|
June
2009
photo © 2009 Pete Naylor
Think
you know what it is? Click here for the answer and more ID tips!!
ANSWER!
If
you guessed Yellowtail Rockfish, you're right!!
Sebastes flavidus
Scorpionfish Family
Description:
Typical rockfish profile - bass-like body shape with large head and eyes,
stocky mid section and powerful tail. Body is compressed horizontally
- cross-section is tall and narrow rather than rounded or flattened.
Color: Dark brown/green/grey in base
with yellow tint especially on fins. Several pale spots in a row below
dorsal fin, and dark speckling on sides.
Distribution: Common to occasional
Alaska to central California - rare in southern California.
Size: To 26 inches in length.
Hangouts: In open water around rocky
structure and walls.
Depth: Surface to 900 ft.
Behavior: Most commonly seen in compact
schools mid-column, but occasional individuals are found resting in rocky
crevices. At night the resting behavior is more typical. Schools often
intermix with (very similar) Black Rockfish. Generally quite wary of divers,
and easily spooked - but a quiet diver who makes efforts to mingle with
the school can often hang in the current within arms reach.
Spotting Hints: Seek out rocky structure
which interrupts flow in heavy current areas (points, reefs, pinnacles
etc especially with kelp nearby) and try drifting by the area - be sure
to swim up and away from the structure and look behind you - out into
the open water. These fish can be difficult to distinguish from Black
Rockfish - with a light the yellow tint should be quite visible - but
otherwise look at the rear edge of the anal fin, which will be straight-edged
(rounded on a Black Rockfish). When seen schooling together, the differences
are obvious.
- contributed
by Pete Naylor, REEF Level 5
Critter
of the Month Archives
|
2009
- January
- Fish Eating Anemone
- February
- Pile Perch
- March
- Orange Cup Coral
- April
- Saddleback Gunnel
- May
- Spot Prawn
2008
- January
- Longfin Gunnel
- February
- Giant Barnacle
- March
- Yelloweye Rockfish
- April
- White Spotted Anemone
- May
- Decorated Warbonnet
- June
- Orange Sea Pen
- July
- Snake Prickleback
- August
- Red Sea Urchin
- September
- Sailfin Sculpin
- October
- Rock Scallop
- November
- Candy Striped Shrimp
- December
- Red Irish Lord
2007
- December
- Spiny Pink Star
- November
- YOY Rockfish
- October
- Coonstripe Shrimp
- September
- Striped Perch
- August
- Red Rock Crab
- July
- Lewis's Moonsnail
- June
- Shiner Perch
- May
- Longfin Sculpin
- April
- Moon Jelly
- March
- Black Rockfish
- February-Tube
Dwelling Anemone
- January
- Cabezon
2006
- December
- Sunflower Star
- November
- Vermilion Rockfish
- September/October
Plumose Anemone
- August
- Grunt Sculpin
- March
- July - Giant Nudibranch
- January/February
- Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker
|
2005
- December
- Penpoint Gunnel
- November
- White Lined Dirona
- October
- Kelp Greenling
- September
- Leather Star
- August
- Tube Snout
- July
- Lion's Mane Jelly and Egg Yolk Jelly
- May
- Buffalo Sculpin
- April
- Northern Kelp Crab
- March
- Brown Rockfish
- February
- GPO vs. Red Octopus
- January
- C-O Sole
2004
- December
- Orange Social Ascidians
- November
- Scalyhead Sculpin
- October
- Yellow Margin Dorid
- September
- Roughback Sculpin
- August
- Fringed Tube Worm
- July
- Pacific Sandlance
- June
- Leafy Hornmouth
- May
- There isn't one! Ooops!
- April
- Oregon Triton
-
March - Painted Greenling vs. Tiger Rockfish
- February
- Dungeness Crab
- January
- Ling Cod
2003
- December
- Slender Legs or Graceful Crab
- November
- Copper Rockfish
- October
- Lacy Bryozoan
- September
- Rock Sole
- August
- Orange Sea Cucumber
- July
- Blackeye Goby
- June
- California Sea Cucumber
- May
- Whitespotted Greenling
- April
- Gumboot Chiton
- March
- Quillback Rockfish
- February
- Shiny Orange Sea Squirt
- January
- English Sole
2002
- December
- Crescent Gunnel
|
|
