Sebastiscus
Sea ruffes resembling rockfishes but smaller, with distinct pattern.
Last updated
The genus contains four recognized species.[1] The ray-finned fish genus Sebastiscus belongs to the order Scorpaeniformes and the family Sebastidae.[2][3] In 1904, David Starr Jordan and Edwin Chapin Starks originally designated Sebastiscus as a subgenus within Sebastes, with Sebastes marmoratus (first described by Georges Cuvier in 1829) as its type species.[4]
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyScorpaenidae
- GenusSebastiscus
Named by D. S. Jordan & Starks, 1904
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Sebastiscus (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Genus authority
- David Starr Jordan and Edwin Chapin Starks, 1904
- Type species
- Sebastes marmoratus (described by Georges Cuvier, 1829)
- Number of species
- 4
- Distribution
- Western Pacific Ocean from Japan and Korea south to the Philippines
- Habitat
- Shallow water coastal species
Facts from the source article.
Biology and range
The type species is Sebastes marmoratus, described by Georges Cuvier in 1829.[4] According to Jordan and Starks, Sebastiscus shares similarities with the subgenus Sebastodes of the genus Sebastes.[5] A well-developed swim bladder is the feature that separates Sebastiscus from the genus Helicolenus.[5] Records of S. marmoratus found outside its normal range, in Australia and Norway, are believed to be due to transport in ship ballast water.[6]
What the specialist sources record
The Fishes of Australia account classifies Sebastiscus marmoratus under the order Scorpaeniformes and family Sebastidae.[3] GBIF lists Sebastiscus as an accepted genus with 4,018 occurrence records as of October 2026.[2]
References
- Wikipedia, "Sebastiscus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Sebastiscus (taxon key 2335354). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org
- Bray, D.J., "Sebastiscus marmoratus", Fishes of Australia, 2021. facts only, no text reused. fishesofaustralia.net.au
- Wikipedia, "Sebastiscus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; "Fishes of the World", Wiley, 2016, p. 468–475; "Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes", BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2017 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sebastiscus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Arthur W. Kendall Jr., "An Historical Review of Sebastes Taxonomy and Systematics", Marine Fisheries Review, 2000 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sebastiscus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; Bray, D.J., "Sebastiscus marmoratus", Fishes of Australia, 2021; "Pacific false kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829) (Scorpaeniformes, Sebastidae) found in Norwegian waters", BioInvasions Records, 2018, p. 73–78; Arthur W. Kendall Jr., "An Historical Review of Sebastes Taxonomy and Systematics", Marine Fisheries Review, 2000 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Sebastiscus (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Lionfish and Scorpionfish
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Sebastiscus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced