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. 2026 Jul 2;20(1-6):111–128. doi: 10.1159/000552676

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2: Sequential documentation of embryonic development in European loaches at 18°C, covering cleavage, blastula, gastrulation, segmentation, and early larval stages. The panels illustrate progression from 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 32-cell stages through dome stage and epiboly (30%, 50%, and 100%, with tail bud formation), followed by somite development (2, 8, 18, and 34 somites). Later stages include hatching and early fry development, with visible structures such as the otic vesicle and external gills. Scale bars indicate 500 µm for early embryonic stages and 1 mm for larval stages.

Embryonic development during the cleavage, blastula and segmentation period in the European loaches at 18°C. a 2 cells. b 4 cells. c 8 cells. d 32 cells. e Dome stage, 30% epiboly. f 50% epiboly. g 100% epiboly, arrow indicates the tail bud. h 2 somites. i 8 somites. j 18 somites, arrow indicates the otic vesicle. k 34 somites. l Hatching. m 1st fry. n 2nd fry, arrow indicates the small external gills. Scale bar = 500 µm (a–k) and 1 mm (l–n).