Taxonomic position of Scombrolabracidae not yet clear, but Johnson (1986) suggested that it may be the primitive sister group of Pomatomus and scombroids. Larvae of Scombrolabrax heterolepis, only species of this family, often mistaken for tuna larvae, but myomere count of 30 separates larvae of Scombrolabrax heterolepis from Thunnus larvae (39) (Potthoff et al., 1980). Scombrolabrax heterolepis most closely resembles Thunnus in pigmentation at size less than 4.3 mm NL when forebrain and pectoral symphysis pigment are not developed. As pigmentation increases with growth, pigment on lateral rami of jaws, gular membrane, and near caudal peduncle distinguish it from any scombrid larva (Scombrolabrax heterolepis).
Table Scombrolabracidae
22 geographic zones