Table 1.
DNA barcoding results for 100 larval fish specimens in two different years.
Table 2.
The correctness of larval fish identification among the five labs (values in parentheses represent calculations skipping blank/unidentified answers).
Figure 1.
The two specimens of three morphotypes (No. 12, 83, and 90) were identified as different species or families, but were proven to be identical species through barcoding.
Shown here: Katsuwonus pelamis 4.8 and 4.2 mm SL (12a and 12b); Tripterygiidae 9.5 and 9.3 mm (83a and 83b); and Abudefduf vaigiensis 2.8 and 3.0 mm (90a and 90b).
Figure 2.
New records can be found by barcoding larval fishes, such as Sudis hyaline 8.0 mm SL (No. 3); Pseudojuloides severnsi 5.0 mm (No. 42); Pterocaesio tessellate 16.0 mm (No. 53); Cirrhilabrus katherinae 4.8 mm (No. 84); and Scombrops gilberti 6.3 mm (No. 99).
Figure 3.
The morphological characters in Sparidae larval fishes are easy to be misidentified.
Shown here are Evynnis cardinalis 5.5, 4.4, 3.3, and 4.8 mm SL (No. 18, 28, 30, and 98, respectively) and Sparidae 2.6 mm (No. 29).
Figure 4.
The morphological characters in Scorpaenidae larval fishes are easy to be misidentified.
Shown here are Sebastapistes strongia 2.2 mm SL (No. 17) and Sebastiscus marmoratus 4.3 mm (No. 19).
Figure 5.
Some families can be easily misidentified as other families: Caprodon schlegelii 5.7 mm SL (No. 22); Canthigaster rivulata 9.0 mm (No. 64); Gempylidae 18.0 mm (No. 70); and Hoplolatilus sp. 15.0 mm (No. 72).
Figure 6.
Only two specimens were identified correctly by all five labs: Mene maculata 4.5 mm SL (No. 7) and Microcanthus strigatus 15.0 mm (No. 49).