Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Scorpaenoidei (Scorpionfishes) >
Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads) > Sebastinae
Etymology: Sebastes: Greek, sebastes = august, venerable (Ref. 45335); nigrocinctus: From the Latin niger and cinctus, meaning 'black' and 'belt' (Ref. 27436).
More on author: Ayres.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 275 m (Ref. 27436). Temperate; 22°C - 27°C (Ref. 131070); 61°N - 34°N, 150°W - 119°W
Eastern Pacific: Cape Resurrection, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to Point Buchon, central California, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 61.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); max. published weight: 2.2 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 116 years (Ref. 39247)
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7. Head spines strong - nasal, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, coronal, parietal and nuchal spines present (Ref. 27437). Strongly concave between eyes; parietal ridges very thick and coarse (Ref. 27437). Caudal fin rounded (Ref. 6885). Light pink to red with 5 or 6 black or dark red bars on body; 2 dark bars radiating from each eye (Ref. 27437).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Inhabit rocky reefs, mainly at depths greater than 10 m (Ref. 27436). Solitary and territorial, defending a home crevice among rocks (Ref. 2850). Juveniles pelagic (Ref. 27436). Viviparous (Ref. 34817). Quickly changes color when disturbed or when there is a change in lighting (Ref. 6885). Caught infrequently and incidentally marketed as rockfish (Ref. 27436). Flesh firm and tasty (Ref. 27436).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
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