(Strasburg)
1. Distinctive characters of early developmental stages
(a) Eggs
Stolephorus buccaneeri 1
Eggs are elliptical without knob, measuring 0.98 to 1.2 mm x 0.56 to 0.62 mm in size. Yolk segmented, colourless, occupies two third the length of the egg, transparent and without an oil globule. Tail of embryo free from the yolk. Myomeres visible in the yolk. Seventeen to twenty myomeres are visible in the embryo. Egg size narrowly vary according to salinity regime in the waterways.
(b) Larvae
Yet to be collected from the mangrove waterways.
(c) Juveniles and adults
Anal fin originates under or little behind last dorsal ray. Maxilla truncate posteriorly, not reaching beyond anterior border of preoperculum and 5 to 6 times in standard length; lower gill rakers 24-26.
2. Distinctive characters of early developmental stages of similar species occurring in the mangroves
(a) Eggs of Stolephorus heterolobus
Eggs with relatively smaller oil globule in yolk. (videStolephorus heterolobus 1)
(b) Eggs of Stolephorus macrops
Transparent yolk occupies the egg fully; perivitelline space very narrow; oil globule with 0.1 mm diameter present at the posterior end of the egg/yolk. A small vacuole-like structure is present above the oil globule (Nair, 1952b; Thangaraja, 1987; Delsman, 1931). (vide Stolephorus macrops 1).
(c) Eggs of Stolephorus tri
Relatively longer eggs (1.7 mm length) with bigger oil globule (0.09 mm diameter) in the yolk. (vide Stolephorus tri 1).
3. Distinctive characters of early developmental stages in similar species occurring in the coastal/off shore waters
(a) Eggs of Stolephorus bataviensis , Stolephorus commersonii and Stolephorus indicus
The eggs of these species, though elliptical in shape, possess a distinct knob.
(b) Larvae of other Stolephorus spp.
Relatively lesser number of myomeres (High number of pre-anal (29 Nos.) and post-anal (13 Nos.) myomeres occur in the larvae of Stolephorus buccaneeri ).
4. Salient ecological information
(a) Habitat
Eggs occur sporadically in the lower reaches of the mangrove waterways. Larval forms not yet reported from mangroves.
(b) Geographic distribution
Widely distributed Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indo - Malayan archipelago, India, Persian Gulf and east coast of Africa up to South Africa.
5. Capture fisheries
Commercially important in South Japan and Taiwan and at times in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia (Ronquillo, 1970; Whitehead, 1972).