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Sebastolobus alascanus Bean, 1890
Shortspine Thornyhead
Family: Scorpaenidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

© Neil McDaniel     (Photo ID #15989)

Map

Source: Distribution of Sebastolobus alascanus as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 4 - 5. Head spines very strong - nasal, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, parietal and nuchal spines present, coronal spines absent; large head and elongate body; strong spiny ridge on head; 3rd dorsal spine not much longer than 2nd, 4th or 5th; strong notch on pectoral fin (Ref. 27437). Bright red with some black on fins; gill chamber mostly pale (Ref. 27437). Caudal slightly rounded (Ref. 6885).

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

Biology

Species Biology

Very common on soft bottoms (Ref. 2850). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs are extruded in floating gelatinous masses (Ref. 31279). Have a thick glandular tissue on posterior margin of fin spines which is believed to be venomous (Ref. 57406). Environment: bathydemersal; marine; depth range 17 - 1600 m (Ref. 50550), usually 91 - ? m (Ref. 2850). Climate: deep-water

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

Distribution

Distribution

North Pacific: Sea of Okhotsk north to the Navarin Canyon in the Bering Sea and from Stalemate Bank and Ulm Plateau in the Aleutian Islands southeast to Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico. Reported from Japan (Ref. 559).

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

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNot Listed



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Additional Range and Status Information Links

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 University of Alaska Museum

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