Abstract
Morphological and genetic differences between Japanese and Chinese sea bass of the genus Lateolabrax were examined. Pronounced differences were recognized between the two forms in some morphological characters, in particular the number of pored lateral line scales and gill rakers, which differed sufficiently for unequivocal differentiation of the forms, when used in combination. Isozyme analyses of genetic characters indicated a complete replacement of alleles at the PROT-1* locus, and extreme differences in allelic frequencies at the GPI-1* and LDH* loci. The genetic distance (D value) between the Japanese and Chinese forms, calculated from isozymic allele frequencies, was 0.174, a figure significant at the inter-specific level. The considerable morphological and genetic differences suggested that the sea bass from China is a distinct species from L.japonicus.
