Ambassidae: K III B9B

Ambassis ambassis (Lacepède, 1802).  (= productus)

Longspine glassy

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
625	1	190	clear	narrow	bow	30% of NL	24

Egg: This egg has only been seen in 4 samples, but is included here as it appears distinctive (A). The oil globule is rendered brown, centrally, due to the dense cluster of black pigment below the yellow (A). The large oil globule, relative to egg diameter (30%) is also unusual.

Larva: As illustrated.  B: 1 day, C: 2 days, D: 3 days (23°C).

This egg was only seen three times off Park Rynie, all in November. It was assumed to be an ambassid (possibly washed out of a local estuary), of which only A. natalensis and A. ambassis (=productus) are potential candidates, since A. dussumieri (=gymnocephalus) is accounted for (see KIIIB9).A batch of 13 eggs seen in November 2012, yielded 4 barcodes, which match 3 locally collected Ambasis ambassis (BOLD). Identification is tentative, until confirmed by at least one more larval barcode