| Family: |
Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads), subfamily: Sebastinae |
| Max. size: |
58 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,740.0 g; max. reported age: 57 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 183 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Pacific: Kenai Peninsula, Gulf of Alaska to central Baja California, Mexico. The darker reddish phase from California may be a separate species (Ref. 27437). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-7; Vertebrae: 25-26. Head spines strong - nasal, preocular, postocular, tympanic and parietal spines present, supraocular, coronal and nuchal spines absent (Ref. 27437). Caudal fin rounded (Ref. 6885). Olive brown to copper with pink or yellow blotches, white on sides and belly; rear two thirds of lateral line is white; usually with two dark bands radiating from eye; dorsal fin dark copper brown to black with some white (Ref. 27436). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36715). |
| Biology: |
Particularly abundant in shallow, protected bays and inlets, among rocks and kelp beds; also found around pilings and jetties or under floats (Ref. 27436). Juveniles found in loose aggregations in shallow weedy bays, around wharfs, or among floating drift associated with summer tidelines (Ref. 27436). Mainly a benthic feeder, may also take pelagic fishes (Ref. 27436). Viviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36715). Flesh is tasty, firm and flaky (Ref. 27436). Sold mainly as fresh fillets or live in Chinese restaurants and fish markets; excellent for fish chips or for pan frying as fillets (Ref. 27436). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
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