Postlarvae and juveniles of silver sea bream,Sparus sarba occurring in the surf zones of Tosa Bay, Japan

Abstract

A total of 515 larval and juvenileSparus sarba (8.2–17.8 mm TL) was collected at semimonthly intervals with a small seine in surf zones of Tosa Bay during the period of May 1981 to May 1982. They had morphological characteristics common to the larvae and juvenile of Sparinae, but were distinguished from the others by 24 dorsal and 14 anal fin rays, the first soft ray of pelvic fin not elongated and small melanophores along the dorsal margin occurring first on the caudal peduncle. They occurred in surf zones of Tosa Bay in two separate seasons, from late March to late May, and from late November to late January, being most abundant in April and May. In past studies using traditional larval nets or minnow-nets in coastal or shallow waters of Tosa Bay, larval and juvenileS. sarba were not reported. It seems that their distribution is limited in extremely shallow waters such as surf zones.