Sebastes chrysomelas

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Sebastes chrysomelas
Black yellow rockfish.jpg
Black-and-yellow rockfish in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Sebastes
Species:
S. chrysomelas
Binomial name
Sebastes chrysomelas
Synonyms [1]
  • Sebastichthys chrysomelasJordan & Gilbert, 1881
  • Sebastodes chrysomelas(Jordan & Gilbert, 1881)

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. [2]

Contents

The black-and-yellow rockfish has speckles that are similar to the China rockfish, but lacks the long yellow streak starting at the foredorsal fin curves. Sebastes chrysomelas.jpg
The black-and-yellow rockfish has speckles that are similar to the China rockfish, but lacks the long yellow streak starting at the foredorsal fin curves.

Taxonomy

Sebastes chrysomelas was first formally described as Sebastichthys chlorostictus in 1881 by the American ichthyologists David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert with the type locality given as Monterey, California. [3] Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Pteropodus. The specific name chrysomelas means "gold and black" a reference to the black-and-yellow color of this species. [4]

Description

Sebastes chrysomelas' body is mainly black or brown and consists of yellow to orange spots on its back with a pale underbelly. The body is typically squat and compact, and covered with spines. [5] Around the eyes, there are faint dark stripes and its lower lip is a dark grey color. The yellow spots on the back are the main distinguishing factor between Sebastes chrysomelas and other species of rockfish. Its head consists of 5 pairs of large spines. Their anal fins have 3 spines and 6–7 soft rays, and the pectoral fins have 17–18 rays with a flesh-like appearance. The anal and dorsal fins are mildly venomous which tend to cause a painful wound. The average size of the fish is 39 cm. [6]

Behavior

Sebastes chrysomelas is a solitary and sedentary fish, and become most active during twilight hours. [7] They are highly territorial once establishing a home and they seldom move more than 2km away from their home. They tend to be aggressive towards other species, as they exclude the similar looking Sebastes carnatus from shallower waters. [6]

Reproduction

Sebastes chrysomelas is a viviparous fish, giving birth to live young. Females tend to mature between 3 and 6 years, whereas, males mature between 3 and 4 years. [6] Mating begins in the latter parts of January to February with spawning occurring between February and July. Females can be seen carrying fertilized eggs for 1–2 months, typically starting in October, and then releasing them as pelagic larvae. [7] The first young settle in kelp beds in June. The estimated life expectancy is up to thirty years. [5]

Distribution

Sebastes chrysomelas is found in waters around the coast of northern California to central Baja California, Mexico. These waters typically range between 11.0 and 21.4 degrees Celsius. [8] It inhabits intertidal zones and shallow waters up to 37m in-depth. The black-and-yellow rockfish has also been found to inhabit holes and cracks in rocky zones. They can be commonly found around rocky water areas and reefs or near kelp beds. [6]

Prey and predation

Sebastes chrysomelas is a carnivorous animal that mainly consumes crustaceans, mollusks and various fishes. It is a nocturnal predator, typically ambushing its prey between dusk and dawn. The main predator of adult Sebastes chrysomelas are sharks, dolphins, and seals, while juveniles are hunted by birds, porpoises, fishes, lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus, cabezon, Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, and salmon. [6]

Genetics

A potential PCR-RFLP genetic sex marker developed for gopher rockfish. [9] In the original study, the marker was able to successfully distinguish male and female black-and-yellow rockfish, [9] but it was unsuccessful in a subsequent study using the same method. [10] Chromosome 19 has been identified as a putative sex chromosome for the species. [11]

Fisheries

Sebastes chrysomelas is considered to be a highly palatable food fish. They have been an important commercial species which commanded fairly high prices throughout their range. This species is still an important component of fisheries in central and northern California. They are also a frequent quarry for recreational anglers both from shore and from boats. [5]

Related Research Articles

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue rockfish</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China rockfish</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canary rockfish</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiger rockfish</span> Species of fish

The tiger rockfish, also called tiger seaperch, banded rockfish and black-banded 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Widow rockfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Sebastes miniatus</i> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowtail rockfish</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black rockfish</span> Species of fish

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quillback rockfish</span> Species of fish

The quillback rockfish, also known as the quillback seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. This species primarily dwells in salt water reefs. The average adult weighs 2–7 pounds and may reach 1 m in length. Quillback rockfish are named for the sharp, venomous quills or spines on the dorsal fin. Their mottled orange-brown coloring allows them to blend in with rocky bottom reefs. The quillback rockfish eats mainly crustaceans, but will also eat herring. They are solitary and minimally migratory, but not territorial, and give birth to live young (viviparous). They are a popular sport fish, generally caught in cold water 41–60 m deep, but also to subtidal depths of 275 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown rockfish</span> Species of fish

The brown rockfish, whose other names include brown seaperch, chocolate bass, brown bass and 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.

<i>Sebastes atrovirens</i> Species of fish

Sebastes atrovirens, the kelp 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 Pacific Ocean along the coast of California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.

<i>Sebastes glaucus</i> Species of fish

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<i>Sebastes ovalis</i> Species of fish

Sebastes ovalis, the speckled 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 deep rocky areas of the Eastern Pacific.

<i>Sebastes rastrelliger</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Sebastes rubrivinctus</i> Species of fish

Sebastes rubrivinctus, also known as the flag rockfish, Spanish flag, redbanded rockfish or barberpole, 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.

<i>Sebastes serranoides</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Sebastes schlegelii</i> Species of fish

Sebastes schlegelii, also known as the Korean rockfish, northern black seaperch, and black rockfish, 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.

<i>Sebastes diaconus</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Sebastes ciliatus</i> Species of fish

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.

References

  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Sebastes chrysomelas" in FishBase. June 2021 version.
  2. 1 2 Paul Humann (1996). Coastal Fish Identification California to Alaska. New World Publications, Inc. ISBN   1-878348-17-5. page 27
  3. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Sebastes". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  4. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (22 May 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 8): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Families Sebastidae, Setarchidae and Neosebastidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Black-and-yellow Rockfish". Mexico – Fish, Birds, Crabs, Marine Life, Shells and Terrestrial Life. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "SIMoN :: Species Database". sanctuarysimon.org. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  7. 1 2 Larson, Ralph J. (1980). "Competition, Habitat Selection, and the Bathymetric Segregation of Two Rockfish (Sebastes) Species" . Ecological Monographs. 50 (2): 221–239. doi:10.2307/1942480. ISSN   0012-9615. JSTOR   1942480.
  8. "Sebastes chrysomelas – Black-and-yellow Rockfish". reeflifesurvey.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  9. 1 2 Fowler, Benjamin L.S.; Buonaccorsi, Vincent P. (2016). "Genomic characterization of sex‐identification markers in Sebastes carnatus and Sebastes chrysomelas rockfishes". Molecular Ecology. 25 (10): 2165–2175. doi: 10.1111/mec.13594 . PMID   26923740.
  10. Vaux, Felix; Aycock, Hannah M.; Bohn, Sandra; Rasmuson, Leif K.; O'Malley, Kathleen G. (2020). "Sex identification PCR–RFLP assay tested in eight species of Sebastes rockfish". Conservation Genetics Resources. 12 (4): 541–544. doi:10.1007/s12686-020-01150-y. S2CID   216609309.
  11. Sykes, Nathan T.B.; Kolora, Sree Rohit Raj; Sudmant, Peter H.; Owens, Gregory L. (2023). "Rapid turnover and evolution of sex-determining regions in Sebastes rockfishes". Molecular Ecology. 32 (18): 5013–5027. doi: 10.1111/mec.17090 .

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