Some aspects of the embryonic and postembryonic development of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus Temminck et Schlegel, 1846 in Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan

This study revealed additional data concerning the spawning period of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus Temminck et Schlegel, 1846 in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). The spawning of E. japonicus in this area ends in September at a water temperature of 17.5 ± 3°C. Some important peculiarities of the embryonic and postembryonic development of E. japonicus in the natural environment are described. The anchovy larvae have characteristic upper and lower rows of melanophores and subcaudal paired rows of melanophores on the trunk. Regular alternating rows of long and short cones were found in the retina of the early larval stages (TL 5.5 ± 0.1 mm). The planes of the photoreceptive lamellae in the outer segments of the short cones are oriented parallel to the long cell axis, which evidently provides sensitivity to polarized light.