Oligocottus

Abstract: Chloride cells in gill epithelium of Oligocottus maintained in sea water have a much branched system of agranular cytoplasmic tubules, numerous mitochondria, and a prominent apical crypt. The mitochondria are randomly dispersed and do not show preferential orientation with respect to the tubules.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The composition, density and biogeographic affinities of the rocky intertidal fishes of the western coast of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, were studied from June 2006 to January 2009. A total of 5,489 specimens belonging to 48 species, 39 genera and 20 families were registered. Clinocottus analis was the dominant species on the northern and central coast (north to Punta Abreojos),and Entomacrodus chiostictus was dominant farther south. Based on distribution and density of permanent species, the area between Punta San Juanico and Bahia Magdalena represents the distributional boundary for northern (warm-temperate) and tropical fish elements. Most of species(85%) showed zoogeographical affinities with the San Diegan province, followed by species related to the Mexican (58%) and Cortez (56%) provinces. The known northernmost geographical ranges are extended for Sargocentron suborbitalis, Labrisomus multiporosus and Bathygobius ramosus; while the southernmost ranges extended for Clinocottus analis, Oligocottus rubellio and Amphistichus koelzi.