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Larvae Information Summary for
Atherinopsis californiensis
| Main Ref: | Watson, W. 1996 | |||
Yolk-sac larvae
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Length at birth (mm) | 8.5 | 6 | ||
| Preanal L. % TL |
| Place of development | planktonic | |||
| Larval area | California Current region | |||
| Yolk-sac | Ref: | |||
| Yolk | Oil globules | |||
| Rows on tail | lateral row | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Pigmentation: 3 (large) over midbrain; 1 over hindbrain; 17-21 on dorsal margin to 2nd-6th from last myomere; 0-7 on lateral midline of tail; dorsally on gut. PLD: 24 days (Ref. 56049). | ||||
Post larvae
| Striking feature | none | |||
| Striking shape lateral | normal (not striking) | dorsal | tadpole-like | |
| Striking feature | none | |||
| Shape of gut | triangular | |||
| 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 | |||
| Pigmentation late | ||||
| Rows on tail | no rows | |||
| Other melanophores on tail | no other melanophores | |||
| Melanophores on head + trunk | melanophores on head + trunk | |||
| Urostyle region early | unpigmented | late | pigmented | |
| Pectorals | normal without melanophores | |||
| Pelvics | normal (i.e. small or absent) without melanophores | |||
| Myomeres 50-54, usually 10-11 + 41-42 through flexion stage, 13-14 + 37-38 in postflexion stage; 1st dorsal insertion above or just ahead of anal fin origin; ventral pigment on tail usually does not extend cephalad beyond anal fin origin in larvae (Ref. 36497). Distinguished from Atherinops affinis by: first 5-6 postanal myomeres always lack ventral pigment through the larval and early juvenile stages; lack of ventral midline melanophores until midflexion; mediolateral pigment originates further posterior. Pigmentation: Preflexion-postflexion: 1 over forebrain by 9.5 mm; 1 at each nostril by about 11 mm; on gill cover by about 12.5 mm; increasing on head in postflexion stage; on ventral margin, beginning posteriorly at about 11.5-12.5 mm; internally under vertebral column and over last few vertebrae in postflexion stage; on hypural margin; spreading ventrad on gut. Transformation: increases dorsally; lateral stripe broadens on tail; ventral margin series reaches pelvic fin base; few on caudal fin rays. Sequence of fin development: caudal, 2nd dorsal and anal and pectorals, pelvics, 1st dorsal. | ||||
Meristic characters
| max | min | mod | Ref. | |
| Total number of vertebrae | 54 | 50 | 36497 |
| 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 |
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