Abstract

The morphological traits of larvae and juveniles for tapertail anchovy, Coilia nasus were f irstly described based on 16 individuals collected using ring net from Nakdong River estuary of Korea in August, 2010. A juvenile specimen is characterized by having 13 dorsal fin rays, 97 anal fin rays, 6+12 pectoral fin rays, 7 pelvic fin rays, 20 caudal fin rays, and 78 vertebrae, which is confirmed to be Coilia nasus. Our individuals belonged to three developmental stages as follows; 1) Flexion larval stage (10.9~14.3 mm SL): the caudal fin rays 19 was completed, dorsal and anal fin rays appeared, 2) Postflexion larval stage (15.5~23.9 mm SL): the body depth tended to increase, anus moved from posterior of body to half of body, and dorsal fin rays 13, pelvic fin rays 7, anal fin rays 92 and vertebrae 77~79 were completed, 3) Juvenile stage (33.7 mm SL): the pectoral fin rays 6+12 was completed with upper six rays elongated, the tip of snout projecting anteriorly, and a row of sharp scutes was present in the midventral line of body from isthmus to anus.