Developmental stages of 51 species or forms of scorpionfishes are described and illustrated in this identification guide. Thirty-eight are from the eastern Pacific and represent six of the eight scorpaenid genera known from that region-Sebastes, Sebastolobus, Scorpaenodes, Scorpaena, Pontinus, and Ectreposebastes. Sebastes is the most thoroughly treated; developmental series of six species from the eastern Pacific are described and illustrated; pigment patterns of early larvae of 33 species are given and 23 of these are illustrated. Larval series of three North Atlantic species of Sebastes are described and illustrated as is a series of Sebastes from off Chile; in addition, the published information on eight northwestern Pacific species is summarized and discussed in relation to the eastern Pacific and Atlantic species. The other genera are represented by one or two species. Since larvae of the eastern Pacific species of Helicolenus were not available, a larval series of If. dactylopterus from the Atlantic are described for comparative purposes. Larvae of the eighth eastern Pacific scorpaenid genus, Trachyscorpia, are unknown. Two dichotomous keys to the eastern Pacific genera are included, one for the early larval stages up to the initiation of notochord flexion and one for postflexion larvae. In the text, a summary of the literature and definitive characters is followed by the descriptive accounts of the species. Each species account contains a literature summary, description, set of illustrations, and information on distribution and abundance. 'Trachyscorpia probably would key to couplet la and Helicolenus to 5b.
Examination of 217 midwater trawl samples from the coastal basins off southern California and Baja California revealed a recurring group of rockfish species. The late larvae and pelagic juveniles of the blackgill rockfish, Sebastes melanostomus, constituted 16% of the total number of rockfish specimens. The life-history stages of this species are described, with emphasis on the pelagic juvenile stage. Late stage larvae and pelagic juveniles develop a distinctive pattern of melanophore bands which, by disrupting the body outline, may help conceal the young during their midwater existence. Evidence from midwater trawl collections suggests that 30-mm pelagic juveniles migrate or are carried shoreward at a depth of ~ 200 m to the appropriate habitat for settling. The high relative abundance of blackgill rockfish pelagic juveniles in midwater trawl samples suggests that this species may represent a potential resource. Key words: blackgill rockfish, Sebastes melanostomus, larvae, pelagic juveniles, midwater trawls, developmental stages, melanophore patterns, life-history strategy, head-spine development
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