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Marine fish eggs and larvae from the east coast of South Africa

Allan Connell, Durban, South Africa.

Originally posted May 2007; updated October 2012.

Abstract. Twentyfive years of records are summarised, in 226 separate species data sheets, on eggs and early larvae of fishes spawning pelagic eggs on the inshore shelf, within 5km of the coast, along a short section of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, about 50km south of Durban. Annual spawning period, and egg abundance trends over the 25 years, are provided, as well as egg and larval descriptions, showing the ephemeral pigment patterns of many species' early larvae, in digital image colour. By collecting both offshore (5km) and inshore (0.5km) samples, comparing percentage representation of each species within these two sample sets, and using two indicator species, the kob Argyrosomus japonicus and the geelbek Atractoscion aequidens, both with well-defined spawning grounds, a reasonable assessment of location of spawning was obtained for all the common eggs in the study area. About 65 species were reared on a simple food-chain for identification purposes, but in the latter stages of the study, larval identification was by DNA barcoding using the cytochrome C1 gene. The study is ongoing, both to increase the annual trend graphics for each species, and to gather barcodes of currently unidentified eggs and larvae, so that they will be identified when adult material has been sequenced, in support of which, over 900 species of local marine fishes have been barcoded. Introductory Notes describe the geography and oceanography of the study area, with particular emphasis on how these affect spawning migrations of species into the study area, and movement of early juveniles to their preferred nursery areas.

 

Contents

Introductory Notes

1. Introduction

2. Methods

2.1 Sampling offshore

2.2 Sampling in Durban Harbour mouth

2.3 Recruitment sampling at the Lovu and Mkomazi estuaries

2.4 Live egg sample handling in the laboratory

2.5 Larval rearing

2.6 Photography of eggs and larvae

2.7 DNA collection and analysis

3 The physical and oceanographic conditions in the study area

3.1 Climate and weather

3.2 Winds

3.3 Rainfall

3.4 Coastal Oceanography

3.4.1 The Agulhas current

3.4.2 Inshore waters and currents

3.4.3 The central shelf

3.4.4 Coastal productivity, nutrients, zooplankton and fish

4. Coastal oceanography in relation to sardine movement into KZN waters in winter

5. Larval fish movement in relation to the Agulhas current

6. Rainfall and spawning intensity

7. Results

7.1 Dive log current data for the study area

7.2 Net volume and eggs per sample

7.3 Paired sample analysis

7.4 The most common eggs from Durban Bay and offshore of Park Rynie

8. Voucher specimens

9. Acknowledgements

10. Literature

 

The species data sheets

Notes on fish eggs, relating to the species data sheets.

The age of eggs in the samples

Factors affecting egg density

Tips on examining live eggs

Size versus age in fish larvae

Abbreviations and definitions

Explanation of the coding system used to catalogue the eggs

The species list (alphabetical by code)

The species list (by Order or Family) ..........................For Code explanation, click here

"
Order/Family Lowest Identification Code Egg diameter Oil globule
Anguilliformes Gymnothorax favagineus & G. eurostus + D I A1 2330-4020 ---
" Ophichthidae F I A1 1510-1780 240-290
" " " 2500-3410 240-290
" Unknown G I A1 1970-3490 multiple
Clupeidae Etrumeus teres & E. whiteheadi D II A1 1160-1320 ---
" Sardinops sagax F II A1 1320-1610 ---
" Hilsa kelee G II A1 1080-1175 multiple
" Gilchristella aestuaria G III A1 865-890 0-multiple
Engraulidae Engraulis encrasicolus & Encrasicholina punctifer. BD III A1 1160-1310 x 530-605 ---
" Stolephorus holodon BF III A1 1295-1455 x 680-700 145-170
" Thryssa vitrirostris D II A2 985-1060 ---
Matacosteidae Malacostius niger F I A3 2400-2450 265-280
Melanostomiidae Opostomias micripnus F I A2 2080-2880 265-290
Phosichthyidae Vinciguerria nimbaria D III A1 625-720 ---
Synodontidae Trachinocephalus myops & Synodus indicus CH II A1 1070-1140 ---
" Saurida undusquamis H II A4 1020-1130 ---
Myctophidae Unknown CL II A2 960-1125 190-205
Gadidae Unknown L III F1 780-840 145-170
Macrouridae Caelorinchus or Coryphaenoides sp. CM II A1 1225 multiple
Ophidiidae Brotula multibarbata K III A6 730-1080 155-200
" Hoplobrotula gnathopus L III A1 960-1010 220
Carapidae Unknown ABK III A1 1200 x 780 35
" Unknown BK III A1 960-1000 x 790-820 170
Ogcocephalidae Halieutaea fitzsimonsi BL III A3 840 190
Beloniformes Scomberesox saurus CD I A2 2280-2920 ---
Hemiramphidae Oxyporhamphus micropterus CH I A1 1870-2110 ---
Exocoetidae Unknown CH I A1A 2100-2200 ---
" Cheilopogon nigricans CH I A2 1990-2200 ---
" Exocoetus monocirrhus H I A1 2500-3050 ---
" Unknown M I A2 1900 multiple
Lampridae Lampris cf guttatus H I A2A 2350 ---
Trachipteridae Zu cristatus H I A2 2065-2185 ---
Veliferidae Metavelifer multiradiatus M I A1 2210-2300 multiple
" Velifer hypselopterus L I A5 1610-1870 145-190
Regalecidae Regalecus glesne . CD I A1 2740-2950 ---
Berycidae Centroberyx spinosus E II A3 1200-1250 240-265
" Centroberyx druzhinini E III A8 960-1030 190-220
Trachichthyidae Gephyroberyx darwinii F II A3A 1200 240
Monocentridae Monocentris japonicus G I A2 2090-2280 multiple
Holocentridae Myripristis berndti E III B6A 700 190
Zeidae Zeus faber L I A3 1800-2185 310-360
Pegasidae Eurypegasus draconis H II A1 1200-1345 ---
Aulostomidae Aulostomus chinensis L II A3 1270-1440 220-260
Fistulariidae Fistularia petimba & F. commersonii H I A3 1530-2060 ---
Macroramphosidae Macroramphosus scolopax L III E5 865-985 200-220
" Macroramphosus sp. L II A9 1130-1200 240
Centriscidae Aeoliscus punctulatus L II A5 1150-1320 220-265
Scorpaenidae Scorpaenopsis possi & Parascorpaena mossambica ABH III A1 870-1000 x 650-870 ---
" Unknown ABH III A2 890-940 x 870-920 ---
" Unknown BH III A1 1055 x 910 ---
" Helicolenus dactylopterus BL III A1 915-1060 x 770-840 170-190
" Unknown BL III A2 720-740 x 625-690 120-145
" Unknown H II A2 1105-1345 ---
" Choridactylus natalensis H II A3 1105-1320 ---
" Apistus carinatus L II B7 910-1100 190-220
" Unknown L II B8 985-1080 200-220
Tetrarogidae Ablabys binotatus L II A5A 1300 145-215
Aploactinidae Cocotropus monacanthus H II A3A 1000-1320 ---
Platycephalidae Cociella heemstrai L III A5 910-985 190-240
" Grammoplites portuguesus M III A1 920-970 multiple
" Unknown MIIA3 1100-1225 multiple
" Platycephalus indicus L III A6 940-1030 215-265
" Onigocia oligolepis & Thysanophrys celebica M III A2 890-970 multiple
Triglidae Lepidotrigla faurei L II B5 920-1320 230-250
" Trigloporus lastoviza africanus L II A4 1295-1320 230-325
Ambassidae Ambassis dussumieri K III B9 620-680 170-190
" Ambassis natalensis K III B9C 600-670 190
" Ambassis ambassis K III B9B 625 190
Kuhliidae Kuhlia mugil E III B3A 850 230
Caproidae Antigonia rubescens L III E4 815-890 180-190
Polyprionidae Polyprion americanus E I A1A 2090-2110 530
Serranidae Acanthistius joanae F III A1 940-985 190-240
" Pseudanthias fasciatus & P. squamipinnis K III C1 630-690 130-150
" Pseudanthias connelli K III C1A 670 120
" Anthiinae K III C2 650 50
" Epinephelus andersoni, E. malabaricus + L III B4 840-950 170-200
" Epinephelus rivulatus & E. poecilonotus L III D2 815-910 180-190
" Cephalopholis sonnerati L III D4 815-865 170-190
" Liopropoma cf latifasciatum L III D10 840-865 170-180
" Serranus knysnaensis K III A4 860-960 145
Grammistidae Aulacocephalus temmincki L II B3 1090-1200 170-205
Priacanthidae Priacanthus hamrur K III B3 720-770 170-180
" Pristigenys niphonia E III B5 760 175
Pomatomidae Pomatomus saltatrix F III A4 840-960 220-265
Haemulidae Plectorhinchus chubbi E III A4 940-960 215
" Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus E III A5B 910 240
" Pomadasys commersonnii E III B2 800-840 190-220
" P. striatus E III B3 750-820 170-190
" P. olivaceus E III B4 750-790 170-205
Dinopercidae Dinoperca petersi F III A2 890-960 190-220
Lutjanidae Paracaesio xanthura K III A8 820-910 145-170
" Paracaesio sordida K III B1A 840-910 145-190
" Pristipomoides sieboldii K III B1 860-910 110-170
Caesionidae Caesio xanthalytos K III A9 840-910 145-190
" Dipterygonotus balteatus K III B4A 750 145-190
" Pterocaesio marri K III A9 840-910 145-190
Sparidae Acanthopagrus vagus L III E3A 720-770 190-220
" Cheimerius nufar L III D7 780-950 170-190
" Chrysoblephus puniceus L III D5 815-865 180
" Crenidens crenidens L III E11 720-770 180
" Diplodus hottentotus L II B4 960-1060 190-220
" D. capensis + L III C1 890-940 190-200
" Lithognathus mormyrus L III D1 910-940 170-190
" Pachymetopon aeneum L III C1B 890-910 190
" Pachymetopon grande L III B10 910-985 190-200
" Pagellus natalensis L III C5 790-865 170-190
" Polysteganus undulosus L III B1 960 190
" Rhabdosargus holubi & P. coeruleopunctatus L III D6 850 180
" R. sarba L III D9 790-820 170-190
" Sarpa salpa L III B9 875-985 190-215
" Sparodon durbanensis LIIIC1C 890-910 190
Lethrinidae Gymnocranius cf griseus K III B3A 625-720 145-190
" Lethrinus rubrioperculatus K III B4 625-720 145-190
Dichistiidae Dichistius multifasciatus F III A2A 865-910 220-250
Kyphosidae Kyphosus bigibbus EIIIA1A 910-985 220-250
Scorpididae Neoscorpis lithophilus F II B1 940-1060 220-290
Ephippidae Tripterodon orbis L II A6A 1225-1345 240-310
Monodactylidae Monodactylus falciformis F II A9 1010-1065 240-270
" Monodactylus argenteus F III A2B 910-1010 240-265
Gerreidae Gerres acinaces E III B8 670-770 170-220
Mullidae Parupeneus fraserorum & P. Parupeneus rubescens K III A10 745-890 155-190
" Upeneus guttatus E III B1 720-790 170-180
Sillaginidae Sillago cf sihama F III A4B 790-865 190-220
" Sillago cf sihama (complex of 4-5 species) F III A7 790-865 190-215
Sillaginidae Sillago chondropus F III A9 745-790 190-215
Malacanthidae Malacanthus brevirostris LIIIC4 890-985 170-190
Sciaenidae Atractoscion aequidens L II A6 1125-1250 280-320
" Argyrosomus japonicus L III A8 865-985 240-265
" ? Argyrosomus thorpei L III E3 745-790 170-220
" Johnius dussumieri L III E4A 815-890 190-230
" Umbrina canariensis L III A4 910-1010 220-240
" U. robinsoni L II B6 1000-1060 220-250
Leiognathidae Secutor ruconius L III F5 650-720 170-190
Pentacerotidae Pentaceros capensis E II A1 1370-1420 310-340
Pomacanthidae Centropyge acanthops LIIIG2 615 155
" Pomacanthus rhomboides F III A6 790-890 190-225
Chaetodontidae Chaetodon dolosus, C. blackburni & C. auriga L III F2 700-745 170-180
" Chaetodon marleyi F III A5 790-865 190-215
" Heniochus acuminatus L III E8 690-745 170
Oplegnathidae Oplegnathus conwayi F II A7 1010-1150 240-265
" Oplegnathus robinsoni E III A2 910-940 190
Bramidae Brama brama L I A4 1560-1700 340-410
" Taratichthys longipinnis L II A1A 1345-1440 350-360
" Unknown, probably Brama brama M II A4 1285 240
Caristiidae Caristius spp. L I A1 1800-1970 530-650
Emmelichthyidae Emmelichthys struhsakeri E III A9 745-820 170-190
" Plagiogeneion rubiginosum F II A8 1030-1225 240-275
Carangidae Carangoides fulvoguttatus E III A4A 910-940 215
" Caranx heberi (=sem) E III B6 760 210
" Trachurus trachurus, Decapterus macarellus & other Decapterus spp. E III A6 745-890 205-230
" Lichia amia E I A1 1800-1920 550-600
" Megalaspis cordyla E III B4A 800 220
" Seriola lalandi, S. dumerili & Naucrates ductor E II A2 1200-1450 240-360
" Seriola dumerili & S. rivoliana E II A4 1000-1075 260-270
" Unknown E III A3 865-890 200-220
" Decapterus russelli & Trachurus trachurus + E III A5 850-900 210-220
" Elagatis bipinnulata E III A6A 890 240
" Scomberoides tol E III A7 815-840 290-360
Coryphaenidae Coryphaena hippurus F II A4 1320-1560 265-340
Echeneidae Remora australis F I A4 2210 410
Cirrhitidae Cyprinocirrhites polyactis K III B2 720-840 145-170
" Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus K III B2A 700-790 95-110
Cheilodactylidae Chirodactylus jessicalenorum K III A1 910-1030 220-260
Pempheridae Pempheris schwenkii L II A2 1285-1460 270
" Parapriacanthus ransonneti M II A5 1100-1200 multiple
Labridae Anchichoerops natalensis K III A2 840-950 190-220
" Halichoeres lapillus & Stethojulis interrupta + K III B8 550-670 120
" Unknown K III B7 650-700 110-120
" Thalassoma trilobatum & Coris caudimacula K III C3 550-625 120-145
Scaridae Calotomus carolinus KIIIB7 680 120
" Scarus rubroviolaceus & S. ghobban BK III A2 1455 x 500 120
Mugilidae Liza tricuspidens L II B9 985-1060 340-360
" Liza dumerilii + L III A7 865-980 290-350
" Myxus capensis + L III B7 800-920 325-370
Sphyraenidae Sphyraena jello E III A1 910-980 240-310
" Sphyraena obtusata E III A2A 940-1010 240-265
" Sphyraena sp. E III A3A 840-890 215-240
Chiasodontidae Chiasmodon niger L II A8 1150-1345 310-340
Champsodontidae Champsodon capensis L II B1 985-1060 170-200
Uranoscopidae Uranoscopus archionema CM I A3 1650-1900 multiple
Trichonotidae Trichonotus sp. n. E III A7B 790-840 190
Creediidae Apodocreedia vanderhorsti M III A4 960-1010 2 x 120-170
" Limnichthys nitidus M III A7 700-790 multiple
Pinguipedidae Parapercis robinsoni L III E1 750-865 170-190
" Parapercis xanthozona L III E1A 750-865 170-190
Callionymidae Callionymus marleyi + D III A3 680-740 ---
" Draculo celetus + CD III A1 620-760 ---
" Unknown D III A4 700-840 ---
Acanthuridae Acanthurus triostegus L III G4 625-675 140-160
" Acanthurus mata L III E7 670-720 160-180
" Naso mcdadei, Naso thynnoides & N. brevirostris L III F6 670 170
" Zebrasoma gemmatum L III E10 665-770 150-190
Zanclidae Zanclus canescens L III D8 790-815 190
Trichiuridae ?Trichiurus lepturus L I A2 1620-1825 385-455
Scombridae Auxis rochei L III A11 865-960 220-265
" Euthynnus affinis L III A11A 865-960 220-240
" Katsuwonus pelamis L III A11B 950 - 1050 240-265
" Sarda orientalis M II A2 1200-1370 multiple
" Scomber japonicus L II A7 960-1225 240-300
" Scomberomorus plurilineatus L II A4A 1250-1320 385-410
Luvaridae Luvarus imperialis L II A4B 1300 265
Stromataeidae Hyperoglyphe antarctica F II A3 1250-1345 360-410
" Centrolophus niger F II A5 1200-1345 340-410
Nomeidae Cubiceps pauciradiatus L III F3 720-820 190-210
" Psenes pellucidus F II A6 1225 310
Tetragonuridae Tetragonurus atlanticus F II A8A 1150 240-265
Pleuronectiformes Unknown M I A4 1610 multiple
" Unknown M II A1 Type B 1405-1415 multiple
Bothidae Chascanopsetta lugubris LIIIC9C 915 145
" Crossorhombus valderostratus L III G7 550-610 120
" Unknown CL II A1 1030-1300 140-150
" Unknown L III F9 600-695 120-145
Paralichthyidae Pseudorhombus arsius L III C9 840-940 120-170
" P. elevatus L III E9 730-810 50-90
" Pseudorhombus sp. L III C3 840-865 120-145
Paralichthodidae Paralichthodes algoensis F III A3 960-1010 180-220
Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus lida M III A6 770-960 multiple
" Unknown M III A8 680-750 multiple
Soleidae Unknown M I A2A 1800 multiple
" Dagetichthys marginatus M II A1 Type A 1335-1440 multiple
" Parachirus xenicus M II A2A 1150-1320 multiple
" Pagusa nasuta (=Solea turbynei, =S. bleekeri) M III A5 750-800 multiple
" Zebrias regani CM I A2 1510-1680 multiple
Triacanthodidae Paratriacanthodes retrospinis L II A1 1200-1415 205-220
Ostraciidae Ostracion cubicus M I A1A 1945-2115 multiple
" Tetrosomus concatenatus CM I A1 1800-1900 multiple
Diodontidae Diodon holocanthus M I A3 1610-1870 multiple
Molidae Ranzania laevis M II A1A 1300-1620 multiple
Unknown Unknown BH II A1 840-1100 x 790-960 ---
Unknown Unknown BL I A1 2180 x 2060 120
Unknown Unknown E III A7A 815 170
Unknown Unknown K III B5 720-770 145-185
Unknown Unknown K III B6 700 120
Unknown Unknown K III B9A 600-670 145-215
Unknown Unknown L I A3A 1620-1990 145-170
Unknown Unknown L I A6 1585 340
Unknown Unknown L II B10 1010 240
Unknown Unknown L III A9 920 220
Unknown Unknown L III B2 950 190
Unknown Unknown L III B3 960 170
Unknown Unknown L III C2 940-985 170-220
Unknown Unknown L III F7 670-725 145
Unknown Unknown M II A6 1080-1150 multiple
Unknown Unknown M III A9 600 multiple

 

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