In this study, the embryonic development of Syngnathus schlegeli is first described based on external morphological characteristics and then the genetic relationship between embryos is investigated using a microsatellite-based approach. Embryonic development proceeds from fertilized egg to prerelease of larva and can be categorized into four periods: early embryogenesis, eye development, snout formation and larva, which can be further divided into 15 stages. Embryos in the brood pouch are all in the same developmental stage. However, multi-maternity is observed in all sampled broods. Microsatellite-based parentage analysis suggests that pregnant males had, per male, mated with and received eggs from 3 to 7 females, with average being 4.3. The embryos of full sibs within a brood pouch were clustered, and seven patterns of parentage were observed. Combining previous studies with the evidence obtained from genotyped eggs inside the brood pouch in this study, we can confirm that the mating pattern of S. schlegeli is polygamous.

中文翻译：

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海藻尖嘴鱼 Syngnathus schlegeli 的胚胎发育和基于微卫星的亲子鉴定

在这项研究中，首先根据外部形态特征描述 Syngnathus schlegeli 的胚胎发育，然后使用基于微卫星的方法研究胚胎之间的遗传关系。胚胎发育从受精卵到幼虫预释放，可分为早期胚胎发生、眼发育、口鼻形成和幼虫四个阶段，可进一步分为15个阶段。育雏袋中的胚胎都处于同一发育阶段。然而，在所有采样的育雏中都观察到了多母性。基于微卫星的亲本分析表明，怀孕的雄性每只雄性与 3 到 7 个雌性交配并接受了卵，平均为 4.3 个。育雏袋内全同胞的胚胎成簇，并观察到七种亲子关系模式。