Osteological development of the lumpfish, Inimicus japonicus (Pisces: Synanceiidae)

The osteological development of the synanceiid, Inimicus japonicus, was described on the basis of five larvae and four juveniles (4.2-10.1 mm BL) reared in the laboratory. and two wild adult specimens. All bones, except for the basisphenoid, were formed in all larvae and juveniles, but fusions between the uppermost actinost and scapula, upper caudal plate and urostyle, and third preural centrum and hemal spine were not completed by 10.1 mm BL. Following comparison with the adult condition, a rod-like ossified bone without a tooth plate on the upper branchial arch of larvae and juveniles was considered homologous with the second pharyngobranchial. The number of epurals and length of the neural spine on the second preural centrum varied (unrelated to growth) and it is inferred that I. japonicus shows intraspecific variations in these bones.