| Your Home Page | Contact Us |

• Conservation Status
• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Reproduction
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes
• Keep Exploring

Overview:

Red rockfishes with weak head spines.

Conservation Status

Threats:

Stocks have suffered severe population decline due to over overfishing^[1].

Very important commercial rockfish in the North Pacific2850, 27437). Marketed as fillets^[2]. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten fried, microwaved and baked^[3].

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Sebastichthys alutus Gilbert, 1890
2. Sebastodes alutus (Gilbert, 1890)

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name.

Family: Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads.

Physical Description

Family Sebastidae:

Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The livebearing Sebastes with about 110 species occurs mainly in the North Pacific. Body compressed; head usually with ridges and spines; gill membranes free from isthmus. Venom gland in dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines.

The family Sebastidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Scorpaeniformes. It contains 4 genera and 128 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are bearers. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is balistiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be sluggish. Etymology of this family name: Greek, sebastes = august, admirable , epithet given to the roman emperor Augustus

Species Sebastes alutus:

Body color: Light red, including fins; dark olivaceous areas on back under soft dorsal fin and on caudal peduncle. Peritoneum color: dark. Shape between eyes: convex to flat. Counts: D:XIII-XIV,13-17, Ar:6-9, P1:15-19, GR:30-39, LLp:44-55, LLs:43-55, V:27

Size/Age/Growth:

Grows slowly^[4]. Maximum length: 20 in (55 cm).

Images:

Distribution

Aquatic Regions

North Pacific: Honshu, Japan to Cape Navarin in the Bering Sea (but not in the Sea of Okhotsk) and La Jolla, California, and along the Aleutians from Stalemate Bank and Bowers Bank to the Alaska Peninsula.

Range and Population

North Pacific: Honshu, Japan to Cape Navarin in the Bering Sea (but not in the Sea of Okhotsk) and La Jolla, California, and along the Aleutians from Stalemate Bank and Bowers Bank to the Alaska Peninsula. Stocks have suffered severe population decline due to over overfishing^[5].

Habitat

Abundant in offshore waters^[6]. Young pelagic up to age 3^[7]. Common depth: 55-192 fm (100-350 m). Maximum depth: 451 fm (825 m).

Biome

Saltwater. Bathydemersal.

Reproduction

Viviparous^[8].

Similar Species

• Yellowmouth RF - symphyseal knob weaker, rounded; yellow, red, and black blotches inside mouth; specimens
• Sharpchin RF - dorsal blotches large w/ at least one extending across lateral line; forked bar radiates from eye; head spines strong and count differs; anal spine 2 longer than 3; dorsal rays typically 14 (typically 15 in POP); anal rays typically 7 (typically 8 in POP); pectoral rays typically 17 (typically 18 in POP).
• Redstripe RF - lateral line light, contrasted by dark mottling above and below; head spine count typically differs.
• Northern RF - dorsal spines typically 14; dark bars radiate posteriorly from eye; pectoral fin w/ oblique pink slash on ventral portion; head spine count differs.
• Chilipepper RF - dorsal blotches absent; lateral line red or pink; belly whitish; peritoneum light; head spine count differs.

Members of the genus Sebastes:

There are approximately 176 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: S. aleutianus (Blacktip Rockfish) · S. altivelis · S. alutes · S. alutus (Black Bass) · S. atherinoides · S. atrorubens (Roundhead Rockfish) · S. atrovirens (Kelp Rockfish) · S. auriculatus (Bolina) · S. aurora (Aurora Rockfish) · S. ayresi · S. ayresii · S. babcocki (Bandit) · S. baramenuke · S. barmenuke · S. bilineatus · S. bofuciaths · S. borealis (Black-Throated Rock-Fish) · S. brevispinis (Rock Cod) · S. capensis (Cape Redfish) · S. carnatus (Gopher Rockfish) · S. carpensis · S. caurine · S. caurinus (Copper Rockfish) · S. cheni · S. chilensis · S. chlorostictus (Greenspotted Rockfish) · S. chrysomelas (Black-And-Yellow Rockfish) · S. ciliatus (Brown Bomber) · S. ciliatus variabilis · S. constellanus · S. constellatus (Rockfish) · S. cortezi (Cortez Rockfish) · S. crameri (Blackblotched Rockfish) · S. crysomales · S. dallii (Calico Rockfish) · S. diploproa (Lobe-Jawed Rockfish) · S. diploroa · S. elongatus (Greenstripe Rockfish) · S. emphaeus (Puget Sound Rockfish) · S. ensifer (Rockfish) · S. entomelan · S. entomelas (Brown Bomber) · S. eos (Pink Rockfish) · S. exsul (Buccaneer Rockfish) · S. fasciatus (Acadian Redfish) · S. flammeus · S. flavidus (Greenie) · S. fuscescens · S. garretti · S. gilberti · S. gilli (Bronzespotted Rockfish) · S. glaucous · S. glaucus (Gray Rockfish) · S. goodei (Chilipepper) · S. helvomaculatus (Rock Cod) · S. hopkinsi (Rockfish) · S. hubbsi · S. hubbsi elegans · S. ijimae · S. inermis (Darkbanded Rockfish) · S. intermis · S. intronger · S. borealis · S. iracundus · S. itinus · S. jordani (Rock Cod) · S. joyneri · S. kawaradae · S. kiyomatsui · S. koreanus · S. lentiginosus (Freckled Rockfish) · S. lentignosa · S. levis (Cow Rockfish) · S. longiceps · S. longispinis · S. luteus · S. macdonaldi (Mexican Rockfish) · S. maliger (Brown Bomber) · S. marinas · S. marinus (Bream) · S. marinus marinus (Bream) · S. marinus mentella · S. marinus viviparus · S. matsubarae · S. melanops (Black Bass) · S. melanops melanops · S. melanopus · S. melanosema (Rockfish) · S. melanostictus · S. melanostomus (Blackgill Rockfish) · S. mentella (Deepwater Redfish) · S. miniatus (Rock Cod) · S. minor · S. minutus · S. mistinus · S. moseri (Whitespeckled Rockfish) · S. mystinus (Blue Rockfish) · S. nebulosus (China Rockfish) · S. nigrocinctus (Banded Rock-Fish) · S. nigromaculatus

Members of the genus Pagellus:

There are approximately 31 species and subspecies in this genus: P. acarne (Auxillary Seabream) · P. affinis (Arabian Pandora) · P. auhodontus · P. bellollii natalensis · P. bellotti · P. bellotti natalensis · P. bellottii (Natal Pandora) · P. bellottii bellottii (Pandora) · P. bellottii natalensis (Natal Pandora) · P. bogaraveo (Blackspot Seabream) · P. brachysomus · P. caninus · P. centrodanthus · P. centrodonotus · P. centrodontatus · P. centrodotus · P. crythrinus · P. erithrinus · P. erythrinus (Becker) · P. guntheri · P. humilis · P. milneri · P. mormejrus · P. mormyrops · P. natalensis (Natal Pandora) · P. orbitarius · P. owenii · P. pernambucensis · P. sparid · P. sparid natalensis · P. spp

Bibliography

• Allen, M.J. and G.B. Smith (1988). Atlas and zoogeography of common fishes in the Bering Sea and northeastern Pacific. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS 66, 151 p.
• Frimodt, C. (1995). Multilingual illustrated guide to the world's commercial coldwater fish. Fishing News Books, Osney Mead, Oxford, England. 215 p.
• Hart, J.L. (1973). Pacific fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board Can. Bull. 180:1-740.
• Kramer, D.E. and V.M. O'Connell (1995). Guide to Northeast Pacific rockfishes. Genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus. Alaska Sea Grant, Marine Advisory Bulletin No. 25
• Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino (1984). The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Vol. 1 (text). Tokai University Press, Tokyo, Japan. 437 p. (text), 370 pls.
• Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott (1980). A list of common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. (12)1-174.
• Robins, Richard C., Reeve M. Bailey, Carl E. Bond, James R. Brooker, Ernest A. Lachner, et al. 1980. A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada, Fourth Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication, no. 12. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 174.

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CA L | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
• Translate this page using Google: Arabic | Chinese | Deutsch | Español | Français | Italiano | Japanese | Korean | Português

Notes

Contributors:

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 20, 2007.
• Compagno, Leonard J.V. (from FishBase).
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 6 providers.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• Alaska Ocean Observing System: Arctic Ocean Diversity
• Canadian Museum of Nature: Canadian Museum of Nature Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Canadian Museum of Nature - Fish Collection (OBIS Canada)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: North Pacific Groundfish Observer (North Pacific Research Board)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
• Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: MCZ Fish Collection
• Royal Ontario Museum: Fish specimens
• University of Kansas Biodiversity Research Center: Fish Collection

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 166707
• Fishbase Species ID: 504
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 109323
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: AFC4A06020
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 124553

Footnotes:

1. Kramer, D.E. and V.M. O'Connell (1995). Guide to Northeast Pacific rockfishes. Genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus. Alaska Sea Grant, Marine Advisory Bulletin No. 25
2. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann (1983). A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 336 p.
3. Frimodt, C. (1995). Multilingual illustrated guide to the world's commercial coldwater fish. Fishing News Books, Osney Mead, Oxford, England. 215 p.
4. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann (1983). A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 336 p.
5. Kramer, D.E. and V.M. O'Connell (1995). Guide to Northeast Pacific rockfishes. Genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus. Alaska Sea Grant, Marine Advisory Bulletin No. 25
6. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann (1983). A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 336 p.
7. Hart, J.L. (1973). Pacific fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board Can. Bull. 180:1-740.
8. Wourms, J.P. (1991). Reproduction and development of Sebastes in the context of the evolution of piscine viviparity. Environ. Biol. Fish. 30:111-126.