Macrouridae: CM II A1
Caelorinchus or Coryphaenoides sp.
Grenadier
Egg diameter in µm |
Number of oil globules |
Diameter of oil globule in µm |
Yolk texture |
Perivitelline space |
Position of oil globule at hatch |
Gut length at eye- pigment stage |
Myomeres |
1225 |
multiple |
N/A |
clear |
narrow |
stern |
34% of NL |
? |
Egg: This egg has only been seen once, on 5th July 2009. Due to its size and reticulated shell pattern, it was instantly recognised as being new to this collection. The chorion had a fine hexagonal mesh, with a small vertical projection at each corner (Plate A1). On hatching, the oil globules had coelesced into 1, positioned adjacent to the anus of the larva. Incubation was about 40 hours.
Larva: The 3-day larva has lightly pigmented, a partly developed mouth, and abundant yellow pigment in the finfolds (C). The distinguishing feature is the gut which terminates laterally, and not ventrally (C, arrowed). C: 3 days.
The identification is tentative but based on description of macrourid eggs given by Merrett (2006). Efforts to barcode this larva failed; more accurate identification must await further collections.