Abstract:The embryonic and morphological development of larval, juvenile and young kelp bass Epinephelus moara were observed and studied. The morphological features and the developmental phases were described in great detail from fertilization to young fish. The results showed that the time period for embryonic development is 38h 17min at 22±0.2℃, salinity 30, DO 7.8mg/L, and pH 8.25. Based on the obtained data, six periods including 28 stages of E. moara embryo were described, which were cleavage, blastula, gastrula, neurula, organogenesis, and hatching period. After being reared for 5 days in the sea water at 23±1℃, salinity 30±3, DO≥5mg／L, pH 8.0±0.5, the yolk-sac of larvae disappeared and the late larval stage began; after 27 days, the faster growing larvae developed into juveniles; after 65 days, the faster growing juveniles completed metamorphosis and became young fish. The post embryonic development of E. moara was divided into larval stage, juvenile stage as well as young fish stage, based on the features of the yolk-sac, finfold, pelvic fin spine, second dorsal fin spine, scale and body color. Accordingly, the larval stage was further classified into early larvae and late larvae, according to the existance of the yolk-sac, respectively.
