Characteristics of development and growth of larva and juvenile in Mugil cephalus

The morphological characteristics at early development stages were observed and described in hatcheryproduced Mugil cephalus from newly hatched larvae to 43 d after hatching. The post embryonic development of M.cephalus was divided into larval stage，juvenile stage and young fish stage，based on the features of yolk-sac，fins and scales. Under the water temperature of 19.94（±1.03）℃，salin ity of 30，and pH 8.10-8.15，it took 10 days from newly-hatched larvae stage to prelarva stage. The mouth of larva opened 4 days after hatching. From 11 d to 26 d after hatching，the fish developed into postlarva stage. From 27 d to 38 d after hatching，the fish developed into juvenile stage， and entered to young fish stage in 39 d after hatching. The characteristics of growth during postembryonic development stages of M. cephalus were investigated，the results showed that the larva and juvenile of M. cephalus belonged to uniform growth type. In addition，the crises period that appeared during postembryonic development stage and the relationship between the development characteristics and life habit were discussed in this paper.