Embryonic and larval development of <i>Lipophrys pholis</i> (Pisces: Blenniidae)

Abstract

SUMMARY: Information on the early ontogeny of Lipophrys pholis is scattered and incomplete. In this paper we describe for the first time the full developmental sequence from egg to juvenile in controlled conditions. In addition, some notes on the spawning behaviour of adults and the behaviour of larvae are provided. During oviposition, the female follows the male's path, suggesting that the male may apply sperm on the nest before spawning. Embryonic development lasted 16 days (17ºC) and larval development to settlement lasted 29 days (15.5-17.5ºC). At hatching, mean larval total length was 5.0 mm. The larvae hatched with the mouth and anus opened, with pigmented eyes and almost no yolk, and started to feed within one day. They first settled 29 days after hatching (13-14 mm TL) and showed full juvenile pigmentation and behaviour 8 to 9 days later (17-19 mm TL).

An Efficient Technique for the Captive Breeding of an Endangered Freshwater Fish Salaria fluviatilis (Pisces: Blenniidae), with a Description of Its Ontogeny

“…The developmental sequence described in this study agrees in general with those described for other blenniid species and may be useful to identify larvae collected in the plankton (e.g., Olivar 1986;Sabates 1994;Faria et al 2002Faria et al , 2005Faria et al , 2006. Although S. fluviatilis presents a number of traits that could be advantageous to survive in unstable environments, such as a long spawning period, multiple spawnings, and parental care of the eggs by the males (Vinyoles and De Sostoa 2007), it seems to be vulnerable to many anthropogenic disturbances that affect Mediterranean type streams (Elvira 1995;Collares-Pereira et al 2000;Hernández et al 2000).…”

Genetic structure and historical demography of the shanny Lipophrys pholis in the Portuguese coast based on mitochondrial DNA analysis

“…Like in other coastal species with demersal eggs, immediately after hatching the newly hatched larvae move to the surface, swim actively and one day after the onset of exogenous feeding occurs (Faria et al, 2002), traits that can be an indication of high dispersal potential. According to Faria et al (1996), the breeding season in Portugal occurs from October/November to May, and during this period the coast is characterized by a permanent southward surface circulation (30 cm s ¡1 maximum speed), and a countercurrent associated with southerly winds that are formed during autumn-winter (43 cm s ¡1 maximum speed) (Fiúza, 1983;Martins et al, 2002).…”

“…L. pholis has demersal eggs guarded by the males (Almada et al, 1992) that hatch after 16 days with 5.0 mm total length at a temperature of 17°C (Faria et al, 2002). Hatching larvae are well developed, settling at 13-14 mm TL after a pelagic larval duration of ca.…”

Phylogeny of the shanny, Lipophrys pholis, from the NE Atlantic using mitochondrial DNA markers

“…Although several studies have been carried out on the morphology (Arruda, 1979;Bath, 1976;Lowe, 1843), ecology (Faria and Almada, 2001;Almada and Faria, 2000), ontogeny (Faria et al, 2002), and its diet composition (Maze et al, 1999) not much has been done on the genetics (Guillemaud et al, 2000).…”