Embryonic and Early Larval Development in Hatchery‐Reared Common Snook

To gain an improved understanding of the early life history of common snook Centropomus undecimalis and refine hatchery production techniques for this species, a combination of digital photography and histological techniques were used to document the embryonic and early larval development of hatchery‐reared individuals. Embryo development from fertilization to hatching took 15 h at 28°C. Larvae at 2 d posthatch showed fully pigmented eyes, and histological sections of the digestive tract revealed the presence of cellular structures indicative of a functional gut. This suggests that common snook larvae have the mechanical ability to detect, capture, and digest prey at 2 d posthatch.