140 
Fishery Bulletin 1 14(2) 
Table 4 
Pigmentation of larval swordspine rockfish ( Sebastes ensifer ) collected in the Southern Califor- 
nia Bight during the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations survey in April 
1999 and the Baseline Cowcod Conservation Area (CCA) survey in February 2002, given as 
percentages of the number of larvae examined that displayed the pigment character. Larvae 
<6.2 mm were in the preflexion stage; larvae >7.7 mm were in the postflexion stage. BL=body 
length, LJ=lower jaw, V margin=ventral margin of the tail, and Pi=pectoral fln. A=number of 
specimens examined. 
BL (mm) 
N 
LJ 
Brain 
Nape 
V margin 
Blade (Pi) 
Base (Pi) 
2.6 
3 
0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
2.7 
1 
0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
2.8 
8 
0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
2.9 
3 
0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
3 
8 
37.5 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
3.1 
3 
33.3 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
3.2 
10 
10.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
3.3 
12 
25.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
8.3 
0 
3.4 
5 
20.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
3.5 
3 
66.7 
0 
0 
100.0 
66.7 
33.3 
3.6 
4 
50.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
37.5 
37.5 
3.8 
1 
100.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
3.9 
2 
100.0 
50.0 
50.0 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
4 
1 
0 
0 
0 
100.0 
0 
0 
4.1 
1 
100.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
4.2 
2 
50.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
50.0 
0 
4.3 
4 
100.0 
25.0 
25.0 
100.0 
100.0 
25.0 
4.4 
1 
100.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
4.5 
1 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
4.6 
3 
100.0 
33.3 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
66.7 
4.9 
1 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
5.1 
1 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
5.2 
1 
100.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
5.4 
1 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
6.0 
1 
100.0 
100.0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
6.2 
1 
100.0 
0 
0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
7.7 
2 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
8.4 
1 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
on the pectoral fins, especially distally (Table 4, Fig. 
1). Larvae >6 mm also have pigment in the mid- and 
hindbrain areas. 
Pigmentation on the head initially is limited to 3-8 
or more melanophores anteriorly on the lower jaw, 
primarily on the inner margin of the dentaries. This 
pigment increases and spreads posteriorly during the 
postflexion stage. Melanophores form over the mid- 
brain area as early as 3.9 mm and always are present 
by 7.7 mm, covering much of the area dorsally and dor- 
solaterally. At the same time, 2-4 melanophores form 
internally on the hindbrain, usually anterolaterally on 
the cerebellum. There is no other pigmentation on the 
head through 8 mm. 
Pigmentation on the gut in the smallest larva was 
largely limited to the dorsum and ventrum but mela- 
nophores expanded into the hindgut area to nearly sur- 
round it. Melanophores spread ventrally from the dor- 
sum of the gut, beginning posteriorly at about 5 mm, 
and cover the upper 50-90% by postflexion stage. A 
melanophore forms internally on the peritoneum at the 
anterior margin of the liver by 4.4 mm, and more are 
added to cover much of the upper 50-90% by postflex- 
ion stage. There are about 1-5 ventral melanophores 
on the gut, commonly along the midline between the 
anterior midgut to near the anus. 
Pigmentation of the trunk and tail is limited to 
the ventral margin of the tail. During the preflexion 
stage, a single row of 8-14 melanophores (mean: 11), 
usually elongate, extends from myomeres 10-11 to 20- 
24 (modal number: 10-21), at a spacing of about one 
melanophore per myomere, and appears as an almost 
continuous line of pigment. Most melanophores are pri- 
marily shallowly internal; the last 1-2 are primarily 
external. During the postflexion stage, the number of 
ventral melanophores decreases as the series becomes 
more deeply internal and begins to disappear from an- 
terior to posterior. 
