|
|
| The wrasses are a particularly abundant
and diverse group of fishes found on reefs and grassbeds in the Caribbean, essentially
occupying all shallow-water habitats. The bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma
bifasciatum, is the single local representative of a widespread labrid
genus and is ubiquitous on Caribbean reefs. Another prominent labrid genus, Halichoeres
spp., has a large number of species and many regional representatives.
However, the validity of unifying all of these species into a single genus is
in question since phylogenetic studies clearly indicate the presence
of three distinct clades among the Caribbean species. There are three local razorfishes,
Xyrichtys spp., and two
hogfishes, Bodianus spp.
The remaining labrid genera are mostly monotypic: Doratonotus
megalepis, Lachnolaimus
maximus, Clepticus parrae,
and the deep-water wrasse Decodon
puellaris (the latter two species are monotypic only in the region, with sibling
species elsewhere in the Atlantic or in the eastern Pacific). | |
|
Labrid larvae can
be recognized by their long and continuous dorsal and anal fins with relatively
flexible spines, a wide caudal peduncle, the absence of spines on the head, stub-like
pelvic fins, a pointed snout with a small terminal mouth and typically light markings
(none or melanophores mostly on the fin ray membranes). Melanophores are not present
in a row on or near the anal fin base (separating labrid larvae from larval scarids,
labrisomids, chaenopsids,
dactyloscopids, and
gobies). While most labrid
larvae fit this general pattern of small and mostly unpigmented larvae, two genera
have markedly divergent early life histories: larval Lachnolaimus
maximus are fully-pigmented and Decodon
melasma have an unusual and large late larval stage with a pattern of
melanophore bars on the body. | | | | | Pre-transitional
labrid larvae can have a variety of unusual eye morphologies: many larval Halichoeres
spp. and Thalassoma bifasciatum
have eyes that are narrowed vertical ovals, usually tilted backwards, but sometimes
forwards. Larval Xyrichtys
spp. have markedly-narrowed vertically oval eyes. Other larval
labrids, such as Doratonotus
megalepis, have round eyes throughout development. These eye shapes no
doubt reflect differing life styles of these early life history stages in the
pelagic realm. |  |
|
| While genera are relatively
easily distinguished, conspecific larvae can appear similar, if not identical.
Several species of Halichoeres
spp. share melanophore patterns and only become recognizable to species
during transition. Larval razorfishes, Xyrichtys
spp., have no melanophores and do not diverge in appearance until juvenile
markings develop (however their evanescent chromatophore patterns may be species-specific).
Some Caribbean labrid larvae clearly require DNA sequence analyses for species
identification. | |
| Species are presented
in order of dorsal spine count: from 8 to 14 in the regional labrids. Fin ray
counts generally separate the Caribbean genera well. | |
| | |
| | | |
|
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-VIII,13 A-III,11 indicates Thalassoma
bifasciatum. | |
| | Analogues:
Larval Thalassoma spp. show distinctive melanophore edging along the median
fins, although these melanophores can be absent in earlier stages and where the
fins are frayed. This larval character is apparently unique to this genus, but
may be shared to a limited degree by larvae of an unknown (new?) labrid genus
collected from the eastern Pacific (type C in Victor
1987). In addition to the melanophore edging on the median fins, this larval
type can be separated from larval Halichoeres
spp. by having only a solitary patch of small melanophores on the anteriormost
dorsal fin. Larval Bodianus rufus
can appear similar but have a wider body, a larger round eye, and the dorsal fin
origin is farther back on the body. | |
| | Description:
Body relatively thin, narrow, and long with a large eye and a terminal,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Melanophores
limited to the fin ray membranes, in a group along the first two or three dorsal
spines and then on the membrane fringes along the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins.
Series of larvae show development of the eye from vertically oval to round (round
in many larvae captured over the reef). Transitional recruits develop a prominent
black spot on the front of the dorsal fin, a wide black stripe along the side
from nose to tail and a dorsal stripe from the top of the head along the base
of the dorsal fin. Transitional recruits on the reef commonly show remnants of
the melanophores on the fin membrane edges characteristic of the larvae. |
| |
|
| Thalassoma bifasciatum
larva | | 11.3 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-051 | |  | | |
 | | |  |
| Thalassoma bifasciatum
larva | | 11.4 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-001 | |  |
| | |
| |
| Notes on Halichoeres spp. | |
| | | |
| | This
large genus comprises eleven regional species, two of which have only recently
been discovered: H. socialis from mangrove
habitats in Belize (Randall
and Lobel 2003) and H. bureki from deep
reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, it appears that there may be cryptic
species, at least within H. bivittatus.
The phylogeny of the group is presently being revised and it is likely that it
will be split into two or more genera. Most species share a basic fin ray count
of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 (H.
maculipinna and H. cyanocephalus,
have slightly differing fin ray counts). | |
| My mtDNA sequence analysis
reveals that there is a single large clade of Halichoeres spp. consisting
of H. bivittatus, H.
cyanocephalus (and its Brazilian sibling H. dimidiatus), H.
garnoti, H. poeyi,
and H. radiatus. Then there
is a smaller clade made up of H. pictus
and H. socialis (along with the eastern Pacific
H. dispilus and H. insularis). My results confirm that H.
maculipinna falls out well away from the other Halichoeres
spp. and nearer to Thalassoma spp. (Barber
and Bellwood 2005). Three deeper-water species, H.
bathyphilus, H. caudalis, and H. bureki,
share the fin ray counts but were not examined in the phylogenetic studies. |
| | The
larvae of a number of Halichoeres spp. overlap in appearance and DNA sequencing
is necessary to confirm the identity of larvae. The species do become distinct
as they develop juvenile markings. The size at settlement for this genus is quite
consistent, around 10-12 mm (interestingly, one eastern Pacific sibling, H.
insularis, settles much larger, up to 22 mm SL). An unusual aspect of the
early life history of these labrids is that larvae undergoing transition are not
captured in pelagic sampling, but are found buried in sand and rubble on reefs.
This attribute is shared with Thalassoma
bifasciatum, but not with Doratonotus
megalepis or the related parrotfishes,
both of which begin transition while still pelagic and transitional larvae are
commonly caught in nearshore collections. | |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 indicates Halichoeres
spp. and is shared by most of the Caribbean species. Larval
H. bivittatus are identical to other larval Halichoeres spp. with
five patches of median fin melanophores and can only be identified by DNA sequencing. |
| | Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, narrow and long with a large eye and a terminal,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Melanophores
limited to the fin ray membranes between spines and rays, typically occurring
in five groups: at the front, mid, and rear dorsal fin and the front and rear
anal fin. Each melanophore group covers from one to five fin ray elements. Series
of transitional larvae show development of the eye from vertically oval (and tilted
backward) to round (round in many larvae captured over the reef).
Transitional recruits on the reef commonly show remnants of the larval
melanophores on the fin membranes. Transitional recruits of H.
bivittatus on the reef have a mid-dorsal fin ocellus and a mid-lateral
body stripe extending directly rearward from the eye, present even in the earliest
transitional stages. | | |
|
| Halichoeres bivittatus
larva | | 10.8 mm SL | |
DNA ID pending, few melanophores | | San Blas,
Panama, SB81-118 | |  |
| Halichoeres bivittatus?
larva | | 11.9 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending, many melanophores | | San Blas,
Panama, SB81-023 | |  |
| Halichoeres bivittatus
larva | | 10.3 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending, oval eye | | San Blas, Panama,
SB81-125 | |  |
| Halichoeres bivittatus
larva | | 10.2 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending, typical slightly oval eye | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-116 | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 indicates
Halichoeres spp. and is shared by most of the Caribbean species. Larval
H. radiatus are identical to other larval
Halichoeres spp. with five patches of median fin melanophores and can only
be identified by DNA sequencing. | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, narrow and long with a large eye and a terminal,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Transitional
recruits on the reef have a mid-dorsal fin ocellus, a white-edged black spot on
the upper base of the central caudal fin rays and a patchy pattern of melanophores
along the body with a conspicuous mid-body bar extending from the dorsal ocellus
down onto the anterior anal fin rays. | | |
|
| Halichoeres radiatus
transitional recruit | | 11.9 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB82-018 | |  |
| | |
| | | |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 indicates
Halichoeres spp. and is shared by most of the Caribbean species. Larval
H. garnoti
are identical to other larval Halichoeres spp. with five patches of median
fin melanophores and can only be identified by DNA sequencing. |
| | Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, narrow and long with a large eye and a terminal,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Transitional
recruits on the reef can show remnants of the larval melanophores on the fin membranes
at the same five locations as are found in larval H.
bivittatus. Transitional recruits of H. garnoti
on the reef develop a mid-lateral body stripe from the lower half of the eye to
the tail, extending onto the base of the caudal fin rays. There is no dorsal fin
ocellus. The stripe is iridescent blue against a bright yellow body in life; in
preserved specimens the stripe is underlain with fine melanophores. |
| |
|
| Halichoeres garnoti
transitional recruit | | 12.7 mm SL |
| larval melanophore remnants | | San
Blas, Panama, SB80-105 | |  |
| |  |
| | |
| | | |
|
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 indicates Halichoeres
spp. and is shared by most of the Caribbean species. Larvae with a total
of four patches of melanophores on the dorsal and anal fins (missing the anterior
patch of dorsal fin melanophores) represent H. poeyi
(confirmed by DNA sequencing). Many larval H. poeyi have deep melanophores
behind the braincase and along the dorsal peritoneum. Interestingly, larval Halichoeres
spp. are virtually never caught in a transitional phase while pelagic,
but can be found buried in sand or rubble on the reef. However, I did collect
a single transitional larva of H. poeyi at a nightlight in Panama, and
it was the largest individual Halichoeres spp.
larvae out of many hundreds collected, i.e. 13.8 mm SL (this size range applies
only to the Caribbean, larval Halichoeres spp.
from the eastern Pacific and Indo-Pacific can reach more than 20 mm SL) |
| | Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, narrow, and long with a large eye and a terminal,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Melanophores
on the fin ray membranes between spines and rays, typically occurring in in four
groups: at the mid and rear dorsal fin and the forward and rear anal fin. Each
melanophore group covers from one to five fin ray elements. Most, but not all,
larvae have a sub-surface melanophore at the top of the head behind the skull,
sometimes two or three. Many of the larvae also have a small melanophore on the
body at the ventral midline just after the last anal ray (often unnoticed adjacent
to the large anal fin membrane melanophores). Unlike other larval Halichoeres
spp., this species has internal melanophores along the dorsal peritoneal
cavity. Series of transitional larvae show development of the eye from vertically
oval (and tilted backward) to round with a large pupil (round in many larvae captured
over the reef). The one transitional larva captured had begun to develop surface
melanophores on the head. Transitional recruits on the reef commonly retain the
larval melanophores behind the skull and remnants of the larval melanophores on
the fin membranes. Transitional recruits of H. poeyi
have a mid-dorsal fin ocellus, a spot on the caudal peduncle just behind the base
of the last dorsal ray, a white-edged black spot on the upper base of the central
caudal fin rays, a chain-link patch pattern along the lateral midline, and colored
striping on the top of the head. Some variants lack the patch pattern and have
melanophores uniformly covering the upper and lower sides of the body with a mid-lateral
clear stripe with no melanophores. | | |
|
| Halichoeres poeyi
larva | | 12.6 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-331 | |  |
tr> | Halichoeres poeyi
larva | | 12.5 mm SL | | dorsal
peritoneal melanophores | | San Blas, Panama,
SB80-102 | |  |
| Halichoeres poeyi
transitional larva | | 13.8 mm SL |
| head melanophores | | San
Blas, Panama, SB80-102 | |  | | |  |
| Halichoeres poeyi
early transitional recruit | | 11.1 mm SL
| | San Blas, Panama, SB83-137 |
|  |
| Halichoeres poeyi
early transitional recruit | | 11.6 mm SL
| | San Blas, Panama, SB83-148 |
|  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 indicates
Halichoeres spp. and is shared by most of the Caribbean species. In mtDNA
sequence studies, H. pictus separates out from the large Caribbean Halichoeres
spp. clade and is close to some eastern Pacific Halichoeres spp. that
have distinctly larger larvae and a different fin melanophore pattern from other
Halichoeres spp. Whether this is true for H. pictus awaits DNA sequence
analyses underway at present. | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, narrow and long with a large eye and a terminal,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Transitional
recruits on the reef have a mid-dorsal fin ocellus, a white-edged black spot on
the upper base of the central caudal fin rays and a patchy pattern of melanophores
along the body with a conspicuous mid-body bar extending from the dorsal ocellus
down onto the anterior anal fin rays. | | |
|
| Halichoeres radiatus
transitional recruit | | 11.9 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB82-018 | | |
| | |
| | | |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,11 and Pect-14 indicates Halichoeres
maculipinna. This species has a different fin ray count from the other
Halichoeres spp. in the region and both larvae
and recruits appear wider and thicker-bodied. In mtDNA sequence studies, H.
maculipinna is distant from the rest of
the genus. (U) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, wide for labrids and long with a medium eye and a
terminal, somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins
very short. Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and wide. Melanophores
limited to the fin ray membranes between spines and rays, typically occurring
on the last dorsal fin rays and a matching group on the last anal fin rays. Each
melanophore group covers from three to five fin ray elements. Transitional recruits
of H. maculipinna show much more variable
juvenile markings than other labrids. Those individuals in grassbeds are uniformly
green, while those on reefs have a distinct black stripe along the side of the
body. | | |
|
| Halichoeres maculipinna
larva | | 12.7 mm SL | | Barbados,
coll. by Henri Valles | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,12 A-III,12 and Pect-12 indicates the razorfish
genus Xyrichtys spp. One other regional labrid,
Halichoeres cyanocephalus, shares the median
fin ray count, but has 13 pectoral fin rays and a clearly different body shape.
The three Caribbean razorfishes, X. martinicensis, X.
novacula, and X. splendens,
share fin ray counts and the larvae overlap in appearance. The species become
distinct as they develop juvenile markings: X. martinicensis recruits are
recognized by a simple lateral stripe from the eye to the tail that is not broken
up into patches or spots. | |
| Analogues:
Larval Xyrichtys spp. have no melanophores
and often markedly narrowed eyes. The absence of external melanophores is shared
with larval Doratonotus megalepis,
but the latter are distinctly wider-bodied and have large round eyes. All other
regional labrid and scarid larvae have melanophore patterns through transition.
X. martinicensis recruits have a simple lateral stripe from the eye to
the tail while X. novacula
recruits have a stripe that is broken up into discrete patches or spots. X.
splendens recruits develop a complex pattern of bars and reticulations.
X. martinicensis recruits also do not display the extended first dorsal
fin spines characteristic of the juveniles of the other two razorfish species.
| |
| Description:
Body thin and long with a markedly narrowed eye (pre-transitional) to large
and round (recruits) with a pointed snout and a terminal small mouth. Pectoral
fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins stubs. Dorsal and anal fin bases long,
caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. This larval type is notable for having
no internal or external melanophores. Series of transitional larvae show development
of the eye from vertically oval to round. Transitional recruits show a dark stripe
of fine melanophores curving up from the eye across the upper body onto the base
of the upper caudal fin segmented rays. There is a lighter band beneath the stripe
ending in a whitish patch at the base of the central caudal fin rays. |
| |
|
| Xyrichtys martinicensis
recruit | | 13.0 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB82-098 | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,12 A-III,12 and Pect-12 indicates the razorfish
genus Xyrichtys spp. One other regional labrid,
Halichoeres cyanocephalus, shares the median
fin ray count, but has 13 pectoral fin rays and a clearly different body shape.
The three Caribbean razorfishes, X.
martinicensis, X. novacula,
and X. splendens, share fin ray counts and the larvae overlap in appearance.
The species become distinct as they develop juvenile markings: X. splendens
recruits are recognized by a pattern of bars and reticulations and the first two
dorsal fin spines are extended. The extended dorsal fin spines persist until juveniles
reach about 35 mm SL. | |
| Analogues:
Larval Xyrichtys spp. have no melanophores
and often markedly narrowed eyes. The absence of external melanophores is shared
with larval Doratonotus megalepis,
but the latter are distinctly wider-bodied and have large round eyes. All other
regional labrid and scarid larvae have melanophore patterns through transition.
X. splendens recruits have a a complex pattern of bars and reticulations
and the extended first two dorsal fin spines while X.
martinicensis recruits have a lateral stripe from the eye to the tail
and no extension of the dorsal fin spines and X.
novacula recruits have a lateral stripe that is broken up into discrete
patches or spots. | |
| Description:
Body thin and long with a markedly narrowed eye (pre-transitional) to large
and round (recruits) with a pointed snout and a terminal small mouth. Pectoral
fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins stubs. Dorsal and anal fin bases long,
caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. This larval type is notable for having
no internal or external melanophores. Series of transitional larvae show development
of the eye from vertically oval to round. Transitional recruits show a pattern
of bars and reticulations and the first two dorsal fin spines are extended. |
| |
|
| Xyrichtys martinicensis
recruit | | 13.0 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB82-098 | | |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,12 A-III,12 and Pect-12 indicates the razorfish
genus Xyrichtys spp. One other regional labrid,
Halichoeres cyanocephalus, shares the median
fin ray count, but has 13 pectoral fin rays and a clearly different body shape.
The three Caribbean razorfishes, X.
martinicensis, X. novacula, and X.
splendens, share fin ray counts and the larvae overlap in appearance.
The species become distinct as they develop juvenile markings: X. novacula
recruits are recognized by lateral stripe broken up into patches or spots and
the first two dorsal fin spines are extended. The extended dorsal fin spines persist
until juveniles reach about 25 mm SL. | |
| Analogues:
Larval Xyrichtys spp. have no melanophores
and often markedly narrowed eyes. The absence of external melanophores is shared
with larval Doratonotus megalepis,
but the latter are distinctly wider-bodied and have large round eyes. All other
regional labrid and scarid larvae have melanophore patterns through transition.
X. novacula recruits have a lateral stripe broken up into patches or spots
and the first two dorsal fin spines are extended while
X. martinicensis recruits have an intact stripe and no extended first
dorsal fin spines. X. splendens
recruits develop a complex pattern of bars and reticulations. |
| | Description:
Description: Body thin and long with a markedly
narrowed eye (pre-transitional) to large and round (recruits) with a pointed snout
and a terminal small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins stubs.
Dorsal and anal fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. This
larval type is notable for having no internal or external melanophores. Series
of transitional larvae show development of the eye from vertically oval to round.
Transitional recruits show a lateral stripe broken up into patches or spots and
the first two dorsal fin spines are extended. | | |
|
| Xyrichtys martinicensis
recruit | | 13.0 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB82-098 | | |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-IX,10 A-III,9 with only 11 or 12 pectoral fin rays
indicates Doratonotus megalepis. Caribbean
parrotfishes (family Scaridae)
share the median fin ray count, but have 13-16 pectoral fin rays. (U) |
| | Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, short and wide with a large eye and a terminal, somewhat
small mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins short. Dorsal and anal fin bases relatively
long, caudal peduncle short and wide. The only melanophores are internal on the
dorsal peritoneal cavity, usually one or two. Series of transitional larvae show
development of the eye from flat and round with a large pupil to somewhat bulbous
with a small pupil. Transitional larvae develop bars of tiny melanophores radiating
out from the eye as well as a broad iridophore bar from the eye across the lower
operculum. Small melanophores develop on the first dorsal spines and the base
of the pelvic rays. | | |
|
| Doratonotus megalepis
larva | | 6.9 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-413 | |  |
| Doratonotus megalepis
larva | | 7.0 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-415 | |  |
| Doratonotus megalepis
larvae | | 6.6, 6.7, and 6.8 mm SL |
| variation in # of internal melanophores |
| San Blas, Panama, SB84-523 | |  |
| Doratonotus megalepis
transitional larva | | 6.2 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB84-520 | |  | | |  | | |  |
| Doratonotus megalepis
transitional larva | | 6.2 mm SL |
| eye changes with small pupil | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-413 | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-XI,10 A-III,10 indicates Decodon
puellaris. I have not identified larvae of D. puellaris in my collections,
but larvae corresponding to the eastern Pacific sibling species, D. melasma,
share the fin ray count and are likely similar. The distinctive eastern Pacific
larvae are identified by their unique fin ray count as well as a mtDNA sequence
that falls within the labrids and near to both Clepticus
spp. and Bodianus spp.
(U) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
| | | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-XII,10 A-III,12 and Pect-17 indicates Clepticus
parrae. Bodianus spp.
share the median fin ray count, but have one less pectoral fin ray (and a different
body shape). (U) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-XII,10 A-III,12 and Pect-16 indicates Bodianus
spp. Clepticus parrae
shares the median fin ray count but has one more pectoral fin ray (and a different
body shape). The two Caribbean Bodianus spp.
share their fin ray counts, but B. rufus is
far more common than the deep-water species B. pulchellus
(although the latter cannot be excluded for the pre-transitional larval stages).
B. rufus larvae develop into a bicolored recruit
with the anterior lower half dark blue and the rear and upper half yellow (in
contrast to adults where it is often the opposite pattern). Recruits of
B. pulchellus are uniformly yellow. (U) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, long and wide with a large eye and a terminal, pointed,
somewhat small mouth. Pectoral fins medium length. Pelvic fins short. Dorsal and
anal fin bases relatively long, caudal peduncle short and wide. | |
|
|
| Bodianus rufus
recruit | | 10.1 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-077 | |  |
| |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
The fin ray count of D-XIV,11 A-III,10 indicates Lachnolaimus
maximus. I have not collected this species, but Colin (1982) raised the
larvae through their larval phase. The larvae resemble
Doratonotus megalepis in basic form, but develop surface melanophores
early in development, around the time the fin rays are fully formed (about 5 mm
SL). This feature is particularly unusual for labrids (or other labroids) and
it is likely that this species is the sole member of the family to have body pigmentation
(none of the Indo-Pacific labroid larvae identified by Leis and Carson-Ewart (2000)
have this character). The adaptation suggests that larval L. maximus are
associated with drift algae and not exposed in the plankton. | |
| Analogues:
In most features this larval type resembles larval
Doratonotus megalepis, but it is distinguished by a slightly different
fin ray count and, most conspicuously, by having extensive melanophore patterns
on the body. The arrangement of melanophores on the head resembles that of transitional
D. megalepis and they
share the markings on the first dorsal spines and pelvic fins, but even late transitional
D. megalepis do not
have the reticulated patterns on the body. | |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, short and wide with a large eye and a terminal, somewhat
small mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins short. Dorsal and anal fin bases relatively
long, caudal peduncle short and wide. By the time the fin ray complement has formed,
around 5.5 mm SL, melanophores are scattered over the body and in three discrete
patches along the anal fin base. Subsequently, melanophores develop in bars radiating
from the eye: forward across the jaw, a vertical below the eye, and in bands across
the top of the head. A reticulated pattern of melanophores then develops over
the body. Since the larvae were raised in captivity, the point of transition cannot
be determined. Series of larvae shows the eye remains round. | |
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