NSMT-PL 570 7.18 mm frontal

Description:

Description: English: Frontal view on a cleared and double stained larva of a Flying Gurnard, family Dactylopteridae. Bone is stained red and cartilage blue. The head of the pelagic dactylopterid larvae is encased in a bony armour and armed with serrate spines. The heavy head armour and the spines are lost during transformation into a juvenile. Larva size 7.2 mm. Composite image captured using a Zeiss Axiocam mounted on a Zeiss SteREO Discovery V12. English: Frontal view of a Flying Gunard larvae, cleared and stained. Date: 26 August 2009. Source: Own work. Author: Nalani Schnell.