Ice goby (Shiro-uo), Leucopsarion petersii, may be a useful material for studying teleostean embryogenesis

Abstract

The highly diverse Perciformes are the most numerous and most advanced group of the teleosts, but experimental embryology has almost completely neglected them. The ice goby (shiro-uo), Leucopsarion petersii, deserves attention as a useful species for this purpose. It is readily available commercially from fishermen, and their mature adults can be easily kept and bred in the laboratory. Its totally transparent eggs and embryos develop swiftly and easily under simple culture conditions. Cleavage is finished in 17 hr at 20 °C and most organs are established in 3 days. Main stages of embryonic development and methods of handling are described.