CURRENT KNOWLEDGEOF LARVAE OF SCULPINS (PISCES: COTTIDAE AND ALLIES) IN NORTHEAST PACIFIC GENERA WITH NOTES ON INTERGENERICRELATIONSHIPS1

2ABSTRACf Current knowledge of cottid larvae in northeast Pacific genera is summarized. Larvae are known for representatives of25 of the 40 genera reported from Baja California to the Aleutian Islands although two genera, Gymnocanthus and lcelus, are represented only by species which live in other areas as adults. Included are illustrations oflarvae of29 species representing the 25 genera plus one potentially new northeast Pacific genus, identified only as "Cottoid Type A." The larvae exhibit a wide diversity of form. Based on shared larval characters, including spine patterns, body shape, and pigmentation, 6 phenetically derived groups of genera are apparent within the 25 genera for which representatives are considered: 1) A rtedius, Clinocottus, Oligocottus, Orthonopias; 2) Paricelinus, Triglops, lcelus, Chitonotus, Icelinus; 3) Dasycottus, Psychrolutes, Gilbertidia, ?Malacocottus, "Cottoid Type A"; 4) Scorpaenichthys, Hemilepidotus; 5) Blepsias, Nautichthys; 6) Leptocottus, Cottus. Six genera do not fit with any group: Enophrys, Gymnocanthus, Myoxocephalus,Radulinus, Rhamphocottus,Hemitripterus. Ifthese preliminary larval groupings reflect relationship, as evidence indicates, they tend to support a number of previously implied relationships within the cottids, but there are some important differences. These include the distinctiveness of the Artedius (Group 1) line; the separation of Artedius and Icelus, once considered closely related; the relationship of Paricelinus, generally considered a primitive and rather distinct form, with other members of Group 2; the apparent relationship of lcelus to other genera in Group 2 and its questionable placement in a separate family; the distinctiveness of Radulinus, previously considered to be related to Chitonotus and Icelirms.