DESCRIPTION OF LARVAL AND PELAGIC JUVENILE CHILIPEPPER, SEBASTES GOODEI (FAMILY SCORPAENIDAE), WITH AN EXAMINATION OF LARVAL GROWTH

Developmental series of larval and pelagic juvenile chilipepper, Sebas tes goodei, collected off central California were described and illust rated. Pigment patterns were recorded on pre-extrusion larvae through fish in the pelagic juvenile stage, along with the number of dorsal-, anal-, and pectoral-fin rays. The number of gill rakers on the first g ill arch, morphometric data, and the development of head spines were a lso recorded on selected specimens. In addition, otoliths were used to help confirm the identifications of early larvae given the distinctiv e pre-extrusion optical pattern found in S. goodei. For comparison, ot oliths were examined on other Sebastes spp. commonly found in the regi on that had pigment patterns similar to, but slightly different from, those of S. goodei. Ages were obtained from S. goodei and other Sebast es spp. otoliths. Early larvae of S. goodei were identified by their l ack of pigment on the lower jaw, the cleithral region, and both the ca udal and hypural areas, and by the presence of pigment on the cranium and the outer blade of the pectoral fin. Juvenile S. goodei were readi ly identified by their distinctive barred pattern. The distinctive pre -extrusion optical pattern was observed in 96% of S. goodei otoliths, as well as a significantly larger extrusion check radius than that in the otoliths of other Sebastes spp. Larval growth rates for S. goodei calculated from otolith age data appeared to be slower than those prev iously reported for pelagic juveniles.