Larval development of bigmouth manefish Caristius macropus (Perciformes: Caristiidae) from the western North Pacific

Larvae of bigmouth manefish Caristius macropus are described and illustrated on the basis of seven specimens (4.2–10.5 mm in body length) from the Kuroshio waters (0–60 m depth) and the transition waters (surface) between the Kuroshio and Oyashio fronts of the western North Pacific. The present larvae of C. macropus are distinguished from those of Paracaristius maderensis that inhabit the North Pacific by having 39–40 myomeres, 34 dorsal-fin rays, and 22 anal-fin rays. The present study, along with previous studies of the early life stages of caristiids, shows that larvae of the family may be defined by the following characters: body elongate in preflexion stage but becoming deep bodied and hatchet shaped after notochord flexion; anus located near vertical through base of pectoral fin; head large, without spination or serration; a distinct vertical band on the posterior tail throughout the larval stages, and two bands gradually appearing on the tail and trunk during the flexion and postflexion stages; and melanophores present around the notochord tip by the flexion stage. Adult C. macropus are found in the subarctic and temperate waters of the North Pacific; however, the present study and other occurrences of early life stages of the species probably indicate that C. macropus may spawn over a wide area in the North Pacific.