teeth clearly visible |
eel-like |
compressed |
teeth clearly visible |
tube-like |
|
|
|
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melanophores on head + trunk |
melanophores on head + trunk |
with row of melanophores |
absent melanophores at fin base |
normal (i.e. small or absent) melanophores at fin base |
Diagnostic characters: leptocephalus larva; nephros at about myomere 79 (77-84); total myomeres at about 150 (146-154); dorsal fin origin at myomere 19-53 (usually 24); anus at 71%BL; heavy pigment on ethnovomer; dorsal and ventral pigment on gut.
Pigmentation: similar through all stages; medium on head and over heart; heavy on ethnovomer; dorsally and ventrally on gut; on bases of all median fins; preceeding dorsal fin; internal ventrally along spinal cord in posterior one-third of body.
Sequence of fin development: anal and caudal; dorsal; pectoral (gets resorbed later). |