Mature males and females of Leporinus piau (Fowler, 1941) were induced to reproduce through a hypophysation process. Extrusion occurred 12 h or 312 hours-degree after the hypophysation, at a water temperature of 26°C. Fertilized eggs were maintained in incubators at 24°C. Embryonic development, was evaluated using every 10 minutes, fresh egg samples which were analyzed under stereoscopic microscope. The larvae were collected at 24-hour intervals for seven days after hatching, fixed in Bouin's fluid and were submitted to routine histological techniques. The eggs of L. piau were slightly gray, non-adhesive and round-shaped. After 1.5 h the embryo was at the 64-blastomere phase and showed a wide yolk region on the vegetative pole. Within 6.25 h, blastopore closure and the end of gastrula was observed. The differentiation of layers occurred after 7.5 h and hatching after 21 h after fertilization at 24°C or 504 hours-degree. During the first three days of the larvae development there was a gradual yolk sac reduction until its complete absorption on the fourth day, indicating the necessity of exogenous feeding. From the fourth to the seventh day, the final development of the heart, gill arches, swimblader, kidney, hepatopancreas, stomach and intestine were observed. The embryonic and larval development of L. piau were similar to other Anastomidae species.
Embryo; induced spawn; teleost fish
