Fish Larvae

Characters used for the identification Yolk shape Position of oil globule Anterior Posterior Scattered concentrated in yolk Number of myomeres Color Thickness Sculpture Appendage

Position of anus Fin Fold Melanophores Anterior Half Body Posterior Origin of Position Wide Narrow Sculpture Melanophores Location Form

Diagnostic features applicable to different groups of fish larvae 1.   Short oval body Balistidae 2.     Short depressed body Pegasidae 3.   Crest on nape Leiognathidae 4.   Barbel on lower jaw Exocoetidae 5.   Elongated tentacle on operculum Champsodontidae 6.   Bony ridge over eyes Carangidae 7.   Protruded snout 8.  Pelvic fins abdominal Soft rayed fishes 9.    Single short dorsal fin Engraulidae 10.   Single long dorsal fin

11. Two dorsal fins Mugilidae 12. Pectorals enlarged Exocoetidae 13. Ventral fins absent Tetradontidae 14. Elongated fin rays on dorsal Soleidae 15. No spines on operculum Labridae 16. Spines on operculum Scombridae 17. Elongated spines on the dorsal and ventrals Acanthuridae

  Alimentary canal 18.   Bulged or sac like Clupeidae 19. Long and straight Cynoglossidae 20. Short and coiled Majority of Perciform fishes Anal opening 21. At middle of body Bothidae 22. Behind middle of body Mugilidae 23. Far backwards Synodontidae. 24. Far forwards Blennidae

  Pigmentation 25. Dense Holcentridae 26. Partial Mullidae 27. Blotches, spots Apogonidae Myotomes 28.   Vertebrae Less than 24 Balistidae 29.   30-40 Labridae