1936] Schults: Keys to Fishes 165 



8b. Tips of nasal spines exposed and sharp; occipital ridges 

 moderately well developed ; spinous dorsal higher (highest 

 spine 2.4 to 2.7 in head) ; dorsal soft rays 14 or 15; anal 8 

 rarely 7; pectoral 17 to 19, usually 18; unbranched pectoral 

 rays 7 to 10, usually 9; body usually less slender (depth 

 2.9 to 3.3 usually about 3.0) ; anterior profile steep ; profile 

 of snout less arched ; upper profile of symphyseal knob form- 

 ing an angle of much less than 45° with horizontal axis; 

 eye larger (in adults about one foot long about equal to 

 snout or interorbital, 4.0 in head) ; color much lighter, 

 brownish on head and back ; dark specks distinctly evident ; 

 light blotches along dorsal base usually less conspicuous ; 

 vertical soft fins usually margined with blackish ; caudal fin 

 bright yellow. Range : Washington to Lower California. 

 Marine. Common. 

 Yellowtail Rockfish. Fig. 42.. 182. Scbastodcs flavidus Ayres 



7b. Body usually deeper (depth in adult, 2.6 to 2.9 in standard 

 length); snout blunter; symphyseal knob less conspicuous; 

 lower jaw less strongly and more bluntly projecting; pectoral 

 rays 19, rarely 18 or 20; dark specks on body numerous and 

 very conspicuous, and extended onto vertical fins ; light blotches 

 near base of dorsal inconspicuous ; caudal fin dusky, not yel- 

 low ; tips of nasal spines exposed ; upper profile of symphy- 

 seal knob forming an angle of 45° or more with the horizon- 

 tal axis. 



9a. Body more ovate, the anterior profile steeper ; eye (in larg- 

 est available adults) smaller, 4.7 to 4.9 in head; interor- 

 bital space averaging narrower, 4.0 to 4.3 in head; dorsal 

 spines higher (highest 2.3 to 2.6 in head) ; anal truncate 

 behind ; unbranched pectoral rays less thickened and 

 leathery, and fewer, 8 to 10 (usually 9) ; soft rays of ver- 

 tical fins averaging fewer (dorsal 14, sometimes 13; anal 

 7 or 8) ; color much paler; dark spots smaller; no light 

 band along mid-sides ; larger, commonly about 20 inches 

 long ; inhabiting sandy river mouth ; young not occurring 

 in tide pools of reefs. Range : Columbia River mouth. 

 Marine. Not rare. Fig. 43. 

 183. Sebastodes columbianus Hubbs and Schultz 



9b. Body more elliptical, the anterior profile less abrupt ; eye 

 (in largest available adults) larger, 4.1 to 4.2 in head; 

 interorbital space averaging wider 3.8 to 4.2 in head; 

 dorsal spines lower (highest 2.6 to 3.1 in head) ; anal 

 rounded with 8, rarely 7 or 9 soft rays ; unbranched pec- 

 toral rays thick and leathery, typically 10 (rarely 9 or 

 11) ; soft rays of vertical fins averaging more numerous, 

 dorsal 13 to 16, most frequently 15 ; color very dark, al- 

 most black above ; a rather prominent light band along 

 mid-sides (just below lateral line anteriorly, along lateral 

 line posteriorly) ; smaller adults usually less than 15 inches 

 long, inhabiting rocky shores ; the young developing in the 

 tide pools. Range : Southern Alaska to Pt. Arguello, 

 California. Marine. Common. 



Black Bass. Fig. 44... 184. Sebastodes melanops (Girard) 



