DESCRIPTION OF PELAGIC LARVAL AND JUVENILE GRASS ROCKFISH, SEBASTES RASTRELLIGER (FAMILY SCORPAENIDAE), WITH AN EXAMINATION OF AGE AND GROWTH

Pigmentation patterns, meristic characters, morphometric measurements, and head spination were recorded and illustrated for the developmenta l series of larval and pelagic juvenile (10.0-27.7 mm SL) grass rockfi sh, Sebastes rastrelliger. Larvae were identified by the presence of s trong dorsal and postanal ventral midline pigment and by the presence of pigment on the lateral midline. Juveniles became highly pigmented o ver most of their body and fin surfaces at a length of 27.7 mm. Pigmen t patterns were sufficiently distinct and consistent to differentiate larval and juvenile S. rastrelliger from other Sebastes species occurr ing off central California. Otolith characters were also useful in ide ntification of this species. Larval and juvenile S. rastrelliger grew at a rate of 0.36 mm/day, similar to the growth rates observed in othe r species of Sebastes.