About Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829)
Scientific Name and Body Depth
Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829) has a moderately deep body.
Pectoral Fin Margin
The upper rear margin of its pectoral fins is almost straight.
Suborbital and Pectoral Axil Features
This species has no suborbital spine, no suborbital ridge, and no flap of skin at the axil of the pectoral fin.
Caudal Fin Shape
Its caudal fin is rounded.
Fin Spine and Ray Count
The dorsal fin has 12 spines and between 10 and 13 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 5 soft rays.
Base Body Color
The overall body color is yellowish-brown, ranging from reddish to blackish, marked with white to dark blotches.
Body Markings
A series of dark blotches or saddles runs along the back, white spotting is scattered across the lower flank, but any spots above the lateral line are indistinct.
Size and Weight
This species reaches a maximum total length of 36.2 cm (14.3 in) and a maximum published weight of 2.8 kg (6.2 lb).
Native Distribution Range
Sebastiscus marmoratus is native to the western Pacific Ocean, ranging from Vietnam north to China, Japan and Korea, and east to the Philippines, reaching as far north as southern Hokkaido.
Extralimital Records
There are extralimital records of this species: it has been recorded twice in Australia and once in the North Atlantic off Norway.
Extralimital Introduction Cause
These records are thought to probably result from the fish being transported to these locations in the ballast water of ships.
Habitat
This is a demersal fish that lives on rocky substrates near shore, in seaweed beds, lagoons, and seaward reefs.
