Scientific Name
Sebastes polyspinis

Common Name
Northern rockfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 14; Anal spines: 3. Head spines very weak - nasal spines present, preocular, postocular and parietal spines usually present, supraocular, tympanic, coronal and nuchal spines absent (Ref. 27437). The only rockfish in the eastern Gulf of Alaska with 14 dorsal fin spines; second anal fin spine as long as the 3rd (Ref. 27437). Top of head convex between eyes (Ref. 27437). Dark red with gray mottling and orange flecks; lower edge of pectoral fin white (Ref. 27437).

Classification

Classified By

Taranetz & Moiseev, 1933

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads (Sebastidae)

Distribution

Region

North Pacific

Distribution

North Pacific: eastern Kamchatka to Pervenets Canyon in the Bering Sea and from Stalemate Bank to Graham Island (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia, Canada.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

740 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 740 m (Ref. 50610)

Trophic Level

3.57 s.e. 0.62 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

41.0 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

Unknown

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.18; tmax=57)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated