 | 31442 |
| L 1st feeding | Ref. | Months of presence of larvae | ||||
| max | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | ||
| min | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | ||
| mod | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||
| Water parameters Metric characters |
| Back to Search |