EGG INFORMATION
Egg Diameter (min-max in mm): Number of Oil Globules (min-max): Oil Globule Diameter (min-max in mm): Yolk: Chorion: Egg/Embryo Pigment: none,
Pigment Diagnostics: Diagnostic Characters:
LARVAE INFORMATION
Hatch Size (min-max in mm SL): Preanal Length (%SL): 50 - 60
Flexion Length (in mm SL): 7.5 - 11.4
Length at Transformation (in mm SL): 8.2 - 13; initial period of shrinking during transformation
Fin Development Sequence: Caudal and pectorals, dorsal and anal, pelvics
Larval Pigment Regions: In each developmental larval stage, pigment is present in the regions listed below
(click for
pigment regions)
Yolk-sac: none,
Preflexion: none,
Flexion: none,
Postflexion: none,
Juvenile: mouth, crown, nape, cheek, isthmus, dorsal gut, lateral gut, ventral gut, pectoral fin, dorsal, mediolateral,
Pigment Diagnostics: Spot on peduncle appears later than in A. affinis, first appearing as a patch in larvae >13 mm SL, no internal pigment in caudal region, at transformation stage a pair of large melanophores over midbrain
Diagnostic Characters: See sternoptychid photophore figure 9. Upper preopercular spine is developed (pointed slightly upward) and short frontal crests are present, two postabdominal spines of approximate equal length in juveniles, narrow choroid tissue mass below eye. Distinguished from Argyropelecus affinis and A. hemigymnus by: combination of nine dorsal spines and SAB, PAN, AN, and SC photophores not in continuous line. Through early postflexion stage, preanal length usually will distinguish A. affinis and A. sladeni (shorter preanal length) from A. hemigymnus and A. lychnus (longer preanal length), and presence/absence of internal caudal peduncle pigment will distinguish A. affinis and A. lychnus (pigment present) from A. hemigymnus and A. sladeni (pigment absent)
