Sebastes melanops Girard, 1856

Nomenclature and Common Name

Sebastes melanops Girard, 1856, commonly called the black rockfish, reaches a maximum total length of 63 cm (25 in) and a maximum published weight of 4.8 kg (11 lb).

Body Shape

It has a deep, laterally compressed fusiform body.

Head Spination

The head has weak spination: only nasal spines are always present; preocular and postocular spines are normally absent; and supraocular, tympanic, coronal, parietal, and nuchal spines are always absent.

Head Morphology

The head has moderately sized eyes, a bulge in the intraorbital space, and the upper jaw extends to the posterior margin of the eye.

Dorsal Fin Structure

The species has a continuous dorsal fin with 13 to 14 spines and 13 to 16 soft rays, with deep incisions in the membranes between the spines.

Anal Fin Structure

The anal fin has a rounded posterior margin, with 3 spines and 7 to 9 soft rays.

Caudal Fin Structure

The caudal fin is truncate to emarginate.

General Body Coloration

The overall body color is mottled grey and black, with a black spot on the posterior section of the spiny dorsal fin that fades as the fish grows.

Adult Head Markings

Adult individuals may have dark stripes on the head that run from the eye over the operculum.

Color Gradient

The dark coloration of the upper body is often paler than the coloration on the flanks, which creates the species' mottled appearance. This dark color fades to white on the underside.

Core Distribution Range

Black rockfish are distributed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from Amchitka Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to Santa Monica Bay in California.

Extralimital Occurrences

There are two recorded occurrences of this species from Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan.

General Habitat Association

This species occurs on continental shelf waters and is associated with reefs.

Depth Range

It can be found at depths down to 366 m (1,201 ft), but is more commonly found between 182 and 274 m (597 and 899 ft).

Specific Habitats

It often inhabits areas of rocky reefs, and lives among kelp, as well as around jetties and other manmade structures.