Family: Scorpaenidae, Scorpionfishes view all from this family

Description To 20" (50 cm). Elongated. Back bright green, with 3–5 dark green, pink-centered spots and green vermiculations; below pale green. Fins red, some with yellow spines; 2 green-based dorsal fins, 1st high, deeply incised; tail fin squared. Head heavy, profile steep.

Warning Members of this family have venomous fin spines and should be handled with care.

Habitat Over soft bottoms in ocean water 162-656' (49-200 m) deep.

Range Copalis Head, Washington, to Isla Cedros, Baja California.

Discussion The Green-spotted Rockfish is a member of the rockfish family (Sebastidae); rockfishes were formerly included in the scorpionfish family (Scorpaenidae). There are 65 species in the genus Sebastes, and many are difficult to identify. They all have palatine teeth, 12-15, usually 13, dorsal fin spines, and 9-16 rays. All Sebastes species are ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young that have hatched from eggs held inside the mother's body without receiving nutrients from her.