Terminology for the early developmental stages of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell): working definitions for aquaculture

摘要

There is a difficult path to tread between strictly accurate scientific nomenclature, which definitively and clearly characterizes exact developmental stages, and the vernacular names popularly used in the fish culture industry. On the one hand, the recognition of early life stages by the culturist is important because the requirements of young fish change rapidly with age (e.g. Hogendoorn 1980; VerrethVan Tongeren 1989). On the other hand, recognition of microscopic changes can be more subjective than definitive and may be of no actual benefit in fish culture. Working definitions of developmental stages for aquaculture are therefore most usefully practical ones. In response to calls for a clear definition regarding the length of the larval period, in order to enhance the compatibility of different studies (VerrethVan Tongeren 1989), the following definitions for African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) are suggested.