In yolk-sac through preflexion stages, pigment present laterally on body above gut and ventral midline melanophores, absent from anterior third of tail; in flexion-postflexion, pigment laterally above gut, but decreasing; number and extent of spots along ventral midline of tail less than for similar size Z. frenata (until about 10 mm); in juvenile, by 45 mm, pigment pattern; pectoral fin rays 13-15 (usually 14); by about 7 mm, spiny scales on body.
Pigmentation:
Preflexion: Increasing laterally on trunk and posteriorly along ventral midline of tail.
Flexion-postflexion: Spreading midlaterally along tail; ventral midline pigment restricted to posterior third of tail.
Juvenile: By 45 mm, line from snout to eye; 6 dorsolateral patches alternate with 7 ventrolateral patches on body; medial line along first dorsal fin; along mid pectoral fin; 3 patches at caudal fin base.
Sequence of fin development: pectoral fin, caudal fin, second dorsal fin and anal fin, first dorsal fin, pelvic fin. |