Postembryonic development of cranial lateral line system in Siniperca chuatsi

We studied the process and structure of postembryonic development of the lateral cranial line system of mandarinfish (Siniperca chuatsi) by means of neuromast fluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that in the postembryonic development of the craniolateral system of S. chuatsi, precursor canal neuromasts appeared at 4 dpf, and their number tended to be stable at 30 dpf. The surface neuromasts appeared at 16 dpf, and then distributed in a large number at the top of the skull. The surface of the anterior operculum distributed in a small amount, and the mandible was not found. The establishment of craniolateral canal began at 19−22 dpf, and finished at 37 dpf. The lateral line of the cranial canal was mainly compsed of upper orbital line, lower orbital line, mandibular line and anterior operculum line. Besides, the posterior ear line connected the upper and lower orbital lines with the anterior operculum line. The temporal line started from the dorsal end of the anterior operculum line and the lateral line of the upper orbital line extended to the top of the cranium. The development speed of the neuromasts of the dorsal canal was faster than that of the ventral canal, and the distribution of the surface neuromasts was relatively concentrated. The results show that the lateral line system of S. chuatsi, which is a simple branch type, is an important part of its lateral line system. The relatively dense system of the top of skull and the relatively concentrated surface neuromasts constitute the perfect lateral line system structure of S. chuatsi.