| tube-like snout |
| other |
other |
| tube-like snout |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| dorsal + ventral + lateral row |
| tail completely covered with melanophores |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| dorsal + ventral + lateral row |
| tail completely covered with melanophores |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| pigmented |
pigmented |
| normal (i.e. small or absent) |
| Head slightly angled to body axis at birth, angle rapidly becoming very pronounced; head with an elongate, tubular snout, and a small, flap-like mouth; anus below posterior third of dorsal fin; no caudal fin; 8-12 narrow, pale pigment bands on tail.
Newly emerged larvae (16 mm) have an extremely slender body that is relatively straight at birth but which bends to the adult form within 1-2 days. Head moderate, snout elongate. Gut long, completely hidden by trunk rings. All fin elements formed at birth. Body ridges clearly visible at birth; body spines small but prominent, all of similar size.
Pigmentation: Body mostly dusky, uniformly covered with small melanophores; slightly paler areas of less dense melanophores on opercle and in 8-12 narrow bands on tail. No visible internal pigments. |