Larval development of two atherinid fish species from the Red Sea, Egypt

Larvae of the family Atherinidae were collected throughout a period of 15 years from different areas in the Gulf of Aqaba and Red Sea proper from Hurghada to Shalteen by plankton nets of 500μm. Atherinid larvae were identified by using different identification guides. Larvae were illustrated by camera lucida and photographed by Nikon camera fixed on an Olympus microscope XZ. The morphometrics and sizes of all collected larvae were measured using an eye-piece micrometer. Very large number of larvae were collected and used for the description of all developmental stages. The smallest size of Atherinomorus lacunosus was 5 mm and the largest size was 20 mm. whereas the smallest size of Hypoatherina temmincki was 3mm and the largest was 5mm.