FISHERY BULLETIN VOL 77, NO 4 





FiGURiD 6 —Pelagic juvenile (45.3 mm) and benthic juvenile 167 mml ofSebastes melanops. 



fish are between 40 and 50 mm in both species. 

 The largest pelagic juvenile and the smallest 

 benthic juvenile observed were 45 mm and 42 mm 

 for S. flavidus and 47 mm and 38 mm for S. 

 melanops (see Figures 7-10). 



Morphology (Tables 2, 4, 5). — Various body parts 

 were measured on 51 selected specimens of S. 

 flavidus (10.1-105.0 mm) and 58 specimens of S. 

 melanops (10.6-111.6 mm). Relative growth 

 trends are summarized in Table 2. 



The most important morphometric character 

 which will separate most S. flavidus from S. 

 melanops is the caudal peduncle depth/length 

 ratio. While the depth and length of the caudal 

 peduncle change only slightly during develop- 

 ment, their ratio changes notably. In S. flavidus 

 it decreases from 73 to 64 or 65% in pelagic 

 stages, increasing again to 80% in benthic 

 juveniles. In S. melanops it decreases from 88 to 

 74-77% in pelagic stages and then increases to 

 89% in benthic juveniles. This ratio is usually 



smaller in S. flavidus than in S. melanops for all 

 specimens of similar size. Caudal peduncle depth 

 is generally less and caudal peduncle length is 

 generally greater in S. flavidus than in S. 

 melanops. 



Fin Development (Tables 1-4). — Pectoral fins are 

 formed and have the adult complement of 17-19 

 (usually 18 in S. flavidus and 19 in S. melanops) 

 fin rays in the smallest specimens (10 or 11 mml 

 in the series. The fins in both species are moder- 

 ate in length, reaching 24 or 25% SL in juveniles. 



The adult pelvic fin complement (I, 5) is present 

 by 10 or 1 1 mm in both species. The pelvic fins are 

 of moderate length, averaging 13-18% SL during 

 the pelagic period. Pelvic spine length is always 

 less than pelvic fin length. 



The adult complement of 8 + 7 principal caudal 

 rays is present on the larvae of both species along 

 with six superior and five inferior secondary 

 caudal rays. Counts of superior and inferior sec- 

 ondary rays made on three stained juvenile S. 



908 



