1. MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF FAMILY APOGONIDAE, SCIAENIDAE and SPARIDAE
SUZETTE B. BARCOMA

2. MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES
OF FAMILY APOGONIDAE

3. Family. :. Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes) Order. :
Family : Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes) Order : Perciformes (perch-likes) Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Subfamily : Apogoninae Biology : Inhabits coastal reefs, in sandy or weedy areas. Juveniles often occur with sea anemones Other Info : Cardinal Fishes includes a wide variety of larval types in both in appearance and development consist of two subfamilies, containing a total of 122 species and 22 genera (Nelson 1994). Apogonids are small (most species , usually nocturnal predatory residents of reefs and shallow coastal waters in all warm seas.

4. Sampling Location: Andaman Sea Sampling Gear: Bongo net
Family: Apogonidae
Sampling Location: Andaman Sea Sampling Gear: Bongo net
Stage: Post Flexion stage
Measurements :
Body Length 6.97 mm
Head Length 2.37mm
ED .72mm
SnL .79mm
PAL 4.0mm
BD 2.25mm
Counts :D VI+ I,9 A: II,8
P1: 12 P2: I,5
C: Myomeres: 24

5. Larval sample caught from Andaman Sea last 23/02/05

6. Apogonidae illustration.
Pigmentation :
External stellate melanophore dorsally on the head
pigmentation along the dorsal part of the body
Internal stellate melanophore on the ventral gut and on the anterior surface of the gut
Dense pigment patch on ventro lateral surface of caudal peduncle

7. Morphological Features
Two dorsal fins well separated composed of spines and rays
Large eye and large mouth
Body shape is laterally compressed and deep bodied
Gut is deeply coiled and extends to the midbody
Head shape is large deep, laterally compressed with a short snout length
Large mouth reaches to about mideye and nearly horizontal to very oblique
9 to 10 number of myomers counts present in the posteriorside of the anal fin
No branchiostegal membrane pigment

8. Similar families of Apogonidae:
Opistognathid species
* heavily pigmented branchiostegal membranes
* no of myomeres is 25-30
Carangids species because of longitudinal melanophore series
*more rays by midflexion for the dorsal and fin ray counts
* develop supraoccipital crest early in the preflex stage in most species
* develop early preopercular spines in the preflex stage
Apogon species can easily be distiguised from one another primarily by pigment pattern, eye diameter , caudal peduncle depth
Some species of Family Apogonidae are utilized in aquarium trade.

9. Additional similar familes:
ambassids,berycids, carangids, serranids lactariids, kyposids, lethrinids, leptobramids etc,
Prominent , anteriorly –located gas bladder, (can be observe during the day only)a typical myomere count of 24 and 2 dorsal fins.
can’t be confused with gobiid interms of fins dev’t generally have a longer coiled gut
Acropomatids,

10. Family. :. Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers) Order. :
Family : Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers) Order : Perciformes (perch-likes) Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Biology : Found in coastal waters. Feeds on invertebrates and small fishes Marketed fresh, dried salted. Climate Zone : tropical

12. Genus Otolithini ptertolithus
Family: Sciaenidae Sampling Location: Andaman Sea Sampling Gear: Bongo net
Stage: Flexion stage
Genus Otolithini ptertolithus
Stage : Flexion stage
Measurements : Body Length 5.4 mm
Head Length 1.8 mm
ED mm
SnL mm
PAL mm
BD mm
PDL mm
Counts : D: __, A: (II, 12)
P1: __ P2: ___
C: 9,8
Myomeres: 25-26

13. PIGMENTATION:
Highly variable , in large nos. of species
Initially light to moderate but increase markedly to the juvenile stage gradually
Internal pigment on hindgut
Pigment anterior to cleitral symphysis

14. MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES:
Robust body
Triangular gut, weak spination
Distinct characteristics along dorsal fins and short anal fins
Absence of barbels at tip of lower jaw
Shape of caudal fin is round

15. SIMILAR FAMILIES:
Stromateidae, Gerreids, Haemulids and Sparids.etc
Gerridae- distinct melanophores on dorsal midline posterior to 2nd dorsal fins, slimmer bodied ,fin rays counts differ and usually exhibit greater space b/w succesive fin rays
Haemulidae bases of 2nd dorsal and anal fins are equal, slim bodied, w/ less deeening on the pectoral region, head spines is very weak, usual weak to preopercle,pigment prominent on posterior midline
Stromateidae- early stages high myomere counts less than 30, no gap b/w anus n anal fin origin and nos. of anal and 2nd dorsal about equal

16. Family : Sparidae (Porgies) Order : Perciformes (perch-likes) Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Biology : Found over rock, rubble, or sand bottoms (young frequently found on seagrass beds and the continental shelf down to about 250 m depth, often above 150 m). Feeds on crustaceans, fishes, and mollusks. Marketed fresh and frozen. Climate Zone : subtropical

18. Sampling Location: Gutob Bay, Palawan Sampling Gear: Rectangular net
Family: Sparidae
Sampling Location: Gutob Bay, Palawan Sampling Gear: Rectangular net
Stage: Pre-Flexion stage
Stage : Pre flexion
Measurements : Body Length 3.45 mm
Head Length 1.65 mm
ED mm
SnL mm
PAL mm
BD mm
PDL mm
Counts : D: __, 13 A: 14
P1: can’t be counted P2: cant be
C: 9, 8 Myomeres: 24

19. PIGMENTATION:
Melanophore along the base of caudal fin
external melanophore series along pigmented ventral finbase
Internal pigment on hindgut and stellate pigment over anterior surface of gut
Internal melanophore on the midbrain
Includes 1 to 2 spots anterior to the anus

20. Morphological Features:
Sparids are compressed
Position of mouth is subterminal
Body shape is moderately deep bodied
Head is Large
A supra occipital crest
Caudal fin formation is truncate
Forked Caudal fin
Continous dorsal fin
Coiled gut

21. mouth small barely reaching anterior edge of the eye
Body depth to anus increases
Preopercular weak spine
Weak head spination
Later larva have series of unevenly spaced melanophores along venter beginning over gut &extending on notochord tip
Pre anus length is about 45 to 50% of the BL.
* about equal no of finrays in D2 & A fins

22. Similar families:

23. Sparids are moderately large , deep compressed , carnivorous fishes
Support major commercial and recreational fisheries.

24. Thank you