Laidig et al.: Description of larval and juvenile Sebastes saxicola 



293 



tion, there was an unpigmented area at the base of 

 the first two soft rays and the last spine (Fig. IF). 



Pigment began appearing on the anal fin at ap- 

 proximately 30 mm SL. Pigment intensified quickly, 

 and by 38 mm SL a pattern had developed, consist- 

 ing of a band through the middle of the fin and extend- 

 ing from the first anal spine to the last ray (Fig. IF). 



The caudal fin remained unpigmented until ap- 

 proximately 38 mm SL, when pigment began form- 

 ing near the base of the rays. On the largest fish ex- 

 amined (43.9 mm SL), pigment was observed spo- 

 radically on a few fin rays. 



Head pigmentation 



Pigment on top of the cranium began forming soon 

 after extrusion (Table 4). Four to five melanophores 



were present by 5 mm NL. The number and size of 

 melanophores increased with increased fish size and 

 by 7 mm NL, the head had become highly pigmented 

 (Fig. IB). Nape pigment also increased from one 

 melanophore to five or six melanophores by 6 mm 

 NL ( Fig. IB ). At around 7 mm NL, nape pigment was 

 overgrown by muscle tissue and became embedded. 

 After flexion, pigment again appeared on the sur- 

 face of the nape area. This pigment intensified with 

 increased fish size. 



At 7 mm NL, pigment began to develop on the an- 

 terior portion of the head between the eyes. As fish 

 size increased, more pigment was added to this area. 

 Pigment began forming on the upper jaw at approxi- 

 mately 8 mm SL. By 10 mm SL, pigmentation on the 

 upper jaw and the anterior section of the head was 

 well developed and could not always be differenti- 



