Identification guide to Arctic ichthyoplankton

Edited by Keita W. Suzuki(25 February 2013)

General diagnostic characters1. Body shape:

> Slim or plump> Anus (i e the proportion of preanus length to standard length)> Anus (i.e. the proportion of preanus length to standard length)> Fin (i.e. the number and location of fins)

2. Pigmentation:> Location, number, size, and thickness> Timing of appearance (or disappearance)

3. Meristic characters:3 e st c c a acte s> Fin spines and rays> Vertebrae (= Myomeres)

General references1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean2. Matarese et al. (1989) Laboratory guide to early life history stages on Northeast Pacific fishes

Summary of diagnostic characters within Cottidae

Gymno- Icelus Myoxo- Triglops Triglopscanthus bicornis cephalus nybelini pingelitricuspis quadricornis

1. Vertebrae (=Myomeres) 36-40 40-43 38-43 46-49 45-51

2. Dorsal fin (spines, rays) X-XII,14-17 VII-X,17-23 VI-X,13-17 X-XII,24-29 X-XIII,23-26

3. Anal fin (rays) 15-19 12-17 13-17 24-28 23-26

4. Pectoral fin (rays) 17-21 15-19 14-18 20-23 16-19

5. Spines on the head No Yes Yes No Yes

6 Pigment6. PigmentMiddle line Few No Yes Yes NoDorsal fin base Yes Few Few Yes No

Photo guide to slim and plump larvae(after preservation in ethanol)

Sand lance Ammodytes sp. (Ammodytidae)

Atlantic poacher Leptagonus decagonus (Agonidae)

Arctic alligatorfishUlcina olriki (Agonidae)

Arctic shannyStichaeus punctatus (Stichaeidae)

Gelatinous snailfishLiparis fabricii (Liparidae)

SnakeblennyLumpenus lampretaeformis (Stichaeidae) Dusky snailfish

Liparis gibbus (Liparidae)

Daubed shannyLeptoclinus maculatus (Stichaeidae)

Photo guide to other larvae(after preservation in ethanol)

Polar cod (Arctic cod)Boreogadus saida (Gadidae)

Arctic staghorn sculpinGymnocanthus tricuspis (Cottidae)

Bigeye sculpinTriglops nybelini (Cottidae)Gymnocanthus tricuspis (Cottidae) Triglops nybelini (Cottidae)

Twohorn sculpinIcelus bicornis (Cottidae) Ribbed sculpin( )

Fourhorn sculpinMyoxocephalus quadricornis (Cottidae)

Triglops pingeli (Cottidae)

y p q ( )

Photo guide to Boreogadus saida and Arctogadus glacialis(after preservation in ethanol)Large and ramose pigment appears on the ventrolateral surface of the gut in Arctogadus glacialis

CASES0304 #2625 (A. glacialis, 12.8 mm SL)ArcticNet10 St. 305 (B. saida, 11.0 mm SL)

CASES0304 #3159 (B. saida, 13.3 mm SL) CASES0304 #2765 (A. glacialis, 13.1 mm SL)

CASES0304 #4560 (B. saida, 22.8 mm SL) CASES0304 #4370 (A. glacialis, 22.8 mm SL)

Sand lanceAmmodytes sp. (Ammodytidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Preanus length is 60-70% of standard length (shorter than capelin, but longer than pricklebacks).2. Melanophores line up along the dorsal surface of the notochord.3. Melanophores appear along the dorsal fin base and extend anteriorly (> 15 mm).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p 1314-13152. Matarese et al. (1989) Laboratory guide to early life history stages on Northeast Pacific fishes p

540-541

4.3 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

5.6 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

8.1 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

9.8 mm SL (Matarese et al. 1989)Ventral view

Lateral view

32.3 mm SL (Materese et al. 1989)

Beaufort Sea, 8 Sep 2011

Beaufort Sea, 10 Sep 2011

Arctic shannyStichaeus punctatus (Stichaeidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Preanus length is < 50% of standard length (shorter than sand lance and capelin).2. 30-35 pigment spots line up along the anal fin base (cf. Leptoclinus maculatus).3. The anal fin consists of one spine and 32-38 rays (cf. Leptoclinus maculatus).4. Heavy pigment appears on the head, the dorsolateral surface of the gut, and the dorsal fin base.

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 1304-13052. Faber (2006-2009) Baby Arctic shanny. Some Baby Fishes of Canada.

htt // fi hb bi / tl ti i / ti ht lhttp://www.fishbabies.ca/atlanticspecies/stipunc.html

Dorsal view

Lateral view

Ventral view 13.5 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

25.5 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

Beaufort Sea, 10 Sep 2011

Beaufort Sea, 14 Sep 2011

SnakeblennyLumpenus lampretaeformis (Stichaeidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Preanus length is < 50% of standard length (shorter than sand lance and capelin).2. 58-63 pigment spots line up along the anal fin base (cf. Leptoclinus maculatus).3. The anal fin consists of one spine and 46-62 rays (cf. Leptoclinus maculatus).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 1300-13012. Faber (2006-2009) Baby snakeblenny. Some Baby Fishes of Canada.

http://www.fishbabies.ca/atlanticspecies/lumlump.html

Lateral view

Ventral view 13.7 mm (Faber 2006-2009)( )

Lateral view

Ventral view 23.2 mm (Faber 2006-2009)Ventral view 23.2 mm (Faber 2006 2009)

53.2 mm (Faber 2006-2009)

Daubed shannyLeptoclinus maculatus (Stichaeidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Preanus length is < 50% of standard length (shorter than sand lance and capelin).2. 38-44 pigment spots line up along the anal fin base (cf. Lumpenus lampretaeformis).3. The anal fin consists of one spine and 34-40 rays (cf. Lumpenus lampretaeformis).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 1302-13032. Faber (2006-2009) Baby daubed shanny. Some Baby Fishes of Canada.

http://www.fishbabies.ca/atlanticspecies/lummacu.html

Ventral view 12.5 mm (Faber 2006-2009)

Lateral view

Lateral view

Ventral view 19.5 mm (Faber 2006-2009)

59 mm (Faber 2006-2009)

Beaufort Sea, 15 Sep 2011

Atlantic poacherLeptagonus decagonus (Agonidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Melanophores scatter all over the body more densely than Ulcina olriki.2. Barbels form under the lower jaw during the larval stage.

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p 984-985

12.2 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

15.7 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

29.5 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

Beaufort Sea, 16 Sep 2011

Arctic alligatorfishUlcina olriki (Agonidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Melanophores form four clear bars on the body between the anus and the caudal fin.2. Pectoral fins are tipped with black fringes.

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p 986-987

10.5 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

20.0 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

25.0 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

Hudson Bay, 13 Jul 2010

Beaufort Sea, 15 Sep 2011

Gelatinous snailfishLiparis fabricii (Liparidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Heavy pigment appears on the head, the dorsolateral surface of the gut, and pectoral fins.2. Tiny suction disc appears at 8.6-11.5 mm (cf. Liparis gibbus).3. This species has a slim and compressed body with a small head (cf. Liparis gibbus).4. The head is characterized by a round forehead and big eyes (cf. Liparis gibbus).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 992-9932. Able et al. (1986) Development of larval snailfishes (Pisces: Cyclopteridae: Liparidinae) from the

t N th Atl ti C di J l f Z l 64 2294 2316western North Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Zoology 64: 2294-2316

9.2 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

Ventral view 16 7 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

Lateral view

Ventral view 16.7 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

32.8 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

Canadian Archipelago, 18 Oct 2011

Dusky snailfishLiparis gibbus (Liparidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. No or little pigment appears on the ventral surface of the gut (cf. Liparis fabricii).2. Suction disc appears at 7.4 mm (cf. Liparis fabricii).3. This species has a relatively flat body with a big head (cf. Liparis fabricii).4. The head is characterized by a flat forehead and small eyes (cf. Liparis fabricii).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 996-9972. Able et al. (1986) Development of larval snailfishes (Pisces: Cyclopteridae: Liparidinae) from the

t N th Atl ti C di J l f Z l 64 2294 2316western North Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Zoology 64: 2294-2316

9.1 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

13.0 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

Ventral view 12.7 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

20 7 NL (F h 2007)20.7 mm NL (Fahay 2007)

Beaufort Sea, 15 Sep 2011

Beaufort Sea, 10 Sep 2011

Polar cod (Arctic cod)Boreogadus saida (Gadidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. No pigment appears on the ventrolateral surface of the gut (cf. Arctogadus glacialis).2. The dorsal and ventral margins of the body are striped by pigment bars.3. The length of dorsal pigment bars is longer than that of ventral pigment bars (< 10mm SL).4. Three dorsal fins appear at later stages (different from sculpins).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 574-5752. Dunn and Vinter (1984) Development of larvae of the saffron cod, Eleginus gracilis, with

t th id tifi ti f G did l i P ifi d A ti W t ti tcomments on the identification of Gadid larvae in Pacific and Arctic Waters contiguous to Canada and Alaska. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 41: 304-318

6.3 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

7.3 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

Lateral view

Ventral view 10.1 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

16.3 mm SL (Fahay 2007)

Beaufort Sea, 8 Aug 2010

Beaufort Sea, 8 Sep 2011

Ice cod (East Siberian cod)Arctogadus glacialis (Gadidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Large and ramose pigment appears on the ventrolateral surface of the gut (cf. Boreogadus saida).2. The dorsal and ventral margins of the body are striped by pigment bars.3. Three dorsal fins appear at later stages (different from sculpins).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 572-5732. Zvyagina (1961) Data on the propagation and development of fish of Laptev Sea. I. East-Siberian

cod (Arctogadus borisovi, Gadidae). Fisheries Research Board of Canada Translation Series No. 12781278

11.9 mm (Fahay 2007)

14.9 mm (Fahay 2007)

16.7 mm (Fahay 2007)

51.0 mm (Fahay 2007)

12 mm SL (Beaufort Sea)21 mm SL (Beaufort Sea)

Lateral view

Ventral view

Arctic staghorn sculpinGymnocanthus tricuspis (Cottidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. No spine appears on the head.2. Heavy pigment appears on the head, the dorsolateral surface of the gut, and the dorsal fin base.3. Melanophores line up along the middle line only sparsely.

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 964-9652. Matarese et al. (1989) Laboratory guide to early life history stages on Northeast Pacific fishes p 394-395

8.2 mm (Fahay 2007)

Dorsal view

Lateral view

15.9 mm SL (Matarese et al. 1989)Ventral view

17.5 mm (Fahay 2007)

Beaufort Sea, 15 Aug 2010

Twohorn sculpinIcelus bicornis (Cottidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Two pairs of spines appear on the posterior part of the head.2. Heavy pigment appears only on the dorsolateral surface of the gut.3. Few melanophores appear on the head and the dorsal fin base.

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 968-9692. Nichols (1918) Some marine fishes from northwest Greenland. Bulletin of the American Museum

of Natural History 38: 677-683

25 (F h 2007)25 mm (Fahay 2007)

30 mm TL 36 mm TL 40 mm TL (Nichols 1918)30 mm TL 36 mm TL 40 mm TL (Nichols 1918)

Fourhorn sculpinMyoxocephalus quadricornis (Cottidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Two pairs of small spines appear on the posterior part of the head.2. Heavy pigment appears on the head and the dorsolateral surface of the gut. 3. Melanophores line up along the middle line of the body.4. Few melanophores appear on the dorsal fin base. 5. This species has a slim body and a flat head with relatively small eyes (cf. Triglops nybelini).

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 974-975

12.8 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

14.4 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

17.0 mm TL (Fahay 2007)

Bigeye sculpinTriglops nybelini (Cottidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. No spine appears on the head.2. Heavy pigment appears on the head and the dorsolateral surface of the gut. 3. Melanophores line up along both dorsal and anal fin bases as well as the middle line of the body.4. Melanophores line up along the dorsal surface of the notochord.5. This species has a slim body and a compressed head with relatively big eyes (cf.

Myoxocephalus quadricornis).

Selected references:1 Bl d d M t (2010) L l d l t d id tifi ti f th T i l1. Blood and Matarese (2010) Larval development and identification of the genus Triglops

(Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae). NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 10

8 6 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)8.6 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

10.1 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

11.5 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

14.4 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

Beaufort Sea, 3 Sep 2011

Ribbed sculpinTriglops pingeli (Cottidae)

Diagnostic characters:1. Two pairs of small spines appear on the head.2. Heavy pigment appears on the head and the dorsolateral surface of the gut. 3. No melanophore appears along the dorsal surface of the notochord or the middle line of the body.

Selected references:1. Fahay (2007) Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean p. 980-9812. Blood and Matarese (2010) Larval development and identification of the genus Triglops

(Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae). NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 10

6.5 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

8.5 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

17.1 mm SL (Blood and Matarese 2010)

28.0 mm SL (Fahay 2007)