| At 2.5 mm, the yolk is absorbed, air bladder is visible with black peritoneum becoming visible above it.
At 3.5 mm, the characteristic black, crescent-shaped peritoneum over the air bladder is present; caudal fin striations and pectoral fin buds (without rays) are present.
At 5.0 mm, the mouth is superior (maxillary does not extend to eye), principal rays of caudal are fully formed, soft dorsal and anal fins contain some well-developed rays; pectoral rays still not differentiated; notochord is bent upward at tip; crescent-shaped dark area over air bladder is prominent and is an important identification feature.
At 7.5mm, SL increased to about 7.5 to 8.0 times; soft dorsal and anal rays have reached a full complement; spinous dorsal is undeveloped.
At 10.0 mm, body is still slender; maxillary reaching opposite anterior margin of eye; fins all developed; crescent-shaped dark area over air bladder is very prominent; differences between fish 10 mm long and those 13 mm long are slight. Specimens of about 10 mm resemble adults, e.g. dorsal and anal fins each have 11 to 13 rays. |
