Sebastes flavidus (Ayres, 1862)
Yellowtail rockfish
photo by Nichols, J.

Family:  Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads), subfamily: Sebastinae
Max. size:  66 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,510.0 g; max. reported age: 64 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 549 m
Distribution:  Northeast Pacific: Unalaska Island, Alaska to San Diego, California, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-9. Head spines weak - nasals present, preocular and parietal spines usually absent, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, coronal and nuchal spines absent (Ref. 27437). May have a prominent symphyseal knob; posterior edge of anal fin vertical (Ref. 27436). Caudal fin nearly truncate but slightly forked (Ref. 6885). Olive green to greenish brown with some light mottling dorsally, light ventrally; fins yellowish green, ventral fins often tinged in orange (Ref. 27436).
Biology:  Form schools in open water along steeply sloping shores or above rocky reefs; also holes up amid cracks and crevices of the sea floor (Ref. 27436). Juveniles found around floats and pilings (Ref. 27436). Feed on pelagic crustaceans, fishes and squids (Ref. 6885). Viviparous (Ref. 34817). Filleted, then sold fresh or frozen, with other rockfishes (Ref. 27436).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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