Form Changes in Fish Larvae in Relation To Changing Demands of Function

Remodelling of fish larvae during metamorphosis involves different growth rates of parts of their body with respect to length and weight. The hypothesis that different growth rates, in the size range between 5 and 20 mm, are required to meet the changing demands of swimming, feeding and respiration are tested using data obtained from high speed movies and studies of larval morphology. Changing growth rates appear to reflect closely the size and feeding ecology dependent functional requirements.