DEVELOPMENT AND OCCURRENCE OF LARVAE AND JUVENILES OF THE ROCKFISHES SEBASTES CRAMERI, SEBASTES PINNIGER, AND SEBASTES HELVOMACULATUS (FAMILY SCORPAENIDAE) OFF OREGON!

Developmental series of larvae and juveniles of three species of northeast Pacific rockfishes (Scor­ paenidae: Sebastes) are illustrated and described: S. crameri (8.0 to 130.5 mm standard length), S. pinniger (7.8 to 181 mm standard length), and S. helvomaculatus(7.7 to 183 mm standard length). The descriptions include a literature review, characters u~ed for identification including meristics and supraocular spine patterns, distinguishing features, general development, morphology, fin develop­ ment, spination, scale formation, and pigmentation. Occurrence in waters ofT Oregon is discussed. The approach that was used to identify larval and juvenile specimens of Sebastes from plankton, midwater trawl, and bottom trawl collections from Oregon waters is presented, since 36 species reportedly occur there. Developmental terminology is newly defined for Sebastes. Larval and juvenile spination is presented schematically and defined. Larvae and juveniles of the three species described here are compared with other known Sebastes larvae and juveniles from the northeast Pacific. Data gathered during this study extend the southern range limit of Sebastes emphaeus to Punta Gordo, Calif.