FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 70, NO. 4 



Scales 



Scale formation occurs at a size between the 

 largest larva (13.0 mm), which is scaleless, and 

 the smallest juvenile (37 mm) in our collections. 



PIGMENT PATTERNS 



Pigmentation on Formalin-preserved black 

 sea bass consists of a few melanophores in char- 

 acteristic positions, mainly along the ventral 

 part of the larva (Figure 9). Other kinds of 

 larvae in the collections with spots in similar po- 

 sitions had meristic counts and body shapes ap- 

 proximating black sea bass. However, the rel- 

 ative size of the various spots in combination 

 with examination of the sequence of development 

 of meristic characters, the distinctive fin element 

 counts on larger larvae, and body shape assured 

 separation of black sea bass from other larvae. 



Head Region 



At 5 mm one spot usually forms ventrally on 

 the median cartilage between the dentaries and 

 urohyal. A second forms posterior to this on 

 some specimens (Figure 9). A spot forms at 

 4 mm on each angular (Figure 3A). A charac- 

 teristic transverse dentritic spot forms immedi- 

 ately anterior to the symphysis of the cleithra. 

 Usually there is a spot between the bases of the 



pelvic fins. Dorsally there is a variable number 

 of spots irregularly spaced on the posterodorsal 

 covering of the cerebellum, and generally a pair 

 of spots internally on the posterior surface of the 

 midbrain. Between 12 and 13 mm a band of 

 minute melanophores develops from the angular, 

 past the eye, to the anterior part of the cerebel- 

 lum. There are also several larger spots on the 

 anterior halves of the cerebral hemispheres and 

 a group of spots which originate at the eye and 

 extend posteriorly to the opercular flap. 



Gut Region 



Considerable internal pigmentation develops 

 in the dorsal area of the gut cavity, mostly on 

 the surface of the viscera. These are large spots 

 but superficially not readily definable. In lar- 

 vae up to about 6 mm, this pigment reaches the 

 exterior as a large intense spot on the posterior 

 region of the renal tract (Figures 3 A and B). 

 In some specimens there is a smaller spot just 

 anterior to the vent and another one about mid- 

 way between the origin of the pelvic fins and the 

 vent, along the midventral line (Figure 9). 



Trunk and Caudal Region 



Occasionally a few irregular spots occur dor- 

 sally on the trunk about midway on the body. Be- 

 tween 12 and 13 mm, a series of about six groups 



i(/?'^=r^=r: 



^«^4^^^i^-  



Figure 8. — Cleared and stained black sea bass larva 11.8 mm SL. 



1252 



