Electrophoretic identification of larval and O‐group flounders iRhombosolea spp.) from Wellington Harbour

Four enzymes and one protein were tested in starch and cellulose acetate gels as biochemical tags for the separation of flounder (Rhombosolea spp.) larvae and O‐groups. Lactate dehydrogenase phenotypes separated O‐groups and larvae (longer than about 5 mm) of R. plebeia from R. leporina and R. retiaria. General protein phenotypes separated similar specimens of R. leporina from R. plebeia and R. retiaria. Most Rhombosolea larvae and O‐groups caught in Wellington Harbour were R. plebeia.

Keywords:

• Rhombosolea
• electrophoresis
• larvae
• O‐group
• Wellington Harbour