The aim of the present study was to characterize the larval development of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) morphometrically, collected at Itaipu reservoir from March 1988 to April 1990. It was obtained the samples monthly, with a conic-cylindrical plankton net with 0.5mm mesh. The morphological description of the larvae of P. squamosissimus was based on different stages of development. The specimens less than 6mm long present a moderate sized head and those that are larger than this length, present a large head. The pectoral fins are in an elevated position, near the operculum bones, and the ventral fins are in thoracic positions, the body has a moderate height, the eyes are small to moderate and the mouth is large with caniniform teeth. This species presents a proportional growth among the different parts of the body, as can be seen by the high correlation coefficient values (r>0.98; p<0.001).
Plagioscion squamosissimus; fish larvae; morphology; larval development; Itaipu