Sebastes nigrocinctus Ayres, 1859
Tiger rockfish
Sebastes nigrocinctus
photo by Valkenier - Pope, C.

Family:  Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads), subfamily: Sebastinae
Max. size:  61 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,220.0 g; max. reported age: 116 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 275 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Cape Resurrection, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to Point Buchon, central California, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-7. Head spines strong - nasal, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, coronal, parietal and nuchal spines present (Ref. 27437). Strongly concave between eyes; parietal ridges very thick and coarse (Ref. 27437). Caudal fin rounded (Ref. 6885). Light pink to red with 5 or 6 black or dark red bars on body; 2 dark bars radiating from each eye (Ref. 27437).
Biology:  Inhabit rocky reefs, mainly at depths greater than 10 m (Ref. 27436). Solitary and territorial, defending a home crevice among rocks (Ref. 2850). Juveniles pelagic (Ref. 27436). Viviparous (Ref. 34817). Quickly changes color when disturbed or when there is a change in lighting (Ref. 6885). Caught infrequently and incidentally marketed as rockfish (Ref. 27436). Flesh firm and tasty (Ref. 27436).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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