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...