A Quick Method to Identify Engraulid Fish Larvae in the Tanshui River Estuary of Northern Taiwan

Yu-Tzu Wang and Wann-Nian Tzeng

Department of Zoology, College of Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 10617, ROC

Abstract

Five species of larval engraulids, Engraulis japonica Schlegel, Encrasicholina punctifer Fowler, E. heteroloba (Ruppell), Stolephorus insularis Hardenberg, and Thryssa dussumieri (Valenciennes), were found in coastal waters off the Tanshui River Estuary, northern Taiwan during the period from May 1992 through November 1993. Their sizes ranged between 8 and 46 mm SL. Comparing the meristics, morphometrics, and pigmentations of the 5 species, we found pigment patterns on the ventral side of the larvae that can be used as a key character to discriminate these species. Key words: larval engraulid, species identification, meristics, morphometrics, pigmenta-tion, Tanshui River Estuary.

Acta Zoologica Taiwanica 8(2): 103-119 (1997)