FISH LARVAE
(Prepared by Dr. K.J. Peter)
INTRODUCTION:
Information on the larvae and developmental stages of fishes of the
Indian Waters, at the species level is very much scattered and incomplete. As
most of the marine fishes have pelagic eggs and larvae, their identification even
to the family level is a difficult task. The newly hatched larvae, from the yolk
sac prolarval stage to postlarva or juvenile exhibit a variety of changes in the
morphometric and meristic features characteristic to particular groups. The
shape of body (string, ribbon, tadpole, zoea types), spinous ridges and spines
on head and operculum, number and position of fins and their sequence of
appearance, nature of larval pigmentation, alimentary canal, position of anal
opening, etc. help to a large extent in fixing up the identity of the groups.
Figures A to F show the anatomical and morphometric features of certain types
of egg and larvae that are very typical.
Relevant literature dealing on this subject has been examined and
scrutinized for the preparation of this inventory. To avoid confusion, in most
cases, taxonomy and scientific names as given by the concerned authors are
used here. In view of our imperfect knowledge of the distinguishing characters
of early stages of larvae from Indian waters the arrangements of different
species under different families made here have no strict taxonimical
significance. The scheme of classification adopted and species dealt with here
are listed in the following pages
Figures A to D.
Eggs and developmental stages of fish larvae showing anatomical
and morphometric features.
A. Egg with embryo, B. Early and late larva with yolk,
C. Preflexion larvae, D. Late preflexion.
(Reproduced from Cal COFI Atlas, 1966, No.33, p. 29)
Figure E to F. Enlarged view of head showing larval spines.
F. Post-flexion larva showing anatomical and morphometric features.
(Reproduced from Cal COFI Atlas, 1966, No.33, p. 32)
CLASSIFICATION:
Phylum:
Super class
Class
Sub- Class
Super- Order
:
:
:
:
:
Order
Sub-Order
Family
: Syngnathiformes
: Syngnathoidei
: Syngnathidae
Syngnathoides biaculeatus (Bloch) 1878
Order
Sub-Order
Family
: Berciformes
: Bercycoidei
: Holocentridae
Holocentrus sp. Scopoli 1777
Myripristis murdjan (Forskal) 1775
Order
Family
: Mugiliformes
: Mugilidae
Mugil cephalus Linnaeus 1758
Mugil parsia (Hamilton-Buchanan) 1822
Order
Sub order
Family
: Perciformes
: Percoidei
: Carangidae
Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus) 1758
Decapterus dayi (Wakiya) 1924
Alectis ciliaris (Bloch) 1788
Alectis indicus (Ruppell) 1828
Atropus atropus (Bloch & Schneider) 1801
Selar kalla (Cuvier) 1833
Caranx carangus (Bloch) 1793
Chorinemus sanctipetri (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 1831
Sub order
Family
Vertebrata
Pisces
Osteichthyes
Actinopterygii
Teleostei
: Trichiuroidei
: Gempylidae
Gempylus serpens (Cuvier) 1829
Sub order
: Scombroidei
Family
: Scombridae
Sub-Family : Scombrinae
Rastrelliger kanangurta (Cuvier) 1817
Sub-Family : Thunninae
Auxis thazard (Lacepede) 1802
Auxis thynnoides Bleeker 1855
Sarda orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel) 1844
Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus) 1758
Neothunnus macropterus(Temminck and Schlegel) 1844
Euthynnus affinis (Cantor) 1880
Sub-Family : Scomberomorinae
Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepede) 1800
Scomberomorus guttatus (Bloch and Schneider) 1801
Family
: Istiophoridae
Istiophorus gladius (Broussnnet) 1786
Makaira mazara (Jordan and Snyder) 1901
Makaira audax (Philippi) 1877
Istiompax indicus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 1829
Tetrapterus angustirostris (Tanaka) 1914
Family
: Xiphiidae
Xiphias gladius Linnaeus 1758