Prominent serrated supraoccipital crest; large preopercular spines; early forming, large, heavily pigmented pelvic fin; myomeres 11-13+11-13=24 (usually 12+12); preanal length about 60-70% BL; heavily pigmented in postflexion stage.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion-postflexion: Under hindbrain; encircling hindbrain anteriorly and pair over forebrain by about 2.9 mm; on preopercular margin at about 3.0 mm; on tips of jaws at about 4.9 mm; increasing on head, completely covering it by about 5.9 mm; on nape, increasing on head, completely covering it by about 5.9 mm; on nape, increasing and spreading caudad; laterally on myosepta between myomeres 8-17 beginning at about 4.0 mm, spreading to cover all but caudal peduncle by about 5.9 mm; dorsally on gas bladder and gut; along ventral margin of isthmus and gut; on pectoral fin base by 4.0 mm; heavy on pelvic fin after 4.0 mm; on spinous dorsal and anal fins between 5.0-5.9 mm, on soft rays between 5.9-6.9 mm; few along ventral margin of tail.
Transformation: Heavily pigmented except little or none on end of caudal peduncle and on caudal fin rays, pectoral fin rays, distal 25-50% of dorsal and anal fin rays; barred pattern forms.
Sequence of fin development: pelvic, principal caudal fin rays, dorsal and anal, pectoral, procurrent caudal fin rays. |