Berycidae: E III A8

Centroberyx sp.

Egg diameter in µm	Number of oil globules	Diameter of oil globule in µm	Yolk texture	Perivitelline space	Position of oil globule at hatch	Gut length   at eye- pigment stage	Myomeres
960-1030	1	190-220	segmented	moderate	bow	55% of NL	24-25

Egg: Fine black pigment dots are seen dorsally on the oil globule, and at the anus of the embryo. The yolk is strongly segmented (B). The PVS is equal to about half the oil globule diameter (A). Incubation is 25-30 hours.

Larva: The NH larva (B) has just a dot of black pigment at the base of the anal tube (B). At 2 days, spots appear on the nose, front edge of oil globule and along the length of the anal tube (C). By day 4, the black pigment has extended forward to the pectoral fins, and just posterior to the anal tube, where spots have also developed dorsally and laterally on the notochord (D). B: NH, C: 1-2 days, D: 4 days (22°C).

This species shows strong affinities to the next species (EIIIA9). They are probably from the same genus. It also shows certain similarities with KIIIA8, except for the segmented yolk and different spawning season. Four larvae have been sequenced, and match an adult Centroberyx australis from Australia (BOLD reference) See also EIIA3.

 

This egg has only been seen off Park Rynie on about 10 occasions, all in offshore samples. The outlier specimen of December 1994 (blue graph) is confirmed by a photograph of the 4-day larva. Other than that record, it has shown itself to be a mid-winter spawner. Apart from 1990, this species has been rare in collections (white graph). It was not seen in the DHM samples.