Larval development of Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi |
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Authors: | P Betti † L Machinandiarena M D Ehrlich ‡ |
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Institution: | Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), P. O. Box 175, (B7602HSA), Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428 EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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Abstract: | The ontogeny of the developmental stages of the hake Merluccius hubbsi is described. Fish larvae and post-transitional juveniles were collected in the Nor-Patagonian area from 1989 to 2004. The opening of the mouth and the pigmentation of the eyes are coincident with yolk resorption, finishing the yolk-sac stage. This species presents pigmentation on the head, trunk and tail typical of gadiform larvae. Pectoral fin development is completed during the transformation stage. The post-transitional juvenile stage begins when the fin-ray complements are complete and squamation begins. The fins become fully formed in the following sequence: pelvic fins, first dorsal fin, second dorsal and anal fins together, caudal fin and pectoral fins. The caudal complex is totally developed in larvae of 22·0–23·0 mm standard lengths ( L S) and all vertebral elements are first observed in larvae of 8·5 mm L S. The rate of development of M. hubbsi observed in this study could be faster than the rates reported for other species of Merluccius by different authors. |
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Keywords: | meristics Merluccius morphometrics |
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