Osteological development of the vertebral column and of the fins in Diplodus puntazzo (Cetti, 1777)

The normal development of the vertebral column and of the fins in Diplodus puntazzo (Cetti, 1777) was studied. The ontogenetic pattern of the skeleton follows that described in all other Sparidae studied so far: the onset of the ontogeny of the vertebral column is at 4.9 mm total length (TL) with the formation of the first neural processes, while the vertebral centra begin forming at 5.8 mm TL and are completed by 8.1 mm TL. Pectoral supports (cleithrum, coracoid-scapula cartilage, fin plate) are the first fin elements to be formed at 2.9 mm TL and are followed by those of the caudal (4.5 mm TL), dorsal, anal (6.4 mm TL) and finally by those of the pelvic fin (8.1 mm TL). The caudal fin is the first to develop fin rays and attain the full count of lepidotrichia (5.8-7.1 mm TL), but the last to attain the full count of all its rays (dermatotrichia, 14.1 mm TL). The next fins to complete their rays are the anal (8.5 mm TL), the dorsal (10.1 mm TL) and finally the pectoral and the pelvic (10.6 mm TL). Fin meristic characters were compared between the reared and 27 wild D. puntazzo juveniles. The results of the skeletal ontogeny are compared with the pattern of development of the Sparidae.