On 11 June 1991, eggs from the brood stock of small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) were artificially fertilized using the standard dry method and were hatched. Each of the fertilized eggs (1.1-1.2 mm in diameter) had an oil globule and was transparent and buoyant. The fertilized eggs hatched in a range of water temperatures $(17.5-20.3^{circ}C)$ 44 hrs after fertilization. The total lengths of the newly hatched larvae were 3.1-3.3 mm, and these hatchlings had 31 myotomes (10+21). Melanophores and yellow-brown chromatophores were concentrated on the head, at the ventral part of the yolk, and in the middle of the tail. Four days after hatching, the larvae completely absorbed the yolk and became flexions of 5.1-5.5 mm in total length. Fifteen days after hatching, one spine (the anterior tip of the maxillary) appeared in the upper jaw and three spines developed at the upper parts of the eyes and on the posterior part of the head. At this stage, the larvae were approximately 8.3 mm long. Thirty-nine days after hatching, juveniles (1.9-3.4 mm in total length) had a pointed tail fin. By 66 days after hatching, the juvenile fish (about 4.0-6.5 mm in total length) were similar to adult fish in body shape. The larvae of L. polyactis could be distinguished from those of L. croacea by two distinct characteristics: the large number of vertebrae (28-29), and a relatively small bony ridge on the occipital region of the head.