Larvae and Juveniles of the Clingfishes, Lepadichthys frenatus and Aspasmichthys ciconiae

Abstract

From April 1968 to July 1970, over 130 planktonic larvae of clingfishes consisting of three forms were collected with fish lamp at the Nomo Bay near Nagasaki.Some of them were reared up to juveniles, and identified as Aspasma minima (Döderlein), Lepadichthys frenatus Waite, and Aspasmichthys ciconiae (Jordan and Fowler).The larvae and juveniles of A.minima were reported by the present authors (1971) in another paper. The larvae of L.frenatus, ranging from 3.2 to 6.0mm in total length, were collected in May, June, August, October, and November.One of the four planktonic postlarvae of L.frenatus, ranging from 4.75 to 5.40 mm in total length, was reared for 12 days in a plastic aquarium and grew up to 9.9 mm.The clinging habit was commenced at this stage.Furthermore, it was reared for seven days up to 10.0mm juvenile in the clinging life.
The planktonic postlarvae of A.ciconiae, ranging from 3.4 to 8.1mm in total length, .were collected during April to June.
The common characters of the planktonic postlarvae of the three clingfishes, ranging from 4 to 6 mm in total length, are as follows.The head is rather depressed and stout.Each larva has large eyes, the rudiments of the air bladder, and the number of myomeres ranging from 35 to 36.The anus is open in the posterior part of the body.Melanophores appear on the body side except the tail.The granular tissues appear on the body surface except the marginal part of the larval fin.
A key to the classification of the larvae is as follows:
I.15-17 Melanophores on both sides of dorsal median line
(1) 14-15 Melanophores on both sides of ventral median line in abdomen
…Aspasmichthys ciconiae
(2) No melanophores on ventral side of abdomen…Lepadichthys frenatus
II.No melanophores on dorsal side…Aspasma minima