Larval Development of the Indian Driftfish Cubiceps Squamiceps (Pisces, Nomeidae) from the Arabian Sea

This contribution describes and illustrates six larval stages of the Indian Driftfish, Cubiceps squamiceps (Nomeidae: Perciformes), from the northern Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean) which were caught during the 1987 expedition 5/leg3 of the German R/V Meteor. C. squamiceps was the last remaining species in the genus lacking sufficient information on the larvae. Meristic counts and pigment pattern in larvae of this species are very similar to those of the other phenotypically typical species in the genus, C. baxteri, but C. squamiceps has a distinctly lower pectoral fin ray number and heavy pigmentation as well as notochord flexion appearing at larger body lengths than in C. baxteri.