On Prelarvae and Early Postlarvae of the Rockfish Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809)'un From the Sea of Marmara

Authors: Ömer ALTUN

Abstract: Little is known about the early life history of H. dactylopterus, and the prelarval stage has been described, in accordance with one single sample reared under laboratory conditions. In this study, morphological characteristics of prelarvae and postlarvae up to 9.27 mm lenght of H. dactylopterus were described and illustrated in detail, using material obtained from the plankton samples collected during the years 1953, 1955, 1956, 1966 and 1967 in the Sea of Marmara, in the context of the working program of the Hydrobiological Research Institute, istanbul. The distribution of the larvae of this species in the Sea of Marmara was shown by a map; and on the basis of early and late occurrence of the larvae, it was concluded that their seasonal occurrence in the sea extends from the second half of March to the beginning of July. Thus prelarvae of H. dactylopterus from their natural habitat and the pre- and postlarvae, from our waters were described, for the first time, and information concerning their distribution and seasonal occurrence in the Sea of Marmara was given.

Keywords: Helicolenus dactylopterus, prelarvae, early postlarvae, seasonal occurrence, distribution, the Sea of Marmara.