Early larvae of the whitespotted rockfish (Sebastes moseri Eitner, 1999) and the dwarf-red rockfish (S. rufinanus Lea and Fitch, 1972) (Pisces: Sebastidae) identified by molecular methods

Sequencing a portion of the cytochrome b gene of an unidentified Sebastes larval type long recognized in the California Current region demonstrated that it includes both whitespotted rockfish (S. moseri), also known as whitespeckled rockfish, and dwarf-red rockfish (S. rufinanus), small unfished species first recognized in recent decades. Preflexion-stage larvae are moderately slender and compressed, with a short preanal length, moderately large head, short snout, and large eyes. There are no spines on the head until mid to late preflexion stage when the preopercular and pterotic spines form, followed quickly by the parietal and postocular spines. Pectoral-fin rays begin to form by mid preflexion stage and caudal-fin rays by late preflexion stage. Pigmentation is dorsally on the head, gas bladder, and gut, and posteriorly on the tail. The characteristic dorsal and ventral pigment patches on the tail are limited to its margins in S. rufinanus but commonly extend onto its dorso- and ventrolateral surfaces in S. moseri. Pectoral-fin pigment is present in some S. moseri but absent in all S. rufinanus during preflexion stage. Although not always distinguishable from one another, larval S. moseri and S. rufinanus are visually distinguishable through preflexion stage from other larval Sebastes species described to date, but it is unknown whether that remains true through postflexion stage.