FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL, 79, NO. 1 



Table 1. Species from areas outside the northeast 

 Pacific are included when larvae are know^n be- 

 cause of the taxonomic information their larvae 

 may provide. Generic level designations are used 

 throughout the text for continuity and emphasis 

 although larvae of all species (number of species 

 based on the taxonomic status summary by Howe 

 and Richardson footnote 3) in a genus may not be 

 known. In some cases the genera are monotypic 

 (Chitonotus, Dasycottus, Gilbertidia, Leptocottus, 

 Orthonopias, Paricelinus, Rhamphocottus , Scor- 

 paenichthys) and thus larval characters of the 

 genus may readily be defined. At least some 

 developmental stages are known for all six species 

 of Hemilepidotus, providing good generic level 

 definition. In some cases larvae of a few, but not all 

 species v^dthin a genus are known [Artedius (3 

 species out of 7); Gymnocanthus (3 of 6); Hemitrip- 

 terus (2 of 2 or 3); Myoxocephalus (5 of 18); 

 Oligocottus (2 of 4); Radulinus (2 of 5); Triglops (3 

 of 9)]. In those instances, constancy of larval 

 characters among species provides good indica- 

 tions of generic level definition. Larvae oflcelinus 

 spp. have only been described at the generic level 

 as none of the eight species have yet been distin- 

 guished. For some genera, larvae are known for 

 only one of a few species: Blepsias (1 of 2), Cottus 

 (1 of 2 brackish water species), Icelus (1 of 13), 

 Malacocottus (1 of 5), Nautichthys (1 of 3), 

 Psychrolutes (1 of 2). In those, generic level defini- 

 tion may not be as precise; however, larvae of all 

 species appear rather distinctive and thus may be 

 good representatives of their genera. In the follow- 

 ing summary those genera which provide the best 

 examples of patterns are listed in parentheses. 



Principal preopercular spines typically (18 of 25 

 genera) number 4 {Scorpaenichthys, Icelinus, 

 Leptocottus, Enophrys) and may vary in degree of 

 development. Modifications of this basic pattern 

 may occur (Myoxocephalus, 1 Malacocottus) in 

 which four main spines are present with one or 

 two auxiliary spines. Another pattern consists of 

 multiple preopercular spines, usually small, num- 

 bering up to ca. 25 {Artedius, Clinocottus). Some- 

 times only one spine is present (Rhamphocottus) 

 or none (Psychrolutes, Gilbertidia). Spines in 

 other regions of the head (particularly parietal- 

 nuchal, postocular, posttemporal-supracleithral, 

 opercular) may also be important. 



General body shape can range from rather 

 stubby and deep (Artedius, Enophrys) to moder- 

 ately slender and elongate (Icelinus, Triglops) to 

 globose (? Malacocottus) . The snout can be quite 



rounded (Scorpaenichthys, Hemilepidotus) or 

 pointed (Icelinus, Chitonotus). Snout to anus 

 length can be rather short, <40% SL (standard 

 length) (Dasycottus), to moderately long, >60% 

 SL (Rhamphocottus), although this can change 

 with development. The gut may appear tightly 

 compacted (Dasycottus) or be distinctively coiled 

 (Cottus). The hindgut may trail somewhat below 

 the body (Artedius, Clinocottus). Unusual gut 

 diverticula may be present (Artedius, Clinocot- 

 tus). Pectoral fins may be noticeably elongated 

 (Nautichthys) or fanlike early in development 

 ( Myoxocephalus ) . 



Melanistic pigment patterns range from rela- 

 tively unpigmented to heavily pigmented. Pig- 

 ment may be variously present or absent over the 

 head, snout, cheek, jaws, cleithral base, throat. 

 Pigment over the dorsolateral surface of the gut 

 may vary in intensity, ventrolateral extent, and 

 pattern (e.g., bars, Leptocottus; distinct round 

 melanophores, Enophrys). In some species the 

 entire gut region is pigmented (Paricelinus). The 

 ventral midline of the gut may have a distinct line 

 of melanophores (Co^^us, some Myoxocephalus) or 

 be unpigmented (Scorpaenichthys). The nape may 

 be distinctively pigmented (Artedius, Enophrys). 

 The lateral body surface above the gut may be 

 unpigmented (Chitonotus), have dorsolateral pig- 

 ment not extending to the gut (Radulinus) or be 

 entirely pigmented (Scorpaenichthys). In the tail 

 region posterior to the anus, pigment may be 

 absent (some Triglops, Dasycottus), present along 

 only the ventral midline (Artedius, Chitonotus), 

 present along only the ventral and dorsal midlines 

 [Gymnocanthus , small (<8 mm) Hemilepidotus], 

 or present on the lateral body surface, sometimes 

 in combination with a ventral midline series 

 (Scorpaenichthys, Radulinus, Blepsias). Num- 

 ber, spacing, position, and shape of ventral mid- 

 line melanophores are important as is the pos- 

 terior extent of lateral pigment. Melanophores 

 may variously appear along the caudal fin base 

 (Paricelinus, Chitonotus). Pectoral fins are gen- 

 erally unpigmented, but some species have heav- 

 ily pigmented fins (Psychrolutes, Gilbertidia) or a 

 pigment band along the fin margin (Nautichthys). 



LARVAL COTTID GROUPS 



Within the 25 cottid genera considered, 6 groups 

 of genera are apparent based on shared larval 

 characters, i.e., similarity , and 6 genera do not fit 

 into any group (Table 2). Characters within each 



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