Embryonic and Early Larval Development in Hatchery-Reared Common Snook

To gain an improved understanding of the early life history of common snook Centropomus undecimalis and refine hatchery production techniques for this species, a combination of digital photography and histological techniques were used to document the embryonic and early larval development of hatchery-reared individuals. Embryo development from fertilization to hatching took 15 h at 28 degrees C. Larvae at 2 d posthatch showed fully pigmented eyes, and histological sections of the digestive tract revealed the presence of cellular structures indicative of a functional gut. This suggests that common snook larvae have the mechanical ability to detect, capture, and digest prey at 2 d posthatch.