Abstract: " Egg cases were collected from the Monterey
Submarine Canyon and transported to a deep sea holding facility at the Monterey
Bay Aquarium. Yolk diameter, embryo length, gill and eye development were observed
on an monthly or bimonthly schedule. Incubation period is approximately 24 months
and hatchlings survived 30-50 days with no feeding observed despite attempts
to feed them.
(If I (HFM) remember correctly, water temperature was between 8 and 10 degrees
Celsius)
| Incubation Interval (month) | Embryo size (mm) | Yolk size (mm) | Branchial development | Eye development | Fin development | Head development, Head width | Pigmentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | blastodisk | oval | |||||
| 3 | 5 mm, imbedded | oval | translucent | ||||
| 6 | 14-18 mm | oval | gill slits, heart beginning | orbit developing | dorsal/anal fins | nares | opaque |
| 9 | 19-25 mm | oval | ext. filaments | eye formed | buccal cavity | opaque | |
| 12, eggcase opens | 26-35 mm | oval, ca. 20 mm | filaments 1-2 mm | black outer ring, pupil formed | pect/pelvic fins, myotomes | nares formed | |
| 15 | 36-45 mm | 19-18 mm | filaments 3-5 mm | black outer ring vascularized | denticles on dorsal side and tail | head flattened, HW = 5-6 mm | |
| 18 | 46-55 mm | 17-16 mm | filaments being resorbed, 1.5 mm | eye bulging, black and red ring | fins almost distinct | HW = 7-8 mm | light pink |
| 21 | 56-65 mm | 15-13 mm | filaments resorbed | entire eye black, well developed | fins developed | HW = 9-10 mm, vascularized | body pink, tail light brown |
| 24 | 66-75 mm | 12-6 mm, absorbing internally | developed | eye green, developed | HW = 11-12 mm | head and tail brown | |
| 27, ready to hatch | 76-85 mm | 5-1.5 mm, absorbed internally | developed | eye green, developed | HW = 13-15 mm |
Created 1992 by Gilbert Van Dykhuizen; revised Jan. 1996. For question please email gvan@wwdb.org