FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 70, NO. 4 



Formalin" were returned to the laboratory where 

 fish eggs and larvae were removed. 



Black sea bass larvae were identified using 

 criteria described, separated from the rest of 

 the larvae in the Dolphin collections, counted and 

 measured in standard length (SL). Black sea 

 bass eggs are not well described, and several of 

 their characteristics apply to many other species, 

 so they were not identified in our samples. Other 

 young black sea bass examined included one 

 larva (13.0 mm SL)^ and several juveniles (37- 

 73 mm SL) .' Body proportions were measured 

 to the nearest 0.1 mm on selected larvae in 

 Formalin on a depression slide with an ocular 

 micrometer. The base points for larval measure- 

 ments approximate those used by Ahlstrom and 

 Ball (1954) except body depth, which was mea- 

 sured at the junction of the cleithra, and stan- 

 dard length, measured to the distal ends of the 

 hjq^urals when formed. Base points for mea- 

 surements of juveniles follow Hubbs and Lagler 

 (1958), We determined meristic counts on se- 

 lected specimens lightly stained with alizarin 

 red. Osteological examination was made from 

 specimens cleared and stained following Cloth- 

 ier's (1950) method. Michael P. Fahay illus- 

 trated the larvae (Figures 3 and 9). 



DESCRIPTION OF LARVAE 



In the following description, features useful 

 in identifying black sea bass larvae are empha- 

 sized rather than those demonstrating general 

 teleostean development. The approach follows 

 Ahlstrom and Ball (1954) in that each feature 

 is at once traced through its development within 

 the size range (2-13 mm) of the available larvae. 

 Four areas of development are described: ar- 

 mature, body shape, meristic characters, and 

 pigment patterns. Stages of development of 

 black sea bass larvae are illustrated in Figure 3. 



'' Reference to trade names in the publication does not 

 imply endorsement of commercial products by the Na- 

 tional Marine Fisheries Service. 



^ Collected on October 5, 1967, at Corson Inlet, N.J., 

 by Walter S. Murawski, Jr., New Jersey Department of 

 Conservation and Economic Development. 



* Inshore seining collections of fish from New Jersey 

 taken by Dr. Albert E. Parr. 



ARMATURE 



Among larvae of serranids which have been 

 described there is diversity of development of 

 armature. Species of Epmephelus develop an- 

 terior dorsal and pelvic spines nearly as long as 

 the larva. These spines are barbed and serrated. 

 Preopercular spines are also well developed 

 (Sparta, 1935; Mito, Ukawa, and Higuchi, 1967; 

 Presley, 1970) . Larvae of other genera are less 

 ornate and the relative length of fin spines is 

 near that of the adults in some (Bertolini, 1933) . 

 Black sea bass larvae are among the serranids 

 with little development of armature. No fin 

 spines are either serrated or pronounced. Pelvic 

 fin spines do not reach the vent; the dorsal and 

 anal fin spines are shorter than the rays. Four 

 to seven short, widely spaced spines are present 

 on the posterior margins of the preopercle and 

 opercle on larvae longer than 5 mm. The three 

 small spines on the opercular flap of the adult 

 form at 8 mm (Figure 3C). Preopercular ser- 

 rations characteristic of the adult develop early 

 in the juvenile stage. 



BODY SHAPE 



Changes from larval to adult body form take 

 place over a narrow size range, and the extent 

 of development among fish with similar standard 

 lengths varies. Some body proportions of ju- 

 venile and adult black sea bass given by Miller 

 (1959) are compared to those of the developing 

 larvae in this section and in Figures 4 to 6. Be- 

 tween 2 and 5 mm the body proportions remain 

 fairly constant with a slight increase in snout 

 and eye length, and body and caudal peduncle 

 depth, relative to standard length. Most head 

 and body proportions increase significantly be- 

 tween 5 and 6 mm then level oflf as they approach 

 those of the adult. Caudal peduncle depth and 

 total length, relative to standard length, continue 

 to increase through the larval stage as the caudal 

 fin develops. Body depth, head length, and pre- 

 anal length proportions increase through the ju- 

 venile stage. The adult black sea bass is robust 

 with a large terminal mouth and large head. The 

 back is slightly elevated anteriorly. The dorsal 

 fins are contiguous and the pectorals and pelvics 



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