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

Genus/species: Sebastes auriculatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Light brown mottled with dark brown; a dark blotch on upper portion of opercle, Fins are dusky-pink. The underside of throat and lower jaw are pinkish.  The rear area of the gill cover (opercule) with the prominent dark patch probably inspired its Latin name auriculatus, meaning eared.

Length up to 56 cm 22 inches

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Southern Baja California to the northern Gulf of Alaska. Brown Rockfish are commonly found as bottom dwellers from shallow subtidal waters 20 ft. (6 m) to 444 ft. (135 m).

DIET IN THE WILD: Small fishes, crab, shrimp, and other small invertebrates.

REPRODUCTION: Viviparous, with planktonic larvae and pelagic juveniles. All are mature at 15 inches or 5 years of age.

LONGEVITY: Up to 34 years

REMARKS: Fin spines are sharp and mildly venomous and can cause annoying wounds.

Small live specimens make excellent bait for large lingcod. Flesh is firm and tasty, but rarely found in markets

References

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/35972127564/in/dateposted-public/

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium California Coastal Marine 2017

Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. p.134

 fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Sebastes-auriculatus

Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast, Milton Love 1996 Really Big Press ppg. 146-148

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink: http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-Da