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Note on a Leptocephalus Stage of the Conger

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

E. Ford
Affiliation:
Assistant Naturalist at the Plymouth Laboratory.

Extract

On September 17th, 1919, a specimen of Leptocephalus Congri vulgaris (L. Morrisii) was captured in “bottom” haul No. 69 of the young fish trawl in locality Eddystone bearing S. by W. (magnetic) 1½ miles, over a depth of 31 fathoms. It was alive and active when taken, measuring between 115 and 120 mm. in length, and has been kept alive up to the present date in a glass aquarium under circulation. It was at a fairly advanced stage of development, intermediate between those exhibited in Figs. 2 and 3, Pl. I of Schmidt (1), the dorsal fin commencing slightly farther back than in Fig. 3, and the median row of pigment spots along either side of the body not extending forward beyond about 1 cm. in front of the commencement of the dorsal fin. There is a close resemblance also to the specimen figured by Fulton (2), with the exception that, as just pointed out, the median row of pigment along the body on either side does not reach forward quite to the head, and in addition the pigment spots at the base of the dorsal fin rays are only two or three in number, situated at the extreme posterior end of the fin.

Since the date of capture, observations 'have been made periodically and certain measurements taken as accurately as possible, but on account of the movements of the fish the latter could only be obtained approximately.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1920

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References

REFERENCES

1Schmidt, , 1909. “On the occurrence of Leptocephali (Larval Murænoids) in the Atlantic, West of Europe.” Med. fra Komm. fur Havund. B. III, No. 6.Google Scholar
2Fulton, , 1903. “The young of the Conger.” 22nd Scott. Fishery Report, III, 1903, No. viii. Ichthyological Note. Plate XVIII, Fig. 2.Google Scholar