Table 1S Diagnostic features of sciaenid larvae in preflexion reported in the upper Gulf of California, based on Moser (1996)

Species / Pigmentation
NV / NL / Body / Gut-anus / VTS / EP-VTS / DT
Atractoscion nobilis / 25 / 3.7 / Sheath expands to midtail; accentuated on lateral midline / – / – / – / –
Cheilotrema saturnum / 25 / 2.4–4.2 / On head; internally below the brain and otic capsule and externally on preopercular and opercular region; laterally on lower jaw (some specimens); on inner and lateral surfaces of pectoral base and on blade / Bar (superficial and in myosepta) between nape and gut; extending into finfold. / 6–10 / – / –
Seriphus politus / 24–25 / 2.6–3.9 / Anteriorly on lower jaw (some specimens); on angular; beneath hindbrain; above gas bladder / Above hindgut; ventrally on gut; embedded anteriorly on gut; on pre-anal finfold. / 15–20 / Blotches at myomers 11–13 and 19–21; 1 at hypural margin. / –
Umbrina roncador / 25 / 2.2–2.9 / Embedded below brain from hindbrain to snout in floor of otic capsule; anteriorly on upper and lower jaw; heavy on nape; trunk bar moves anteriorly; coalescing with nape patch; on both sides of pectoral base and blade / Heavy patch ventrally on gut / 16–20 / 1–2 at midtail / –

NV number of vertebrae, NL notochord length (mm), VTS ventral tail series, EP-VTS enlarged pigments in ventral tail series, DT dorsal tail. Dashes indicate absence of characters


Table 2S Diagnostic features of sciaenid larvae in preflexion reported in the northeastern Pacific, based on Moser (1996)

Species / Pigmentation
NV / NL / Body / Gut-anus / VTS / EP-VTS / DT
Genyonemus lineatus / 26 / 3.0–4.9 / None on head; except at angular and in otic capsule (most specimens); on nape; above swimbladder; 1 in maxilla / Dorsally on hindgut; embedded anterior to gut; on ventral midline of gut; 1 on pre-anal finfold / Larger and more widely spaced anteriorly on tail / 1 at midtail / 1 at midtail (in some specimens)
Menticirrhus undulatus / 25 / 2.6–3.8 / Sparse on brain; on snout; heavy below entire brain and otic capsule; on lower and upper jaw extending to preopercle; on opercle; trunk covering with a few extending into dorsal finfold; on inner and lateral surface of pectoral base / Gut covered with heavy patch on ventral surface / Heaviest anteriorly in ventral tail series; series on lateral midline anteriorly on tail / – / –
Roncador stearnsii / 25 / 2.5–4.2 / On midlateral lower jaw and angular; internally beneath hindbrain and otic capsule; on nape; heavy above gas bladder; 1 just anterior to cleithral junction / Embedded anteriorly on gut and on dorsal surface of hindgut; on ventral midline of gut; on pre-anal finfold / Usually 16–20 in ventral tail series (slightly smaller and more closely spaced in posterior half of series) / 1 at midtail or slightly posterior to midtail / –

NV number of vertebrae, NL notochord length (mm), VTS ventral tail series, EP-VTS enlarged pigments in ventral tail series, DT dorsal tail. Dashes indicate absence of characters


Table 3S Diagnostic features of sciaenid preflexion larvae reported in this study and in Cynoscion parvipinnis (Ramírez-Sevilla et al. 1986)

Species / Pigmentation
NV / NL / Body / Gut-anus / VTS / EP-VTS / DT
Totoaba macdonaldi / 25 / 2.6–3.0 / Anteriorly on lower jaw; heavy pigment spots above swim bladder; two small stellate pigment spots in first two dorsal myomers / One stellate pigment spot embedded in gut and one in ventral midline; heavily pigmented pre-anal finfold / ≥20 / Blotches of pigment spots between myomers 16–18 / –
Cynoscion reticulatus / 25 / 4.0–4.9 / On angle of lower jaw; 1 on ventral midline of lower jaw; above swimbladder / Anterior pigment spots embedded on gut; on the dorsal surface of the hindgut; 3–4 pairs of pigment spots on ventral midline of gut; on the pre-anal finfold / 6 / Two enlarged between myomers 15–17 / 1–2 between myomers 15–16
C. parvipinnis / 25 / 2.2–2.6 / Pigment spots like dendritic melanophores above cephalic region, to the level of the otic capsule, on the lateral midline. Anteriorly to the otic capsule in larger larvae / A series of pigment spots in the back of intestine. In larger larvae; a dash of pigment spots on the ventral subsequent to cleithral junction, anteriorly to intestine and visceral mass / A series of pigment spots from anus to the height of last dorsal pigment spot (parallel to it), and one on caudal peduncle / – / Pigment spots to the height of anus and between this last position and the last myomere

NV number of vertebrae, NL notochord length (mm), VTS ventral tail series, EP-VTS enlarged pigments in ventral tail series, DT dorsal tail. Dashes indicate absence of characters