Many descriptions of individual species of larvae based on artificially fertilized and laboratory-reared specimens. Larvae are normally heavily pigmented from yolk-sac stage and identification to family level is easy. Identification of larvae to species level is difficult because 1) identification of adult species is based on scale numbers on lateral line, and relative positions of dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins, and 2) meristic characters and pigment patterns of larvae are similar within the family. Mugil cephalus (Mugil cephalus) and Mugil curema are very similar. Larvae of latter distinguishable by higher count in young after completion of anal fin development (Fahay, 1983).
Table Mugilidae
22 geographic zones