Determination of larval development stages in beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758)

The study of egg and larvae stages tn fishes is one of new fields in Ichthyology. There are many changes in larvae stage and the study of fish bio-history can provide some information about the changes of this stage to us. In this study, the larvae development stages on 44 samples of Bluga larvae investigated based on the morphological observations, the pigments scattering pattern and fins development patterns. From the viewpoint of pigments pattern, the highest pigments were concentrated on the rear of head and between eyes and the lowest was on fins bud, the tip of snout and under of lateral line of body. The morphological observations in larvae stage indicated that larvae in early stage has different shape than its puberty and its appearance will change in pamllel to its development during the time, so that at the end of this stage it is so like an adult fish. In same performed researches on larvae of other sturgeon species, there are relative similarity based on pigment scattering pattern but there are significant differences in morphological observation and also the pattern of fins development.