Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads) >
Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads) > Sebastinae
Etymology: Sebastes: Greek, sebastes = august, venerable (Ref. 45335); auriculatus: From the Latin auriculatus, meaning 'eared' (Ref. 27436). More on author: Girard.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 128 m (Ref. 27437). Temperate, preferred ?; 61°N - 27°N, 155°W - 114°W
Eastern Pacific: Prince William Sound, Alaska to central Baja California, Mexico.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 31.0, range 26 - 38 cm
Max length : 56.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27437); max. reported age: 34 years (Ref. 56049)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 13;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 12-15;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 5 - 8;
Vertebrae: 26 - 27. Head spines strong - nasal, preocular, postocular, tympanic, coronal (may be absent), parietal, and nuchal (may be absent) spines present, supraoculars absent (Ref. 27437). Interorbital space flat to barely convex; symphyseal knob weak or absent (Ref. 27437). Caudal fin rounded (Ref. 6885). Light brown, mottled with one or two shades of darker brown, vague dark bars dorsally, dark brown blotch on upper part of gill cover; fins and underside of throat and lower jaw pinkish (Ref. 27437). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36715).
A sedentary rockfish found in shallow water and bays (Ref. 2850), among sheltering weed-covered rocks or around pilings (Ref. 27436). Viviparous, with planktonic larvae and pelagic juveniles (Ref. 36715). Fin spines are sharp and mildly venomous and can cause annoying wounds (Ref. 27436). Small live specimens make excellent bait for large lingcod (Ref. 27436). Flesh is firm and tasty, but rarely found in markets (Ref. 26346).
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums; bait: occasionally
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