Identification of Larval Fish Family: Lutjanidae Presented by: Edwison Setya F. *) Presented in Advanced Regional Workshop on Larval Fish Identification and Fish Early Life History Science, 26 May – 15 June 2008 in Seafdec TD, Samut Prakan, Thailand.

Review of Morphological Features Body initially elongate, but quickly become moderate to deep bodied and laterally compressed. There’re 24 myomeres ( ). The gut begins to coil shortly after hatching. A small gas bladder is located above the anterior portion of the gut. It’s generally inflated in mm preflexion larvae. Head is moderate to large and compressed. Spines are present early in the preflexion stage (approx. 2-3 mm) on both border of the preopercle. Those become larger and more numerous. Spine at the angle becomes the largest in the head. Lightly pigmented initially. Melanophores are present on the dorsal surface of the gut and gas bladder, along the membrane of dorsal and pelvic fin spines and along the ventral edge of the tail. In most species, it may be decrease with the development until flexion.

GenusDAP1P2CVert Apsilinae LipocheilusX, 10III, I, ParacaesioX, 9-10III, I, ParapritipomoidesX, 10III, 816I, Caesioninae CaesioX, 13-16III, I, DipterygonotusXII-XV, 8-11III, I, GymnocaesioX-XI, 14-16III, I, PterocaesioX-XII,14-22III, I, Etelinae AphareusX, 10-11III, I, AprionX, 11III, I, EtelisX, 11III, I, PristipomoidesX, 11III, I, RandallichthysX, 11III, I, Review of Morphological Features (contd.) Table of Meristic Character

Review of Morphological Features (contd.) GenusDAP1P2CVert Lutjaninae LutjanusX-XII, 12-16III, I, MacolorIX-X, 13-15III, I, PinjaloXI-XII, 13-14III, I, Paradicichthyinae SymphorichthysX, 17-19III, I, SymphorusX, 14-17III, I, Table of Meristic Character

This sample is taken from Southern of South China Sea (SCS). Especially in Western Kalimantan waters, around Natuna islands. Taken on mid year 2005, in the collaborative research between Seafdec and Indonesian officers. Sampling gear was bongo net of MV Seafdec 2. Information of Sampling

Information of Sampling (Contd.) Sampling track.

Figure TL: 2.84 mm TL: 3.75 mm TL: 3.99 mm TL: 2.12 mm

Figure TL: 4.55 mm TL: 5.51 mm TL: 5.31 mm TL: 5.4 mm

Detail of Illustrated Specimen TL: 5.4 mm BD: 2.2 mm ED: 0.5 mm SnL: 0.4 mm PAL: 2.7 mm Stage: post-flexion DF: VII, 12 AF: II, 8 P1F: -- P2F: I, 6 PCR: 20 My: 24

Body deep, circular eye, transparent over the brain. Head is moderate shape. Spines at the opercular, pectoral fin, anal fin, pelvic fin and dorsal fin. Pigmentation on brain, pelvic, dorsal spine membrane and post anal. First pelvic fin ray is longer than the spine. Morphological Description

Similar Features with Other Family The early lutjanid larvae are likely to be confused with many other percoid larvae. Early appearance of the pre opercular spines, pelvic fin and dorsal fin spines. and small but visible gas bladder will distinguish these from other such as pomacentrids. Other characteristic organ are lutjanid don’t have serrate ridge on the top of the head (Siganids). Serranids of the subfamily Anthiinae has similar features. But this family doesn’t have spine at the top of the head. There’s only supraoccipital.