Scientific Name
Sebastes paucispinis

Common Name
Bocaccio rockfish

Biology
Adults found over rocky reefs, but also common on open bottoms to about 320 m (Ref. 2850). Juveniles are pelagic and settle in near shore nursery areas, then move to deeper habitats (Ref. 36715). Young form schools (Ref. 2850). Feed mainly on fishes, including other rockfishes (Ref. 2850). Ovoviviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36715, 6885, 34817). Validated age by radiometry is 37 yrs (Ref. 75794). A famous sport fish throughout its range (Ref. 2850). Flesh is of excellent quality when kept chilled (Ref. 27436). Sold with other rockfish species (Ref. 27436).

Classification

Classified By

Ayres, 1854

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads (Sebastidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Stepovak Bay, Alaskan Peninsula to Punta Blanca, Baja California, Mexico.

Range

65°N - 31°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

476 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 476 m (Ref. 27437)

Trophic Level

3.51 s.e. 0.46 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (63 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=4; tmax=50; Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Critically Endangered (CR) (A1abd+2d)