Biology of Finfish and Shellfish

Soleidae

• Larval soleids have a moderate to deep body, extremely laterally compressed and a deep, massive gut.
• They are initially bilaterally symmetrical.
• There are 33-47 myomeres(4-20+20-38). The number of preanal myomeres decreases with growth because the anus moves anteriorly.
• The thick gut tube is coiled, and although it protrudes below the ventral profile, it is not pendulous.
• The anus may be slightly trailing.
• A small gas bladder is present. The snout is short and generally rounded.
• The mouth varies among species from oblique to horizontal.
• Small villiform teeth become visible on the blind side in transforming larvae of some species.
• The round eye is large until about 3mm, moderate in size until about the beginning of flexion, and small thereafter.
• Eye migration may commence as early as the flexion stage. Dorsal and anal fins develop simultaneously: incipient rays develop during flexion, and full fin complements present in late flexion to early post flexion larvae.
• The pectoral fin may atrophy prior to settlement.
• Pigmentation initially consists of a very few scattered melanophores on the tail and gut.
• By settlement, a few small, faint patches of melanophores along fin bases and the body midline are present.