TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes0
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Family: Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads)

Genus /Species; Sebastes chrysomelas

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: S. chrysomelas is dark brown-black with irregular clear yellow blotches on its back, lateral line and lower sides. Clear areas tend to run together on the lower sides with a yellow patch on membranes between anterior dorsal spines.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Eureka, California to Isla Natividada, Baja California, Mexico.
The Black and Yellow Rockfish is marine,feeds on bottom (demersal)  and is considered a kelp forest or inshore rockfish species. It is found from the intertidal zone down to 37 m (150 ft) but are most common in waters less than 18 m (50 ft) in kelp beds and rocky areas.

DIET IN THE WILD: It is a nocturnal feeder, ambushing its prey between dusk and dawn.

REPRODUCTION: Viviparous, live-bearing, fish. Females mature between 3 and 6 years of age and males between 3 and 4 years of age.

LONGEVITY: 22 years

CONSERVATION: Not Evaluated

REMARKS: Gopher rockfish are extremely closely related to the Black and Yellow Rockfish. S. chrysomelas is darker brown with yellow patches, and tends to prefer shallower water. S. carnatus (Gopher rockfish) has pinkish spots on a brown background, The two types are apparently genetically indistinguishable, and may represent a single species with two color morphs.

 References: 

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/35639373843/in/dateposted-public/

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium California Coastal Marine 2017

Ron’s flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608333101710/

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/3959

Ron’s WordPress shortlink wp.me/s1DZ4b-2497

ADW animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sebastes_chrysomelas/classif…

http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1hp

 

Taken 10-9-2008, 10-4-12, 10-29-2014