Short Communication.

Early developmental stages of the hybrids Dentex (Dentex) dentex ... × Pagrus major ... and P. major ... × D. dentex ... were compared with those of the parental species. Fertilization rates were slightly different from those obtained with the parental fish. Two periods of mortality were noted, one immediately after fertilization and the other about 1 day before hatching. The mean hatching times of the hybrids and parental species were not significantly different (P ≤ 0.01). Growth of larvae from both maternal species and hybrids at the beginning of active feeding (day 6 after hatching) to day 30 was also not significantly different (P ≤ 0.01). One D. dentex ... × P. major ... hybrid reached a total length of 5.7cm at day 104; this specimen became highly cannibalistic, typical for the species. Descriptions of early stages of hybrids and their differences in terms of morphological features of parental species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]