Abstract:The development of the vertebral column and the appendicular skeleton of C. nasus was described. A series of wild specimens 7.0-33.9mm were cleared and stained for both cartilage and bone. All the skeletons developed in following sequence: pectoral girdle, dorsal and anal fin supports, haemal arches, neural arches and hypurals, vertebra, pelvic fin supports, epurals, predorsal bones, pleural ribs. According to the observation, the postcleithra was absent in C. nasus. Coracoidscapula cartilages were joined at ventral part. Parhypural connected to hypural 1 by temporary cartilage connection in specimen 20.1mm SL. The anterior epurals 1 and 2 fused together, resulting in a rodlike epural 1+2. An isolated neural arch was observed between neurocranium and first neural arch. The vertebral column developed both anteriad and posteriad center on the area ahead the middle section. All these characteristics were typical within engraulidid fish, except for the sequence of neural and haemal arches occurrence. The haemal arches started to develop both anteriad and posteriad from the middle part of notochord, and the neural arches also started to develop from the middle section and later also posteriad from just behind the head in specimen 12.4mm SL. This showed more similarity with higher fishes than fishes in Clupeiformes, thus C. nasus may be a transitional specie in evolution.