Morphological development and appearance of the early life history (eleutheroembryo, larvae and juvenile) in Cynotilapia afra (cobue)

Abstract

Studies on embryogenesis and larval ontogenesis have been important to the global knowledge of biology of species, primarily with relation to growth, feeding and behavioral aspects. With yolk as a food source, development of Cynotilapia afra takes place in the buccal pouch of the female until such time as juveniles are formed. The eleutheroembryo develops without metamorphic stages directly into a juvenile, forming advanced structures like fins, skeleton and pigments, at a time when large yolk sac is still present. Larvaes were sampled during the incubation period, the samples were removed from the female's buccal pouch. T hree organisms of Cynotilapia afra were preserved in 10% formalin buffered daily, during the first days and thereafter, at two days intervals. Body measurements and development have measured. At age 5 DAT, the beginning of differentiation of dorsal and anal fins were occurred. At age 11 DAT the yolk was substantially absorbed. Cynotilapia afra eleutheroembryos at the termination of endogenous nutrition and mouth incubation occur at 11 DAT. During the larval period, speed of growth is slow during the first weeks and accelerates exponentially (R2 =0.9799) from 19 DAT on, once postflexion and fin development have occurred.