A study on embryonic development of Yellow Fin Seabream (Acanthopagrus latus)

Embryonic and larval development stages of yellow fin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) were studied in two average temperatures (21 and 24C) in Marine Fish Research Center in Emam Khomeini Port. Egg diameter in initiation of fertilization was 739.35 plus or minus 0.0081k and during final hatching it was 792.36 plus or minus 0.0095k. The average egg diameter from fertilization until final hatching was 763.49 plus or minus 0.00l6k. The average egg diameter was 751.81 plus or minus 0.0064k in murola stage, 767.55 plus or minus 0.0074k in nurula stage, 779.97 plus or minus 0.0084k in appearance of heart stage and 780.84 plus or minus 0.0086k in the increasing of pigmentation stage. Duration of egg incubation and embryo development of yellow fin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) was 31 hours and 15 minutes at 20clC and 26 hours and 15 minutes at 23 plus or minus 1C. In this study, 20 stages of embryo development of yellow fin seabream were identified through incubation period from fertilization to final hatching. It seems that water temperature can be an effective environmental factor in the fish embryo development, so that hatching at 20clC occurred in 5 hours later than when at 23clC. Temperature change had no effect on the number of larvae and characteristics of embryo development. The information gathered through this study is useful when planning for artificial reproduction of this commercial species and can improve the propagation process