Labridae (wrasses)

Larval morphological characteristics

- laterally compressed

- gut straight and coils later

- myomeres 23 – 28 (mostly 25)

- small mouth

- no head spination

- very little pigment

Labridae (wrasses)

Celebes Sea Labrid Types

• General Body Shape

• Pigment Patterns

• high species number (35 genera, 300 species Indo-Pacific)

• meristic characters overlap

Species level identification is difficult – WHY?

Location: Celebes Sea

Date: August 2007

Gear: Bongo (521 um)

Labridae Type A

probably Halichoeres sp.

6.0 mm

8.6 mm

• eyes slightly narrow, choroid tissue

• long, pointed snout

• gut coiled in postflexion

• no pigment throughout larval stage

Myomeres: 23

D: IX, 13

A: III, 13

P1: 12

C: 12

Labridae Type B

probably another Thalassoma sp. (Fahay)

• general body shape similar with Type A

• dorsal spines form early

• pigments on anterior dorsal fin membrane

3.9 mm

6.0 mm

• head larger than other labrids

Myomeres: 25

D: VIII, 12

A: III, 11

P1: 14

C: 12

Labridae Type C

Probably Cirrhilabrus sp.

3.9 mm

6.0 mm

7.4 mm

• heavy pigment on dorsal portion of gut

• pigment enlarges as larvae mature

Myomeres: 25

D: XI, 9

A: III, 9

P1: 14

C: 13

Labridae Type D

Probably Cheilinus sp.

3.9 mm

6.0 mm

7.4 mm

4.6 mm

6.2 mm

• body deep

• no pigmentation

• early forming pectoral fin

Myomeres: 25

D: IX, 10

A: III, 9

P1: 14

C: 13

Labridae Type E

Probably Xyrichthys sp.

6.0 mm

11.2 mm

9.2 mm

• mouth very small

• eye elliptical, choroid tissue

• first two dorsal spines originate in nape

• gut initially straight, coils after flexion

• body elongated, very laterally compressed

• head small and pointed

Myomeres: 25

D: IX, 12

A: III, 11

P1: 12

C: 14

Scaridae (parrot fishes)

3.9 mm

11.2 mm

• gut straight initially, coiled at flexion

• gut rugose at posterior end

• eye elliptical, choroid tissue

• pigment series along base of anal fin to caudal, dorsal gut

Myomeres: 25

D: IX, 10

A: III, 9

P1: 14

C: 14

7.0 mm

6.6 mm

• body laterally compressed, ovoid in cross section

• head small, mouth small, snout round

Scaridae (parrot fishes)

3.9 mm

11.2 mm• Gobiidae same myomere count

but, no rugose gut, very conspicuous bladder, eyes round

• Myctophidae with rugose gut

but, myomeres >30, no series of pigment

7.0 mm

6.6 mm

Coryphaenidae (dolphinfishes)

Coryphaena hippurus

3.9 mm3.8 mm

11.2 mm

6.2 mm

• body elongated, head moderately blunt

• heavy pigmentation

Myomeres: 63

D: 23

A: 23

P1: 13

C: 14

Coryphaenidae (dolphinfishes)

Coryphaena hippurus

3.9 mm3.8 mm

11.2 mm

6.2 mm

Coryphaena equiselis

- no barred pigmentation

- no pigment on pelvic fin (older larvae)

Rachycentridae

- gut more heavily pigmented than body

- head slightly elongated