Sebastes paucispinis Ayres, 1854
Bocaccio rockfish
Sebastes paucispinis
photo by Gotshall, D.W.

Family:  Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads), subfamily: Sebastinae
Max. size:  91 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 9,630.0 g; max. reported age: 50 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 476 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Stepovak Bay, Alaskan Peninsula to Punta Blanca, Baja California, Mexico.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-10; Vertebrae: 26-26. A large rockfish with weak head spines - nasal and parietal spines usually absent, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, coronal and nuchal spines absent (Ref. 27437). Lower jaw long, thickened, with no real symphyseal knob and projects past upper jaw; maxillary extends to behind the eye; parietal ridges parallel (Ref. 27437). Caudal slightly indented (Ref. 6885). Olive orange to burnt orange or brown in color (Ref. 27437). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36715).
Biology:  Adults found over rocky reefs, but also common on open bottoms to about 320 m (Ref. 2850). Juveniles are pelagic and settle in near shore nursery areas, then move to deeper habitats (Ref. 36715). Young form schools (Ref. 2850). Feed mainly on fishes, including other rockfishes (Ref. 2850). Ovoviviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36715, 6885, 34817). Validated age by radiometry is 37 yrs (Ref. 75794). A famous sport fish throughout its range (Ref. 2850). Flesh is of excellent quality when kept chilled (Ref. 27436). Sold with other rockfish species (Ref. 27436).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 01 August 1996 (A1abd+2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  venomous


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