4 . 7 WW 



5.5 mm 



6.2 wm 



Figure 1. — Developmental stages ofGobiesox rhessodon . The 3,9-mm larva was reared in the laboratory i <24 hi. The remainder are 



from plankton collections. 



juvenile fishes in southern California coastal 

 areas have included G. rhessodon exclusively 

 (Horn and Allen 1976). 



RiniiLoU. 



I numiirnm 



postanal myomere, and the absence of pigmenta- 

 tion on the ventral tail region (Table 1). Yolk-sac 

 larvae do not have head pigment. Adult counts are 

 also markedly different from G. rhessodon (Table 

 1). 



Yolk-sac larvae of R. niuscarum (Figure 4), 

 shortly after hatching, can be distinguished from 

 G. rhessodon larvae at this stage by the greater 

 number of lateral, stellate melanophores (40-50) 

 in four rows that continue to the sixth or seventh 



Comparison 



Three species oiGobiesox, in addition to G. rhes- 

 sodon. have been reported in southern California: 

 G. macndricus, G. paplllifer, and G. eugrammiis. 



302 



