The embryonic and early larval development of the long-finned herring, Opisthopterus tardoore (Cuvier)

Abstract

Opisthopterus tardoore, the so-called long-finned herring, is one of the commercially valuable clupeiform fishes occurring in the Indian coastal waters. It is common in the trawl catches off Karwar, Mangalore, Cannanore and Ernakulam along the west coast and off Tuticorin in the east coast. Information hitherto available on the early life-history of this species is limited to the description of a juvenile stage from Madras coast by John (1951). Hence the present paper on its embryonic development and early larval stages may be of interest.