Ontogeny of the shi drum Umbrina cirrosa (Linnaeus 1758), a candidate new species for aquaculture |
| |
| Authors: | Giorgos Koumoundouros Savoula Kouttouki Eustathia Georgakopoulou Ioannis Papadakis Eric Maingot Panagiotis Kaspiris Yiannos Kiriakou Georgios Georgiou Pascal Divanach Maroudio Kentouri & Constantinos C Mylonas |
| |
| Institution: | Biology Department, University of Patras, Patras, Rio, Greece;Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Institute of Aquaculture, Heraklio, Crete, Greece;Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Nicosia, Cyprus;Biology Department, University of Crete, Heraklio, Crete, Greece |
| |
| Abstract: | The ontogeny of shi drum Umbrina cirrosa (Linnaeus 1758), a candidate new species for aquaculture, was studied throughout the entire larval phase. Geometric morphometric analysis revealed two clear inflection points (7.0 and 12.7 mm total length, TL) in the shape ontogeny of this species, separating the studied period into three phases of different allometric priorities. Spline graphs demonstrated that the major non‐uniform shape ontogeny correlated with the development of the fins, the anterior dorsal area of the body, the caudal peduncle, the eye and the mouth. Concerning the morphological features, shi drum larvae are characterized by an upward anterior bending of the notochord. The ontogeny of the fins began with the formation of the pectoral buds (2.9 mm TL), continued with the notochord flexion (4.3 mm TL, associated with the caudal fin development), the appearance of the pelvic buds, the first anal rays (4.5 mm TL) and the first dorsal rays (4.8 mm TL). Shi drum juveniles presented 25 vertebrae and the following dominant fin types: D XI,23, AII,6, VI,5, P17 and C17. |
| |
| Keywords: | Umbrina cirrosa larvae ontogeny morphology meristics |
|
|
