E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Sebastes ciliatus (Tilesius, 1813)
Dark Rockfish; Dusky Rockfish
Family: Scorpaenidae

Source: Distribution of Sebastes ciliatus as compiled by Aquamaps

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Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Head spines weak to very weak - nasals usually present, parietals usually absent, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, coronal and nuchal spines absent (Ref. 27437). Two distinct types, (1) dark dusky - uniformly dark or dusky in color, symphyseal knob absent and, (2) light dusky - a larger, greenish

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Biology

Species Biology

Found hovering in loose organized groups just above rocky reefs and along shorelines, or may rest singly upon rocky substrate (Ref. 27436). Feed by picking and seizing food items that are either drifting or suspended in the water column (Ref. 27302). Viviparous (Ref. 34817). Environment: demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 160 m (Ref. 53613) Climate: temperate; 58°N - 50°N

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Distribution

North Pacific: western Aleutian Islands and eastern Bering Sea, through the Gulf of Alaska, to southeast Alaska; including south to Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Status Information

Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Native	SNR	No Status	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Genetic and lineage information (NCBI Taxonomy Browser)

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
University of Alaska Museum

Additional Photo Sources

Flickr Image Search
Google Image Search
Images from Calphoto

Related Databases

fishbase

General References

FishBase References
Google Scholar Search

Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2026-01-17 7:59:36 PM]

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