Abstract
Abstract Larvae (leptocephali) of Gnathophis habenatus (Richardson, 1848) and G. incognitas Castle, 1963 occur off Castlepoint throughout most of the year (not sampled December‐February), In general they are smallest in late summer (March) and ilargest in mid‐spring (October‐November), with metamorphosis to the juvenile in early summer of the year of spawning. The two species therefore have a larval life of approximately 10 months. The early life of these two species in Australian waters, and of G. capensis (Kaup) off southern Africa, agrees well with these observations. Eel eggs collected in the East Cape region of New Zealand and tentatively identified as those of Gnathophis confirm the spawning times (March—April) suggested by the sizes of leptocephali.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
