Development of Naturally-spawned Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii Larvae

We followed the development of Pacific herring Clupea pallasii larvae after natural hatching in Korean coastal waters off Dadaepo, where the water temperature was $9^{\circ}C$. Twenty days after hatching, the larvae had (i) reached a total length (TL) of 10.8-12.2 mm, (ii) developed 9-11 dorsal fin rays, and (iii) branched melanophores along the dorsal line of the gut in the anterior half of the body and along the posterior half of the dorsal and ventral line. Thirty days after hatching, the larvae had reached 12.2-13.5 mm TL, and the number of dorsal fin rays had increased to 13-14. Thirty-five days days after hatching, the larvae had reached 14.0-14.7 mm TL, and the posterior ends of their notochords had begun to flex upward. Forty-five days days after hatching, the larvae had (i) reached 15.6-15.9 mm TL, (ii) a complete set of dorsal fin rays (15-16), (iii) 12-13 anal fin rays, and (iv) branched melanophores along the dorsal part of the lateral surfaces of the head behind the caudal terminus. Preflexion, flexion and postflexion stage larvae had TL values of 13.5 mm, 14.0-15.3 mm, and 15.6-15.9 mm, respectively.

자연 산란된 청어(Clupea pallasii) 자어의 형태 발달