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

Sebastes variabilis Pallas, 1814
Dusky Rockfish
Family: Sebastidae

Source: Distribution of Sebastes variabilis as compiled by Aquamaps

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Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 28 - 29. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body light yellow to greenish brown to gray, typically greenish brown, with orange flecks present on sides, distinctly light ventrally above anal-fin base and on ventral pectoral-fin rays; peritoneum light gray to jet black; strong symphyseal knob; extrinsic swimbladder muscle with a single section of striated muscle, lacking anterior fascia, otherwise of type I (a-z) of Hallacher (1974); lateral-line pores 43-54, scales 47-63; pectoral-fin rays 16-19; anal-fin rays 7-9; dorsal-fin rays 13-16; vertebrae total 28-29 (11-12 + 16-18). Max length : 43.1 cm SL male/unsexed.

Source: FishBase. Orr and Blackburn 2004.

Biology

Species Biology

Collection depth between 6-370 m, deepest recorded depth at 675 m; large adults common along the edge of the continental shelf at 100-300 m where the species is targeted for commercial use. Captured in the offshore trawl fishery. Males and females captured by trawl surveys vary widely in maturity during the summer (May-July). Marine; demersal; depth range 6 - 675 m, usually 100 - 300 m.

Source: FishBase. Orr and Blackburn 2004.

Distribution

North Pacific: Japan, east coast of Kamchatka to Cape Ol'utorskii in western Bering Sea, along the Aleutian Islands to 60°N in the eastern Bering Sea, through the Gulf of Alaska south to Johnstone Strait, British Columbia and to central Oregon.

Source: FishBase. Orr and Blackburn 2004.

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

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: 2025-06-23 12:22:49 PM]

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