Scientific Name
Sebastes mystinus

Common Name
Blue rockfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 26 - 27. Head spines weak to very weak - nasals present, preoculars usually present, supraocular, postocular and tympanic spines usually absent, coronal, parietal and nuchal spines absent (Ref. 27437). Eye diameter and mouth small (Ref. 27437). Deep bodied with large pectoral fins (Ref. 27437). Anal fin profile vertical or slanted posteriorly (Ref. 27437). Caudal fin indented (Ref. 6885). Blue or black in color with vague striping on forehead; lighter ventrally (Ref. 27437). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36715).

Classification

Classified By

Jordan & Gilbert, 1881

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads (Sebastidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: northern limit is uncertain, at least from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada (possibly Aleutian Islands, Alaska) to northern Baja California, Mexico.

Range

55°N -

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

550 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 550 m (Ref. 6885), usually 183 - 550 m (Ref. 6885)

Trophic Level

2.81 s.e. 0.34 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

61.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (56 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.17 (?); tm=3-5; tmax=44)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated