460 



Fishery Bulletin 90(3). 1992 



Transforming postflexion larvae develop a wide band 

 of pigment under the second dorsal that is typically 

 W-shaped and extends ventrally almost to the anal fin 

 (Fig. 3C). Another band of dense pigment forms under 

 the first dorsal fin and extends down across and onto 

 the pectoral fin base. The head becomes heavily pig- 

 mented; about 15 large stellate melanophores (along 

 with numerous small ones) extend across the pre- 

 opercle and below the eye. Two or three melanophores 

 appear on the posterior maxillary. Melanophores sur- 

 round the nasal openings and spine. A band of pigment 

 runs across the anterior upper lip (premaxillary). The 

 lower jaw and chin also have pigment. The ventral 

 gut is not pigmented. Several of the caudal rays are 

 pigmented. 



Juvenile C. analis continue to add pigment dorso- 

 laterally while still retaining some of the larval pigmen- 

 tation (Fig. 3D). The W-shaped patch is still present 

 under the second dorsal, as well as a band of pigment 

 under the first dorsal and across the pectoral fin base. 

 The number of PAVM continue to decrease (Fig. 4). 

 Two new patches of melanophores appear on the caudal 

 peduncle and over the hypural plates. Melanophores 

 appear in the dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins. 



Meristics Clinocottus analis postflexion larvae have 

 6 branchiostegal rays and twelve (6 + 6) principal caudal 

 rays which are consistent with adult counts. Other 

 meristics are given in Table 2. Numbers of fin and 

 vertebral elements match well with modes given by 

 Howe and Richardson (1978). 



Comparison with other species 



Clinocottus analis larvae have no anterior gut pigment 

 like C. recalvus larvae (Morris, 1951). Clinocottus acu- 

 ticeps also has forebrain pigment and a longer trailing 

 gut than C. analis, no early head pigment, fewer 

 PAVM, and hindgut diverticulae (Washington 1986). 

 Clinocottus embryum has fewer nape and PAVM. 

 Clinocottus globiceps has anterior gut pigment and only 

 four or five PAVM. 



Preflexion Oligocottus maculosus have shorter guts 

 (preanal averages 39.1% SL) than C. analis (Washing- 

 ton 1986). Oligocottus snyderi has no head pigment and 

 few PAVM (~6). Larvae of 0. rubellio (rosy sculpin) 

 and 0. rimensis (saddleback sculpin) have not been 

 described. A 15.6mm juvenile 0. rubellio (LACM 

 42918-1) differs from C analis juveniles by having 

 more cirri on the head, no W-shaped pigment patch 

 laterally, and no banding anywhere, just a fine cover- 

 ing of light melanophores. Oligocottus rimensis differs 

 by having an elongate body and a high number of dor- 

 sal soft rays (16-19). A 17.1mm 0. rimensis (LACM 

 943) is developing saddles of pigment typical of adults 



but lacks the W-shaped patch of C. analis. Oligocottus 

 rimensis has a single large preopercular spine (single 

 pointed) and 3 smaller spines, similar to the "Myoxo- 

 cephalus" group (Washington et al. 1984), i.e., 4 pre- 

 opercle spines throughout their early development; the 

 dorsal spine elongates in juveniles. Oliocottus rimen- 

 sis juveniles also have no head cirri and the first pelvic 

 ray appears double (split in two). 



Clinocottus analis differs from some Artedius (A. 

 fenestralis, A. lateralis, A. spp.) by having no large gut 

 diverticulae (wings). Species oi Artedius without wings 

 {A. creaseri) differ by having anterior gut pigment and 

 fewer PAVM (~10) (See Appendix 1). 



Occurrence 



Oblique bongo samples from coastal waters (8, 15, 22, 

 36, and 75 m depths) of the Southern California Bight 

 taken during the period 1978-84 (see Lavenberg et al. 

 (1986) for methods) indicate C. analis larvae (mostly 

 preflexion) were captured at the greatest densities 

 along the 15 m isobath off rocky tidepool areas in 

 southern California, especially off Palos Verdes Penin- 

 sula and Gaviota in 1979-80. Larvae occurred during 

 all months of the year, with peak abundance in July. 

 Wells (1986) found that C. analis spawn throughout the 

 year, with a peak in September-November in 1971-72, 

 based on gonosomatic index values and the appearance 

 of juveniles in the tidepools. 



In discrete depth (neuston, middepth, epibenthic) 

 samples taken in the Southern California Bight in 

 October 1978 and June 1979-July 1980, 100% of the 

 C. analis larvae (almost exclusively notochordal and 

 flexion sizes) were caught in epibenthic samplers (ben- 

 thic bongo or auriga nets) indicating the smaller lar- 

 vae are near the bottom. Large postflexion individuals 

 were common in neuston tows (manta nets) taken dur- 

 ing the Coastal Resources Program (1978-79 except 

 October; not fully sorted to date) at Coho Bay (Pt. Con- 

 ception), and Playa del Rey and Seal Beach (stations 

 on each side of Palos Verdes; no station at Palos 

 Verdes) indicating larger postflexion, metamorphosing 

 larvae are located near the surface. Ninos (1984) col- 

 lected many larger postflexion larvae (~10mm) dur- 

 ing surface night-lighting at Catalina Island. At Palos 

 Verdes, juveniles (<25mm) are found back in the in- 

 tertidal in small pools, separated from the larger adults 

 (Wells 1986). 



Description of Orthonopias triads larvae 



Distinguishing cliaracters Distinguishing characters 

 for Orthonopias truwis larvae include a heavy cap of 

 pigment on the dorsoposterior gut, 26-55 PAVM, nape 

 melanophores usually absent, no wings, short gut 



