In this study, morphological development and allometric growth were investigated in the sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo, during larval development until the end of the weaning on day 42. Average total length (TL) of newly hatched larvae was 2.91±0.11 mm and it was 3.35±0.13 mm TL at the onset of feeding at 4 days after hatching (DAH). Initial swimbladder inflation occurred at 10 DAH (5.11±0.45 mm TL) and post-inflation became more elongate at 15 DAH (5.95±0.43 mm TL). The notochord flexion occurred between 5.95±0.43 mm TL at 15 DAH and 7.98±0.72 mm TL on 24 DAH. At the end of weaning, larvae were 16.03±1.74 mm TL at 42 DAH. The majority of all allometric changes from inflection point were integrated with the larval and the metamorphosis stage. Inflections in body proportion changes occurred mainly at 5.12, 5.95 and 7.98 mm TL, corresponding to initial swimbladder inflation and flexion period of notochord, respectively.

In this study, morphological development and allometric growth were investigated in the sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo, during larval development until the end of the weaning on day 42. Average total length (TL) of newly hatched larvae was 2.91±0.11 mm and it was 3.35±0.13 mm TL at the onset of feeding at 4 days after hatching (DAH). Initial swimbladder inflation occurred at 10 DAH (5.11±0.45 mm TL) and post-inflation became more elongate at 15 DAH (5.95±0.43 mm TL). The notochord flexion occurred between 5.95±0.43 mm TL at 15 DAH and 7.98±0.72 mm TL on 24 DAH. At the end of weaning, larvae were 16.03±1.74 mm TL at 42 DAH. The majority of all allometric changes from inflection point were integrated with the larval and the metamorphosis stage. Inflections in body proportion changes occurred mainly at 5.12, 5.95 and 7.98 mm TL, corresponding to initial swimbladder inflation and flexion period of notochord, respectively.