DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF LARVAE AND PELAGIC JUVENILES OF OCEAN WHITEFISH, CAULOLATILUS PRINCEPS, IN THE CALCOFI SURVEY REGION

Ocean whitefish larvae occurred in 88 tows taken on CalCOFI plankton surveys from 1954 to 1981. The robust larvae develop a distinctive array of spines and spiny ridges in the head region. The body becomes covered with minute spines, which develop on each scale. Larvae also have a characteristic pattern of melanistic pigmentation, which makes it possible to identify early stages that have not yet developed head spines. Larvae occurred from Ensenada (CalCOFI line 100) to Magdalena Bay (line 140) and seaward to Guadalupe Island. Occurrences were concentrated off central Baja California; only 20% of the positive tows were north of Sebastian Viscaino Bay. It is apparent from the distribution of larvae that ocean whitefish populations off southern California are recruited from Baja California. RESUMEN Larvas oceanicas de Caulolatilus princeps estuvieron presentes en 88 arrastres de plancton realizados durante el programa CalCOFI entre 1954 y 1981. Estas robustas larvas desarrollan un claro conjunto de espinas y zonas espinosas en la region de la cabeza. El cuerpo se cubre con espinas diminutas, las cuales crecen sobre cada escama. Las larvas tienen, ademis, un patron de pigmentacion melanic0 caracteristico que permite identificar estadios tempranos que aun no han desarrollado espinas en la cabeza Se encontraron larvas desde Ensenada (CalCOFI linea 100) hasta Bahia Magdalena (linea 140) y mar afuera de la Isla Guadalupe. Las larvas se concentraron frente a la zona central de Baja California; s610 un 20% de 10s arrastres con larvas ocurri6 a1 Norte de la Bahia Sebastian Vizcaino. La distribucion de las larvas indica que las poblaciones oceanicas de Caulolatilus princeps en el Sur de California son formadas por reclutas provenientes de Baja California.