ExploreFish

Black rockfish

Sebastes melanops

The Black rockfish is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It has a dark color and can be found swimming around rocks and reefs, making it a great fish to spot while exploring underwater!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Black rockfish has a stout, dark body, often brownish-black or olive, with a large mouth and spiny fins. It can be visually distinguished by its uniformly dark color and lack of distinct patterns.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderScorpaeniformesFamilySebastidaeGenusSebastes

Photo: Chad King (SIMoN / MBNMS)Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Black rockfish

Interesting facts

Black rockfish can make a "popping" sound using their swim bladder!

They can create a powerful vacuum with their mouth to slurp up prey!

They have special tiny bones in their ears called otoliths that reveal their age!

Young Black rockfish often live in floating kelp patties in the open ocean!

Special abilities

Black rockfish has sharp, venomous spines on its fins that help them deter predators.

Black rockfish can sense tiny water vibrations with their lateral line, helping them find food and avoid danger.

Black rockfish gives birth to tiny live young, not eggs, giving their babies a head start in life.

Measurements & details

Length: 30-65 cm
Weight: 1-5 kg
Lifespan: 20-50 years
Swim Speed: 15 km/h
Maximum Depth: 366 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

Black rockfish are active hunters that eat small fish, shrimp, and other ocean critters.

Age differences: Young fish eat zooplankton, then small crustaceans, and adults primarily eat small fish.

Primary Foods

Pacific herring
Northern anchovy
shrimp
crab
krill

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Harbor seal

Phoca vitulina

often hunts rockfish in coastal waters

Eaten by

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

a large predatory fish found in their habitat

Hunts

Pacific herring

Clupea pallasii

a common schooling fish they actively pursue

Hunts

Ocean shrimp

Pandalus jordani

a key crustacean prey in their diet

Traits

Spotted

Marked with spots or patches of a different color.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

Carnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.

Speedster

This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.

Marine

Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Fish

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Always be careful when swimming in the ocean and watch out for waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Black rockfish?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Black rockfish?

30-65 cm

How much does Black rockfish weigh?

1-5 kg

How long does Black rockfish live?

20-50 years

What does Black rockfish eat?

Black rockfish are active hunters that eat small fish, shrimp, and other ocean critters.

How fast can Black rockfish swim?

15 km/h

Where is Black rockfish usually found?

Coastal areas