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Larvae Information Summary for  Sardinops sagax
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Main Ref: Matarese, A.C., A.W. Kendall, D.M. Blood and M.V. Vinter 1989
Yolk-sac larvae
  max min mod Ref.
Length at birth (mm) 3.8 3.5    
Preanal L. % TL        
Place of development planktonic
Larval area California Current region (south of southern California to southeastern Alaska, 55-59°N); Japan
Yolk-sac ovoid     Ref:  
Yolk segmented Oil globules one oil globuleposteriorventral
Rows on tail dorsal row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on trunk
Pigmentation: initially on dorsum, migrating ventrad to gut and ventral margin by end of stage.
Post larvae
Striking feature duck-billed shape of head
Striking shape lateral eel-like dorsal compressed
Striking feature duck-billed shape of head
Shape of gut tube-like
Gas bladder   early visible late visible
Spinal armature   early no spines late no spines
Pigmentation early
Rows on tail ventral row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on trunk
Pigmentation late
Rows on tail ventral row
Other melanophores on tail no other melanophores
Melanophores on head + trunk melanophores on head + trunk
Urostyle region   early unpigmented late unpigmented
Peritoneum with row of melanophores
Pectorals normal without melanophores
Pelvics normal (i.e. small or absent) without melanophores
Dash-like melanophores along anterior surface of gut; distinguished from C. pallasi by: lack of posteroventral pigment on gut; distinguished from Engraulis mordax by: dorsal and anal fin placement (6-8 myomeres between fins). Pigmentation: row of melanophores along dorsal surface of gut and along ventral midline; melanophores over anterior gut appear dash-like, and those over posterior gut become larger and more intense with development. Sequence of fin development: caudal, dorsal, anal, pelvics, pectorals.
Meristic characters
  max min mod Ref.
Total number of myomeres 54 50   35601
  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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