DESCRIPTION OF THE EGGS AND YOLK-SAC LARVAE OF WHITEBAIT HYPERLOPHUS VITTATUS (TELEOSTEI CLUPEIDAE)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract - The eggs and early larval (yolk-sac) stages of Hyperlophus vittatus are described. The eggs are spherical, range from 0.83 - 0.95 mm in diameter (mode = 0.93 mm), have a perivitelline space which occupies 8.6 - 30.9% (mode = 14.5%) of the diameter, a coarsely and completely segmented yolk and one oil globule (0.025 - 0.075 mm in diameter, mode = 0.048 mm). The eggs hatch in 2 - 3 days at a mean temperature of 17°C. The yolk-sac larvae are approximately 2.6 mm BL at hatching and lack pigmented eyes or a functional mouth. The larvae are elongate and have a long, straight gut (preanal length = 70 - 79% of BL) with the single oil globule located posteriorly in the yolk-sac. The presence of melanophores immediately dorsal of the posterior tip of the notochord distinguish the yolk-sac larvae of H. vittatus from those of other dupeids in southern Western Australia.

Author(s) TREGONNING, R.J., GAUGHAN, D.J. AND FLETCHER, W.J. : Part 2
Page Number
129