Sharing Morphospaces: Early Ontogenetic Shape Changes In Two Clingfish Larvae (Pisces: Gobiesocidae) From The South-East Pacific Ocean

Larval body shape changes and developmental timing were examined in two clingfish species from the south‐east Pacific Ocean, Gobiesox marmoratus and Sicyases sanguineus . Ontogenetic allometry showed no interspecific variation and <7 mm standard length ( L S ) larvae of both species occupied similar morphospace, but larger G. marmoratus showed increased body depth while larvae of S. sanguineus developed a flattened head and maintained a hydrodynamic body. Estimated developmental timing suggests that larval body shape changes were faster in G. marmoratus than in S. sanguineus prior to settlement.