Biology of Finfish and Shellfish (2+1)

4.9.2. Diagnostic features applicable to different groups of fish larvae

1.	Short oval body	Monacanthidae , Balistidae , Antennaridae
2.	Short depressed body	Platycephalidae , Pegasidae , Dactylopteridae
3.	Crest on nape	Holcentridae , Carangidae , Leiognathidae , Coryphaenidae, Scorpaenidae , Platycephalidae .
4.	Barbel on lower jaw	Exocoetidae
5.	Elongated tentacle on operculum	Champsodontidae
6.	Bony ridge over eyes	Carangidae , Stromateidae, Holocentridae , Istiophoridae, Scorpaenidae
7.	Protruded snout	Holocentridae , Istiophoridae, Pegasidae , Exocoetidae, Hemirhamphidae .
8.	Pelvic fins abdominal	Soft rayed fishes lacking spines in the dorsal, anal and pelvic fin.
9.	Single short dorsal fin	Gonostomatidae, Clupeidae , Engraulidae , Dussumieridae
10.	Single long dorsal fin	Bregmacerotidae , Serranidae , Carangidae , Coryphaenidae, Leiognathidae , Istiophoridae, Stromateidae, Bothidae , Pleuronectidae, Soleidae Cynoglossidae .
11.	Two dorsal fins	Mugilidae , Apogonidae , Mullidae , Gobiidae .
12.	Pectorals enlarged	Exocoetidae, Stromateidae.
13.	Ventral fins absent	Angulliformes , Syngnathidae, Tetraodontidae .
14.	Elongated fin rays on dorsal	Bothidae , Soleidae , Cynoglossidae , Bregmacerotidae .
15.	No spines on operculum	Labridae , Gobiidae , Trachypteridae
16.	Spines on operculum	Scombridae , Carangidae .
17.	Elongated spines on the dorsal and ventrals	Serranidae , Balistidae , Acanthuridae .
	Alimentary canal
18.	Bulged or sac like	Gonostomatidae, Clupeidae , Synodontidae .
19.	Long and straight	Cynoglossidae , Soleidae .
20.	Short and coiled	Majority of Perciform fishes.
	Anal opening
21.	At middle of body	Apogonidae , Carangidae , Scombridae , Gobiidae , Scorpaenidae , Pleuronectidae, Bothidae
22.	Behind middle of body	Hemiramphidae , Exocoetidae, Fistulariidae , Mugilidae , Sphyraenidae , Coryphaenidae.
23.	Far backwards	Stromateidae, Clupeidae , Synodontidae .
24.	Far forwards	Bregmacerotidae , Atherinidae , Blennidae .
	Pigmentation
25.	Dense	Exocoetidae, Hemiramphidae , Holcentridae , Mugilidae , Coryphaenidae, Istiophoidae.
26.	Partial	Atherinidae , Bregmacerotidae , Mullidae , Apogonidae , Stromateidae, Teraponidae , Platycephalidae .
27.	Blotches, spots	Engraulidae , Clupeidae , Synodontidae , Carangidae , Apogonidae , Serranidae , Thunnidae , Scromberomoridae , Pleuronectidae, Cynoglossidae .
	Myotomes
28.	Vertebrae Less than 24	Callionymidae , Balistidae , Monacanthidae , Diodontidae , Tetraodontidae , Molidae.
29.	30-40	Gonostomidae, Engraulidae , Labridae , Scombridae , Sillaginidae .