Identification of Larval Fish Family: Monacanthidae

1. Identification of Larval FishFamily: Monacanthidae Presented by: Edwison Setya F. *) Presented in Advanced Regional Workshop on Larval Fish Identification and Fish Early Life History Science, 26 May – 15 June 2008 in Seafdec TD, Samut Prakan, Thailand.

2. Review of Morphological Features

3. Review of Morphological Features (contd.)

4. Review of Morphological Features (contd.) Table of Meristic Character

5. Review of Morphological Features (contd.) Table of Meristic Character

6. Information of Sampling This sample is taken from Southern of South China Sea (SCS). Especially in Western Kalimantan waters, around Natuna islands. Taken on mid year 2005, in the collaborative research between Seafdec and Indonesian officers. Sampling gear was bongo net of MV Seafdec 2.

7. Information of Sampling (Contd.) Sampling track.

8. BL: 3.48 mm BL: 3.47 mm BL: 3.54 mm BL: 2.91 mm Figure

9. BL: 4.03 mm BL: 4.45 mm BL: 3.82 mm BL: 4.02 mm Figure

10. Detail of Illustrated Specimen TL: 10.95 mm SL: 8.39 mm TL : 10.92 mm BD : 4.0 mm ED : 1.2 mm SnL : 8.5 mm PAL : 5.0 mm Stage :post-flexion DF : 26 AF : 28 P1F : 13 P2F : -- PCR : 12 My : --

11. TL: 10.95 mm SL: 8.39 mm BL: 2.91 mm Morphological Description • Body deep and compressed in moderated body shape. • Tail pigment present in pre flexion period. • Dorsal spine formed since pre flexion. • There isn’t any pelvic fin ray. Only pelvic spines which forms as early as short bud. • Body shape going elongated as its growth. BL: 3.82 mm

12. Similar Features with Other Family • Identify monacanthid larvae through its characteristic, e.g. compressed body with strongly coiled gut, pigment pattern, lack of pelvic fins, anterior position of the dorsal fin spine, and dermal spinules. • Monacanthid has small melanophores (which there’re large melanophores of pomacentrids). • Early dactylopterid larvae have pigment similar to that of monacanthids, but the former have extensive head spination lacking in the latter. • Triacanthids and some monacanthids are very similar. The 1st spinules of triacanthids form on the preopercle, but they don’t form a raised tuft as in morph 1 monacanthids. • Morph 1 monacanthids are more compresed than balistids, have earlier forming dorsal fin spines and body spinules, have a less conspicuous preopercular spinule tuft, are less heavily pigmented and most species have more myomeres.