Sakuma and Laidig: A description of larval and pelagic Sebastes goodei 



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extrusion check, the total radius, and the pre-extru- 

 sion optical pattern were recorded on all otoliths ex- 

 amined. Pre-extrusion optical patterns (as previously 

 described in Laidig and Ralston, 1995) were recorded 

 as being either "strong," "weak," or "absent." "Strong" 

 patterns were readily visible and required very little 

 focusing for resolution. In "weak" patterns, the dark 

 inner ring surrounding the primordium was not 

 readily visible without fine focusing. "Absent" pat- 

 terns were devoid of the pre-extrusion optical pat- 

 tern described for S. goodei (Laidig and Ralston, 

 1995). Ages were recorded only from otoliths with 

 clear, distinct daily rings. Ages were obtained follow- 

 ing the methods described in Laidig et al. ( 1991 ) and 

 Woodbury and Ralston (1991). 



Results 



General development 



Larval S. goodei were extruded at a size of 4.5 to 5.8 

 mm NL. Notochord flexion began at 5.7 to 6.5 mm 

 NL and was complete at 8.1 to 8.8 mm SL. Meristic 

 counts were similar to those reported by Chen ( 1986), 

 Moreland and Reilly (1991), and Laroche 2 (Table 1). 

 In late-stage flexion and recently flexed individuals 

 a full complement of pectoral-fin rays was present, 

 while the pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins had begun 

 forming. By 9.0 mm SL, the full complement of pec- 

 toral-, pelvic-, dorsal-, and anal-fin rays had devel- 



oped. Accurate gill-raker counts were obtained only 

 on large specimens (>20 mm SL). 



Changes in body shape in S. goodei were related 

 to notochord flexion (Table 2). During flexion, body 

 depth at the pectoral-fin base and at the anus in- 

 creased substantially (Table 2). Also during flexion, 

 pectoral-fin length increased with the development 

 of the full complement of fin rays (Table 2). In addi- 

 tion, head length, snout length, snout to anus dis- 

 tance, and eye diameter all showed a marked increase 

 during flexion (Table 2). 



Head spines first appeared in S. goodei at approxi- 

 mately 6.1 mm NL; the pterotic and the second an- 

 terior and third posterior preoperculars were the first 

 to form (Table 3). During late flexion (approximately 

 7.5 mm NL), the anterior and the second through 

 fifth posterior preopercular series, the postoculars, 

 and the parietals were evident (Table 3). The pari- 

 etals were serrate and longer than the nuchals, which 

 developed in postflexion individuals (approximately 8.5 

 mm SL). The first superior infraorbital also was evi- 

 dent in postflexion individuals (Table 3). The third spine 

 of the posterior preopercular series was always the long- 

 est. By 14.0 mm SL, the opercular, inferior infraorbitals, 

 supracleithral, and posttemporal spines had developed 

 and by 20.0 mm SL the nasal and tympanic spines were 

 evident (Table 3). Coronal spines were not observed on 

 any of the specimens (Table 3). Supraocular spines, 

 previously unrecorded in S. goodei (Moreland and 

 Reilly, 1991; Laroche 2 ), were observed on 11% of the 

 large individuals ( >20 mm SL )( Table 4 ). Specimens with 

 supraocular spines ranged in size from 32.0 to 50.2 mm 

 SL, indicating some variability in the occurrence of this 

 characteristic in the pelagic juvenile stage (Table 4). 



Pigment patterns 



Pre-extrusion larvae ranging in size from 5.0 to 5.8 

 mm NL had a group of 6 to 12 melanophores on the 

 cranial region, 2 to 5 melanophores on the nape, pig- 

 ment on the dorsal region of the gut, and a series of 

 15 to 25 melanophores lining the ventral body that 

 did not extend anteriorly beyond the third postanal 

 myomere (Fig. 1A). 



Recently extruded larvae (1 to 2 days old) ranging 

 in size from 4.5 to 5.7 mm NL had more developed 

 pigment on the cranium and nape than did pre-ex- 

 trusion larvae and had pigment on the dorsal region 

 of the gut and a series of 13 to 17 melanophores lin- 

 ing the ventral body that did not extend anterior to 

 the fourth postanal myomere (Table 5). Pigment on 

 the cranium persisted throughout development. By 

 5.7 to 6.1 mm NL (3 to 5 days old), pigment on the 

 outer blade of the pectoral fin became evident (Table 

 5; Fig. IB). During flexion, melanophores became 



