Morphological development and growth of larvae, juvenile and young red saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion ephippium)

In order to study the early developmental characteristics of red saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion ephippium), and provide a theoretical reference for its breeding, we had continuously observed and analyzed the morphological and growth characteristics of larvae, juveniles and young individuals. The body of 0 dah (Days after hatching) individuals (Total length 4.472‒6.152 mm) was translucent with obvious fin membrane, only a small part of yolk sac remaining, and feeding had been started. For 7 dah individuals (Total length 5.213‒12.985 mm), the fin membrane disappeared, and the development of each fin basically completed and the bands began to appear on the head, entering into juvenile stage. Then bands began to appear in the middle of the body and fully formed on the head. For 23 dah individuals (Total length>7.652 mm), the whole body was covered by scales, and the bands in the middle of the body extended to the abdomen, with yellow fins, and the trunk was mainly red pigment and yellow pigment, entering young fish stage. For 28 dah individuals, the middle band fully formed, then the bands gradually disappeared from the middle. For 130 dah individuals, the middle band disappeared completely, while the head band disappeared completely until about 160 dah. At this time, the shape and body color of young fish were the same with that of adult fish. In general, the growth of larval, juvenile and young A. ephippium showed a trend of slow-rapid-slow trend with the increase of age. The formation and disappearance of white band on the head and middle part of the body were the most obvious features during the early development stage of A. ephippium.