Morphology, and changes of distribution and food habits with growth, of late larvae and juveniles of black-spot tuskfish, Choerodon schoenleinii (Labridae), settled on seagrass beds of Okinawa island, the Ryukyus [Japan]

Morphology and ecology in early life stages of black-spot tuskfish were studied in northern part of Okinawa Island from 1984 to 1991. The postflexion larva of 7.7mm TL was laterally compressed with moderately large mouth, being scarce pigmented. In the 14.9mm TL juvenile, the body became deeper with rounded head and pigments forming four transverse bands on the body. Underwater observations with SCUBA and sampling with the seine revealed that juveniles settled on seagrass beds from May to June and stayed there during summer. Thereafter they gradually moved out of seagrass beds with growth. Diet composition changed with growth from small crustaceans to various organisms such as large crustaceans, gastropods, bivalves and so on and were diversified.