Embryonic and Larval Development and Some Reproductive-Biology Features of Dendrochirus zebra (Scorpaenidae)

Abstract

Embryonic and larval development of zebra turkeyfish Dendrochirus zebra is described to the transition of the larvae to exogenous feeding. Mature sex products are obtained after double hormonal injections of the fish. A detailed, illustrated morphological description of developmental stages is presented. The changes of body pigmentation and number of muscular segments after hatching of the embryo from the egg envelope are recorded. Fertilized eggs are characterized by slightly irregular spherical shape; narrow perivitelline space; smooth, transparent, and unstructured egg envelope; and homogenous, transparent, and colorless yolk ~0.79 (0.74−0.81) mm in diameter. A single lipid droplet 0.15 (0.146−0.153) mm in diameter is located in the yolk. The droplet is colorless or with a yellowish pink tinge. The duration of the cellular cycle during the period of synchronous cleavage is approximately 27 min, and the duration of the incubation period is 25.5 h. At hatching, the prelarvae body length is 1.6–1.7 mm. The transition of the larvae to the exogenous feeding occurs at 2.33–2.42 mm body length by the fifth day after hatching.