EGG AND EARLY LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF LABORATORY REARED GOLDBLOTCH GROUPER, EPINEPHELUS COSTAE (STEINDACHNER, 1878) (PISCES, SERRANIDAE)
B. Glamuzina, N. Glavic, P. Tutman, V. Kozul, B. Skaramuca-2000
Scientia Marina, 64 (3) : 341-345 (from Current Contents)
Abstract :
The embryonic and early larval development of the laboratory-reared goldblotch grouper, Epinephelus costae (Steindachner, 1878), are described and illustrated. The eggs, with a mean diameter of 926+/-19 µm and a range from 890-950 µm, were spherical and transparent with transparent chorion. Embryonic development lasted 24 hours at 25.5°C. Newlyhatched larvae were 1.762+/-0.047 mm in length. Absorption of the yolk sac was complete after the third day, when larvae reached 2.95+/-0.231 mm in total length. The mouth opened 60 hours after hatching, and was in function after 80 hours, with an opening diameter ranging from 280-320 µm. Larvae had two fields of intensive pigmentation, one above the intestine, and the other between the anus and the end of the notochord.
(Inst Oceanog & Fisheries, Lab Ecol & Aquaculture, Akvarij POB 83, Dubrovnik 20000, Croatia, E-mail : branko@labdu.izor.hr)
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