Ontogênese de clupeiformes de ambientes costeiros do litoral de Pernambuco

Abstract

The order Clupeiformes includes about 405 species distributed in 92 families. In tropical and subtropical regions where there is a high diversity, there may have difficulties with the identification of their species, especially of individuals in the larval and juvenile phases. Knowledge of bone structures in the early stages of fish has proved to be an important tool that complements the morphological characterization, which is often insufficient for the correct identification of larvae and juveniles. The objective of this research is to use osteological characters to differentiate larvae and juveniles of clupeiform species occurring in Northeastern Brazil. The material used is part of the Reference Collection of the UFRPE Ichthyology Laboratory. The families were differentiated by the components of their caudal structure. Clupeidae have 3 epurals, intermediate size neural plate, prolonged median ray ending towards the urostile, inferior interlobar lobe in the third hipural region and no fusion of the ural center 1 to the preural center 1. Engraulidae have 2 epurals, very elongated neural plate, prolonged median ray ending towards the urostile, inferior interlobar lobe in the third hipural and fusion of the ural center 1 to the preural center 1. Pristigasteridae have 3 epurals, reduced size neural plate, no prolonged median rays extremities towards the urostile, no inferior interlobar lobe in the third hipural, and no fusion of the ural center 1 to the preural center 1. The smallest number of vertebrae (38) differentiates Anchoa filifera, and the largest number (≥42) Anchoviella lepidentostole and Lycengraulis grossidens. The number of pre-anal vertebrae separates Anchoa lyolepis (≥20) from A. januaria (≤20). The highest number of supraneurals (14) was recorded for Anchovia clupeoides. For the families Clupeidae and Pristigasteridae any character related to the number of vertebrae separates the species from each other in their respective families. The number of vertebrae and myomeres (38-40) differentiates larvae of Lile piquitinga from other clupeids, as well as data on pre-anal length, body height, head length at different stages of development and number of dorsal rays in juveniles differentiates early stages of L. piqutinga from other clupeids whose initial development has already been described.