University of Tasmania
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Larval development of Pagellus natalensis and what larval morphology indicates about relationships in the perciform fish family Sparidae (Teleostei)

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conference contribution
posted on 2025-01-15, 01:18 authored by JM Leis, T Trnski, LE Beckley
We describe the larval development of the sparid Pagellus natalensis based on 34 field specimens of 2-19 mm from the western Indian Ocean off South Africa. P. natalensis has unusual larval morphology for a sparid: in particular, extensive head spination including a serrate supraoccipital crest, serrate supraocular, pterotic, and supracleithral ridges, interopercular spines, strong preopercular spination, and pitted frontal bones. Development in the family Sparidae is briefly reviewed, and larval development of P. natalensis is central to this review. We suggest that larval morphology reveals much about sparid relationships, and pose several hypotheses for further testing. These include: Pagellus, Pagrus and Dentex as currently conceived are polyphyletic; Pagellus affinis, bellottii and natalensis and Pagrus pagrus are closely related, as is an unidentified larval sparid from the eastern north Atlantic; spiny larval morphology is derived within the Sparidae and indicates that the currently recognized subfamilies are polyphyletic; Spondyliosoma is monophyletic; Calamus and Spondyliosoma are sister taxa.

History

Publication title

MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH

Volume

53

Issue

2

Pagination

367-376:10

eISSN

1448-6059

ISSN

1323-1650

Department/School

Ecology and Biodiversity

Publisher

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Publication status

  • Published

Event title

6th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference

Event Venue

SOUTH AFRICA, DURBAN; Oceanog Res Inst, Durban, ZA-4056, South Africa

Date of Event (Start Date)

2001-05-20

Date of Event (End Date)

2001-05-25