Monteiro, J.Borges, Rita AlexandraRobalo, Joana IsabelAlmada, Vítor CarvalhoHenriques, S.Gonçalves, Emanuel João2012-05-222012-05-222008Journal of Fish Biology, 73, 123-1380022-1112http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/1392Larval development of Gobius xanthocephalus with descriptions of the ontogeny of the main structures, changes in pigmentation patterns and allometric relationships are presented for the first time.No previous descriptions of G. xanthocephalus larvae are available and therefore field collected larvae were compared with larvae obtained under controlled conditions. The DNA of adults, juveniles and larvae was compared in order to validate identifications. The overall developmental sequence obtained agreeswiththose described for other gobies.Pigmentation patternswere, however, distinct from those of other sympatric Gobiidae allowing a clear identification of G. xanthocephalus larvae. Otolith microstructure analysis revealed a linear age and body length relationship, with an estimated larval growth rate of 0.28 mm day-1.engDNA validationGobius xanthocephalusLarval descriptionOntogenetic developmentjournal article