Identification of larvae to species level difficult because of overlapping meristic characters and large number of species. Larvae with slender body. Head moderately large with large round eyes, but without head spination. Distance between anus and anal fin origin large at flexion stage, gap shortens with development. Melanophores present on dorsal and ventral mid-lines of body and along mid-lateral line. Number of melanophores increases with growth, post-flexion larvae heavily pigmented (Konishi, 1988; Watson, 1996e).
Table Mullidae
22 geographic zones