| none |
| eel-like |
|
| none |
| tube-like |
| absent |
absent |
| no spines |
no spines |
| dorsal + ventral + lateral row |
| no other melanophores |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| dorsal + ventral + lateral row |
| no other melanophores |
| melanophores on head + trunk |
| normal melanophores at fin base |
| normal (i.e. small or absent) without melanophores |
| Body elongate with a long gut (79-81% of SL). No swim bladder. Snout is blunt and the mouth is protractile. There is no apparent change in the relative position of the dorsal and anal fins over the larval length range compared to adults.
Pigmentation: One dorsal and one ventral row of melanophores on the caudal peduncle extending along the lobe of the caudal fin. These rows are much shorter in the specimens measuring 40 and 51 mm SL and are conspicuous only at the bases of the procurrent caudal rays. There is a row of small, discrete melanophores laterally, slightly below the lateral line. Presence of a dark melanophore slightly before the posterior margin of the operculum. Otic pigment and suborbital pigmentation are present. Several melanophores are also present along the terminal section of the gut. Pigmentation is always present above the brain. Three melanophores on both sides of the snout near the nostrils.
Sequence of fin development: all paired and unpaired fins (except the procurrent caudal rays) are well developed; pelvic (21.9 mm SL; fully formed at 25 mm SL). |
