Laidig et al : Description of larval and juvenile Sebastes saxicola 



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from these 10 species by the extent of pigment along 

 the ventral midline of the tail (i.e. the ventral mid- 

 line pigment extends almost to the anus), the pres- 

 ence of the single nape pigment, and the absence of 

 pigment on the pectoral fin and lower jaw. 



As larval S. saxicola increase in length, they be- 

 come readily distinguishable from most other 

 Sebastes species. By early flexion, S. saxicola pig- 

 ment patterns may be confused with only six other 

 rockfish species (S. atrovirens, S. carnatus, S. 

 chrysomelas, S. maliger, S. rastrelliger, and S. 

 semicinctus) (Moreno, 1990; Wold, 1991). The pig- 

 ment patterns of these six species are not completely 

 described in all larval stages; thus direct compari- 

 sons with S. saxicola are not possible. 



Sebastes saxicola can be separated from these six 

 species on the basis of otolith characters, a technique 

 used by Laidig and Ralston (1995). The size of the 

 extrusion check radius for S. saxicola is significantly 

 different from that for S. atrovirens, S. maliger, S. 

 rastrelliger, and S. semicinctus (Fig. 2), as well as 

 that for each group of larvae that had axillary pecto- 

 ral-fin pigment (extrusion check radii greater than 13 

 pm and less than 11 fim [Fig. 3]). The extrusion check 



radii of the two groups with axillary pigment corre- 

 spond well with the copper and gopher complexes 

 ( smaller radius) and S. rastrelliger ( larger radius). Both 

 S. carnatus and S. chrysomelas have axillary pectoral- 

 fin pigment (Moreno, 1990; Wold, 1991 ). Thus, the pres- 

 ence of axillary pigment and the difference in size of 

 the extrusion check radius could be used to separate 

 the gopher complex from S. saxicola. 



