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(Red rockfishes with strong head spines) |
Shortspine thornyhead |
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Body color: Bright red to pink, often w/ dusky to black areas on fins and body, dark spot on posterior part of spinous dorsal fin. |
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| Maximum length: 30 in (75 cm) | Peritoneum color: light w/ spots |
| Maximum depth: 833 fm (1524 fm.) | Shape between eyes: concave |
| Common depth: 55-465 fm (100-850 m) | Counts:
D:XV-XVIII,8-9, Ar:4-5, P1:22-23, GR:18-23, LLp:29-33, LLs:35-46, V:29-31 |
Similar species:
Longspine Thornyhead - dorsal spine 3 longer than 4; pectoral fin w/ slight notch; gill chamber mostly black; dorsal spines typically 15 (typically 16 in Shortspine Thornyhead).
Broadbanded Thornyhead - ventral pectoral rays highly branched, lobe-like; body deeper.
Aleutian Scorpionfish (genus Adelosebastes) - cheek spines 1-2, weak; lower pectoral rays fingerlike; head spines very large; body deep.
Other Rockfishes (genus Sebastes) - cheek spines absent; pectoral fin wedge-shaped w/out notch; body deep; dorsal spines 12-15 (15-17 in Shortspine Thornyhead).
Distribution: Bering Sea - Baja California
