Osteological development of Dentex dentex (Osteichthyes : Sparidae): dorsal, anal, paired fins and squamation

The osteological development of dorsal, anal and paired fins and the squama tion in common dentex, Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758), was studied under ex tensive larval rearing conditions. The ontogeny of the fins was determined in three stages: (1) the yolk-sac and the early larval stage (up to 6.7 mm in vivo total length, TL), in which the majority of the elements of the pec toral fins and the predorsals, dorsal and anal proximal pterygiophores form ed; (2) the late larval stage (up to 11.6 mm TL), in which the majority of the pectoral lepidotrichia, the lower extrascapulae, all the elements of th e pelvic fins, as well as the lepidotrichia, spines and the distal radials of the rest fins developed; and (3) the metamorphosis stage (up to 24.0 mm TL), when the upper extrascapulae formed and the pectoral lepidotrichia att ained their full count. The ontogeny of squamation was carried out during t he metamorphosis stage; it started at 13.4 mm TL with laterally symmetric p oints on the middle of each side of the body, followed by one ventral centr e (15.6 mm TL) which was located anterior to the pelvic fins, and two bilat eral pairs of centres which appeared on the head (17.8 and 21.2 mm TL). The results are discussed from a functional viewpoint and in comparison with t he fin and scale ontogeny of other teleosts.