(Black rockfishes with weak head spines)

Light dusky rockfish
(Sebastes ciliatus)

ciliatusUW_small.jpg (14554 bytes) ciliatuscom_small.jpg (21755 bytes)
click image to enlarge
Another dusky rockfish picture

Body color:
Gray to greenish brown on back and sides, darker blotches under soft dorsal fin; ventral sides and pectoral and pelvic fins tinged w/ pink; orange-red-brown flecks on sides. (Also see above underwater photo.)
Maximum length: 17 in (53 cm) Peritoneum color: light to dark
Maximum depth: 287 fm (525 m) Shape between eyes: convex
Common depth: 55-164 fm (100-300 m) Counts: D:XIII,13-16, Ar:7-9, P1:17-19, GR:32-36,
LLp:45-52, LLs:47-58, V:28

Similar species:

Dark Dusky RF - mouth smaller, maxilla to midorbit, symphyseal knob small; peritoneum jet black; body uniform black or dark blue.

Black RF - anal-fin margin rounded w/ anterior slant; peritoneum light; spinous dorsal fin often w/ black spots; mandibular pores reduced (evident in Dusky RF); head spine count differs, spine 4 present.

Yellowtail RF - peritoneum light; head spine count differs; body w/ brassy wash; fins dusky yellow;dorsal rays typically 14 (typically 15 in Dusky RF).

Northern RF - typically 14 dorsal spines (typically 13 in Dusky RF); oblique light band on lower portion of pectoral fin (faint in Dusky RF).

Widow RF - anal-fin margin w/ strong posterior slant; head spine count differs; maxilla extends anterior to midorbit (maxilla extends to beyond midorbit in Dusky RF).

Distribution: Bering Sea - British Columbia

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