NOTE : Vertebral Numbers in Larval and Juvenile Haddock of the Scotian Shelf and Implications for Stock Discrimination

Analysis of vertebral number in larval and juvenile haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) from different parts of the Scotian Shelf indicated that juveniles from the northeastern area (Div. 4V) had significantly fewer vertebrae than those from the central and southwestern areas (Div. 4W and 4X). This is in contrast to previous studies of vertebral number in adults. Complex segmentation in the caudal region of the vertebral column occurred in about 25% of the specimens in the length range of 15-220 mm.