posted on 2025-01-15, 01:18authored byJM 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