| Sebastes diaconus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae |
| Genus: | Sebastes |
| Species: | S. diaconus |
| Binomial name | |
| Sebastes diaconus | |
Sebastes diaconus, the deacon rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Between 2002 and 2004, phylogeographic research on blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) identified a distinct genetic subpopulation, which was sampled between Cape Mendocino in northern California and Neah Bay, Washington. [2] [3] Subsequent research identified further genetic evidence supporting this distinct subpopulation, as well as demographic differences and evidence for reproductive isolation. [4] [5] [6] The subpopulation was cited as an example of incipient speciation. [4] In 2015, distinct morphological traits were identified for the northern subpopulation and it was recognized as a distinct species, classified as Sebastes diaconus. [1] [7]
The specific epithet diaconus (deacon) refers to an 'acolyte', which is a reference to the specific epithet of the blue rockfish, mystinus, which means 'priest' in Latin. Like the two species, an acolyte and priest are similar in appearance. [1]
The deacon rockfish has been described as a cryptic species that is difficult to distinguish from the blue rockfish. [6] The deacon rockfish however has more visible stripes in its coloration, whereas the blue rockfish has a 'blotchy' color pattern. [1] As such, prior to the formal classification of the species, the deacon rockfish was referred to as the 'blue-sided rockfish' and the blue rockfish was referred to as the 'blue-blotched rockfish'. [1] [8] The shape of the mouth and front of the face also differs subtly between the two species, with the deacon rockfish exhibiting a longer lower jaw, which results in an underbite. [1] Under dissection, sexually mature female deacon rockfish also have a small pink or cream colored ovary, whereas mature female blue rockfish have a large orange ovary. [8]
The shape of sagittal otoliths has been found to subtly differ between males and females, which may indicate secondary sexual dimorphism. [9]
Genetic differences have been identified between male and female deacon rockfish using RAD sequencing. [9] Such differences may reflect the evolution of sex chromosomes in the species or psueuoautosomal regions within the genome (see wider discussion of sex chromosome evolution), or intralocus sexual conflict, although the function and evolutionary significance of these genetic sites is currently uncertain. [9] A potential PCR-RFLP genetic sex marker developed for gopher rockfish [10] does not successfully distinguish male and female deacon rockfish. [11] Further research has identified chromosomes 2 and 12 as the sex chromosomes for deacon rockfish. [12]
The deacon rockfish is found on rocky reefs and offshore areas from northern California to southern British Columbia. [1] The species is sympatric with the blue rockfish in northern California and Oregon. [1] [3] Female deacon rockfish can exhibit a high level of residency, showing site fidelity to a particular reef and inhabiting a small home range. [13] However, females may relocate depending upon daily and seasonal movement patterns, seasonally occurring hypoxia, and prey preferences for planktonic organisms. [13]
Deacon rockfish may be adapted to diurnal hunting on small, transparent plankton. [13] Individuals have been found to ingest gelatinous zooplankton such as the colonial tunicates Pyrosoma atlanticum , the hydrozoan Velella velella , and the ctenophore Pleurobrachia bachei , as well as small planktonic crustaceans such as crab zoeae and megalopae and pelagic amphipods. [13]
Deacon rockfish are caught both commercially and recreationally in Oregon. [14] In 2017, the stock assessment for Oregon and California combined deacon rockfish and blue rockfish for management purposes. [8] [9] The stock assessment estimated the combined populations in California to have declined rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s to a low point in 1995 and then increased to a point close to the management target. [14] The stocks in Oregon were estimated as having never experienced the same intensity of fishing as in California with spawning biomass remaining above the management target throughout the history of fishing. [14]
In Oregon, nearshore and offshore populations of deacon rockfish are de facto managed as separate stocks in order to comply with wider regulations on Sebastes rockfish fishing, although population genetic evidence does not support this distinction. [9]
Sebastes is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae part of the family Scorpaenidae, most of which have the common name of rockfish. A few are called ocean perch, sea perch or redfish instead. They are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The gopher rockfish, also known as the gopher sea perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific, primarily off California.
The blue rockfish or blue seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from northern Baja California to central Oregon.
The China rockfish, the yellowstripe rockfish or yellowspotted rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is native to the waters of the Pacific Ocean off western North America.
The canary rockfish, also known as the orange rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is native to the waters of the Pacific Ocean off western North America.
The Pacific ocean perch, also known as the Pacific rockfish, rose fish, red bream or red perch, is a fish whose range spans across the North Pacific : from southern California around the Pacific rim to northern Honshū, Japan, including the Bering Sea. The species appears to be most abundant in northern British Columbia, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands.
The copper rockfish, also known as the copper seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific.
The bocaccio rockfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae, It is found in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
The widow rockfish, or brown bomber, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes miniatus, the vermilion rockfish, vermilion seaperch, red snapper, red rock cod, and rasher, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is native to the waters of the Pacific Ocean off western North America from Baja California to Alaska.
The yellowtail rockfish, or yellowtail seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. This species lives mainly off the coast of western North America from California to Alaska.
The yelloweye rockfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae and one of the biggest members of the genus Sebastes. Its name derives from its coloration. It is also locally known as "red snapper", not to be confused with the warm-water Atlantic species Lutjanus campechanus that formally carries the name red snapper. The yelloweye is one of the world's longest-lived fish species, and is cited to live to a maximum of 114 to 120 years of age. As they grow older, they change in color, from reddish in youth, to bright orange in adulthood, to pale yellow in old age. Yelloweye live in rocky areas and feed on small fish and other rockfish. They reside in the East Pacific and range from Baja California to Dutch Harbor in Alaska.
The black rockfish, also known variously as the black seaperch, black bass, black rock cod, sea bass, black snapper and Pacific Ocean perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is sometimes misidentified as the "red snapper".
Sebastes chrysomelas, commonly known as the black-and-yellow rockfish, is a marine fish species of the family Sebastidae. It is found in rocky areas in the Pacific off California and Baja California. Although it is similar in appearance to the China rockfish, the black-and-yellow rockfish lacks the China's long yellow streak. The China rockfish has a continuous yellow band while the black-and-yellow rockfish only has scattered patches of yellow across its body.
Sebastes chlorostictus, the greenspotted rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the Eastern Pacific.
Sebastes elongatus, the greenstriped rockfish, striped rockfish, strawberry rockfish, poinsettas, reina or serena, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes rastrelliger, the grass rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is native to the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes serranoides, the olive rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the Eastern Pacific.
Sebastes schlegelii, also known as the Korean rockfish, northern black seaperch, black rockfish, and woo-reok (우럭) in Korean, is a predatory species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae It is found in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes ciliatus, the dusky rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is typically found in the North Pacific Ocean, specifically in the Bering Sea near British Columbia, in the Gulf of Alaska, and in the depths of the Aleutian Islands.
Data related to Sebastes diaconus at Wikispecies
Media related to Sebastes diaconus at Wikimedia Commons