Developmental morphology of the cyprinid fish Horadandia atukorali

Abstract

Embryonic, larval, and juvenile development of a small Indian cyprinid, Horadandia atukorali, is described from laboratory-reared specimens. The eggs, measuring 0.7–0.8 mm in diameter, were demersal, almost spherical in shape, transparent and unpigmented, with a pale yellow yolk without oil globules. Hatching occurred 47–54 h after fertilization at 26.3–27.5°C. The newly hatched larvae, measuring 2.3–2.6 mm in body length (BL) with 16 + 13 = 29 myomeres, had no melanophores, except on the eye, a single melanophore occurring on the lower margin, and xanthophores surrounding the pupil. The yolk was completely absorbed at 3.0 mm BL. Notochord flexion was initiated at 4.0 mm BL and finished at 4.4 mm BL. Aggregate numbers of all fin rays were completed at 8.0 mm BL. Squamation was initiated at 6.4 mm BL and completed at 9.5 mm BL. Although the eggs of Horadandia atukorali resembled those of other small danionin species, including Aphyocypris chinensis, Chela dadiburjori, Danio rerio, Devario malabaricus, and Hemigrammocypris rasborella, they differed from those of Danio rerio and Devario malabaricus in having a narrower perivitelline space. The larvae and juveniles of Horadandia atukorali were also similar to those of the latter five species in general morphology, especially in the presence of a melanophore on the lower margin of the eye at hatching, as in C. dadiburjori. However, the early life stage morphology of Horadandia atukorali differed from the other danionin species in having a conical yolk sac at hatching, no cement organ on the forehead in the yolk-sac larval stage, a divided gas bladder in the flexion larval stage, two dark lateral streaks on the head and chevron-like melanophores on the ventral body surface from the preflexion to postflexion larval stages, and xanthophores on the eyes at hatching.