Further Notes on the Identification and Biology of Echeneid Fishes

Abstract

Attempts to identify several small echeneid fishes revealed that some of the more useful adult characters are not present in the young. Specifically, disk length, pectoral fin rigidity, body and fin morphology, and scale size and number are features which change with growth. Certain meristic characters were found to be constant over the 14 to 640-mm length range considered, and were usable in identifying small specimens. This paper presents a key to the Echeneidae with further observations on their biology.