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The brown rockfish (Sebastes auriculatus), whose other names include chocolate bass, brown bass, and brown bomber, is characterized by a body colored by various shades of brown. This relatively heavy-bodied species is overlaid with dark-brown, red-brown, or blackish mottling, although a red species was reported off southern Baja California. The rear area of the gill cover has a prominent dark patch which probably inspired its Latin name auriculatus, meaning "eared". This blotch may become faint in larger species. Stripes of red-brown, brown, or orange radiate back from the upper jaw and eyes. The number of head spines can vary. Brown rockfish in Puget Sound and off central California commonly have coronal spines, while in southern California waters, these spine are generally absent. The brown rockfish often resemble the copper rockfish, who lack the dark patch on their gill cover and have lighter areas along their lateral line. The brown rockfish are also confused with the vermillion rockfish in deep water, grass rockfish in shallow water, and the naturally-occurring quillback-brown-copper rockfish hybrids in Puget Sound. Along the Pacific Coast, more than one population of browns may exist. The brown rockfish can grow up to 22.4 in. (56 cm), with the females being potentially larger than the males. Both sexes have similar growth rates and life spans, living to at least 34 years of age. The range for brown rockfish can extend from Bahia San Hipolito in
southern Baja California to Prince William Sound in the northern Gulf of
Alaska. They are most often found in central and southern Puget Sound
and from southern Baja California to Bodega Bay in northern California.
Juveniles and subadults are thought to have relatively small home ranges. They commonly
live at shallow inshore depths of 396 ft. (120 m), and can be found as
deep as 444 ft. (135 m). The adults and subadults are commonly found near the sea
bottom over both high and low terrain, and sometimes among eelgrass or
other vegetation. Pelagic juveniles are at shallower depths of about 120
ft. (36 m). They live alone or in small groups and
are found in waters more turbid than many other rockfishes. In shallower
waters off southern California, browns are abundant around some oil
platforms. The brown rockfish feed on small fishes, crab, shrimp, and other small
invertebrates. The juveniles are prey to harbor seals and king salmon.
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