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Morphological characterization and temporal distribution of larvae and juveniles of Apareiodon affinis (steindachner) (osteichthyes, PArodontidae) in upper Paraná River, Paraná

With the purpose of characterizing morphologicaly the larvae and juveniles of Apareiodon affinis (Steindachner, 1879) and to verify their temporal distribution monthly samples were taken at Leopoldo's Inlet, upper Paraná River. The specimens were captured with a conic-cylindrical plankton net of mesh size 0,5mm from March 1991 to February 1992. Soon after identification, the specimens were separeted according to their development (prefle-xion, flexion, posflexion and juvenile) and then the moiphometric analyses were performed. The results showed that the larvae were captured from August 1991 to February 1992, with greatest densities in November 1991. The specimens occured in every timetable, however, larvae in pretlexion and flexion were captured during day time and, posflexion and juvenile, at night. According to series of morphological development, high body proportions variation were verifyed mainly in the head lenght, eye diameter and in height body. Moreover, the individuais showed little pigmentation and myomeres number changing between 39 to 42. The majority of morphometric characteristics have negative allometry with the cxception of head lenght with regard to standart lenght that have positive allometry.

Apareiodon affinis; morphological development; temporal distribution; upper Paraná River


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