Early osteological development of the skull, vertebral column, and fins, and squamation in the spotted sea bass, Lateolabrax maculates, were studied under extensive larval rearing conditions. The first ossification during cephalic skeleton development began with the premaxillary, dentary, and parasphenoid at 6.4 mm Total length (Notochord length 6.1 mm) and was completed by 25.2 mm TL (Standard length 20.3 mm). Ossification of the cartilaginous caudal complex started simultaneously in the urostyle and two preural centra at 12.2 mm TL (10.4 mm) and it was completely ossified by 32.0 mm TL (26.4 mm). The principal caudal fin rays, with a count of 9/8, began to ossify at 11.6 mm TL (10.2 mm) and the procurrent caudal fin rays, with counts of 4 (upper) and 3 (lower), started to ossify by 12.6 mm TL (10.9 mm). Ossification of these parts was completed by 21.4 mm TL (17.5 mm). Ossification of the vertebral column was first observed in the first to fourth centra at 8.3 mm TL (7.5 mm) and was fully completed by 21.7-35.0 mm TL (17.8-29.3 mm). The pectoral girdle started to ossify by 5.6 mm TL (5.4 mm) and was completed by 26.8 mm TL (21.8 mm). Eight pectoral fin rays were ossified at 11.6 mm TL (10.2 mm) and 16-18 rays were fully ossified by 13.8 mm TL (12.0 mm). Also, the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fin rays started to ossify at 12.2 mm TL (10.4 mm) and were completed by 12.8 mm TL (11.2 mm), 23.8 mm TL (19.4 mm), and 13.8 mm TL (12.0 mm), respectively. Ossification of the anal and dorsal pterygiophores initially occurred by 12.6 mm TL (10.9 mm) and 14.3 mm TL (12.2 mm), and was completed by 21.4 mm TL (17.5 mm) and 19.3 mm TL (15.9 mm), respectively. Squamation started at three centers of differentiation: the middle region of the trunk, the anterior of the caudal peduncle, and on the caudal peduncle at 23.8 mm TL (19.4 mm). The body was covered with scales, except the snout, at 57.2-60.2 mm TL (SL 47.1-49.2 mm).