Broadbanded thornyhead (Sebastolobus macrochir)

Scientific name: Sebastolobus macrochir G?nther, 1877

The Broadbanded thornyhead (Sebastolobus macrochir) is a marine fish of the family Sebastidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 2–4°C (36–39°F). Native range: North Pacific, Sagami Bay, Japan to the southern Kuril Islands and off Sakhalin, Russia.

Broadbanded thornyhead care at a glance

Temperature: 2–4°C (36–39°F)

Biology

Occurs in places with the steepest downthrow and sharp bends of sea bottom often in the places of the slope surrounded by large depths (the steep bottom relief causes vertical turbulent currents that provide the accumulation of food items). Oviparous. Eggs are extruded in floating gelatinous masses.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Sebastolobus macrochir
Family: Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 44.0
Common length: 26.4
Depth range: 100–1504 m (328–4934 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 100 - 1504 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North Pacific: Sagami Bay, Japan to the southern Kuril Islands and off Sakhalin, Russia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026