Diel and Seasonal Occurrence Patterns of Drifting Fish Larvae in the Teima Stream, Okinawa Island

Drifting fish larvae were collected with a plankton net in the lower reaches of a freshwater area of the Teima Stream, Okinawa Island, Japan, during 24 hr periods each month from June 1998 to October 1999 (except July 1998). Newly hatched larvae of several gobioid and two pipefish species were collected, and their morphology was described. The larval occurrences suggested that most species spawn mainly from spring to fall, with some Rhinogobius species spawning in winter. Larvae of all fishes occurred predominantly during hours after dusk throughout the year. It is suggested that larvae of amphidromous fishes spawned in freshwater streams on Okinawa Island begin to drift soon after hatching at dusk and complete their exit from freshwater areas into the estuary and sea by midnight.