Staging larval and early juvenile Japanese anchovy based on the degree of guanine deposition

Abstract

Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus larvae and early juveniles were assigned to one of three developmental stages based on the degree of guanine deposition. The development in terms of the guanine deposition was a function of body size and age and was more strongly associated with the former. The degree of guanine deposition is found to be valid as a criterion to distinguish Japanese anchovies at the end of the metamorphosing stage.