Measurements (i«in) of Sebastes pauctspinis larvae. {Specimens betnrem 

 dashed lines are undergoing notochord flexion. ) 



as far north as Kodiak Island, although the principal dis- 

 tribution of the species is off California; they have been 

 reported offshore to depths of 320 m (Miller and Lea 



■Transforming specimens. 



complement of pectoral rays is present in 9-mm larvae 

 (Table 7). The pelvic fins begin to develop in 5-mm lar- 

 vae and, like the pectorals, reach a maximum relative 

 length of 37*^0 of the body length in 13-mm larvae. 



Bocaccio larvae may be readily identified by their pig- 

 ment pattern. The most striking melanistic pigment is 

 on the posterior margins of the pectoral and pelvic fins. 

 This pigment remains throughout the larval period and 

 is found in juveniles up to about 70 mm. Other patches of 

 melanophores develop above the brain, on the opercle, 

 and at the base of the caudal fin. The number of 

 melanophores in the ventral midline series is small com- 

 pared with other species of Sebastes. Their number rang- 

 ed from 6 to 14 with a mean of 9 for 20 larvae counted. 



Distribution. — Adults of S. paucispinis have been 

 taken as far south as Punta Blanca, Baja California, and 



Figure 6. — Stations at which larvae of SebaateB pcuicispinU were col- 

 lected by CalCOFI plankton surveys during 1953 and 1956. Solid 

 circles indicate stations where number of larvae exceeded mean num- 

 ber (6.7) for all positive stations. Area of frequent occupancy is out- 

 lined (see Ahlstrom 1961 for complete grid). 



Table 7. Meristics from cleared and stained larvae of Sebastes paucispinis . 



15 



