A Description of the Semi-buoyant Eggs and Early Developmental Stages of the Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque)

Abstract

The goldeye in Canada occurs in large muddy rivers and associated lakes, being most abundant on the plains. Spawning usually occurs from late May to early July. In Lake Claire, Alberta, males reproduce first at 6–9 years of age and females at 7–10 years; in southern Manitoba first maturity averages 2 or 3 years earlier than this. Goldeye eggs were discovered in Lake Claire. They are bathypelagic or semi-buoyant, a characteristic which is rare among freshwater fishes. The egg is spherical, measures 4 mm in diameter, has a wide perivitelline space, coarsely granular yolk, and a large oil droplet. Prehatching developmental stages, including the multicellular blastoderm, the 41- and the 51-somite embryos, are described; as are the diagnostic characteristics of early larvae (7.27–7.63 mm), late larvae (11.8–15.6 mm), postlarval young fish (16.0–29 mm), and a 33 mm fish.