Taxonomic study on larvae and juveniles of agonid fishes in Japan
1988
Maeda, K. (Hokkaido Univ., Hakodate (Japan). Faculty of Fisheries) | Amaoka, K.
1) About 200 specimens of agonid larvae and juveniles collected from water around Hokkaido were examined in this study. 2) Developmental morphology and pigmentation were described and illustrated in detail for each species. 3) The larvae and juveniles of the 13 identified species were reported for the first time. Larvae and juveniles of six genera, Percis, Tilesina, Brachyopsis, Podothecus, Sarritor and Anoplagonus, have not been known until now. 4) In each subfamily, useful characters for identification to species level were clarified in the present study. 5) The validity of subfamilies were reconsidered based on several larval characters: Pigmentation of ventral surface of abdomen, pigmentation of gill membranes, processes on branchiostegal rays, and formation patterns of lateral line plates (LLP). 6) Percidinae was considered as a natural group by having a unique larval character, the ventral surface of abdomen pigmented wholly or except for the part along its midline. 7) Brachyopsinae and Tilesininae lack a unique larval character, but they seem to be a natural group based on the presence of processes on branchiostegal rays. 8) We hypothesize that Agoninae is a natural group since it has a unique larval character, melanophores on the gill membranes regularly arranged all along the branchiostegal rays. It is necessary to investigate whether Bothragonus occidentalis belongs to the subfamily Agoninae, since it shares the formation pattern I (LLP) with the species of Percidinae, Tilesininae and Brachyopsinae. 9) The validity of the subfamily Aspidophoroidinae was supported by two unique larval characters: presence of a heavily pigmented blotch on the ventral surface of the abdomen and formation patter III (LLP)
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