Bluemouth rockfish (Helicolenus dactylopterus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Helicolenus dactylopterus
- Common name
- Bluemouth rockfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Sebastidae
- Genus
- Helicolenus
- Size
- 30–47 cm
- Depth
- 50–1100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, nocturnal, venomous
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Helicolenus dactylopterus reaches 47 cm. Rockfish (Sebastidae) Mediterranean and temperate Atlantic deep. Stocky vivid red-pink body with darker marbling, characteristic long venomous dorsal spines (intense pain), large black eyes adapted to low deep light. Lives from 50 to 1100 m on deep rocky drop-offs of Mediterranean and temperate Atlantic. Commercial fishery (highly prized flesh). Iconic wide-angle photo subject of Med deep technical dives (>40 m) for vivid colors. Temperate Atlantic cousin of Nordic Sebastes (batch 20).
Photo of Bluemouth rockfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Bluemouth rockfish?
- Bluemouth rockfish (Helicolenus dactylopterus) reaches 30–47 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Bluemouth rockfish?
- Bluemouth rockfish is found between 50–1100 m deep.
- Is the Bluemouth rockfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Bluemouth rockfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Bluemouth rockfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Sebastidae
- Sebastes norvegicus - Golden redfish
- Sebastes mentella - Beaked redfish
- Sebastes viviparus - Norway redfish
- Sebastes oculatus - Patagonian redfish
- Sebastes mystinus - blue rockfish
- Sebastes serranoides - olive rockfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 127251)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4286361)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia