Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Rank Family | Scientific name Sebastidae Higher classification Scorpaeniformes Order Scorpaeniformes | |
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Lower classifications Rockfish, Rose fish, Sebastiscus marmoratus, Helicolenus, Blackbelly rosefish | ||
Sebastidae is a family of marine fish in the order Scorpaeniformes. Their common names include rockfishes, rock perches, ocean perches, sea perches, thornyheads, scorpionfishes, sea ruffes and rockcods. Despite the latter name, they are not closely related to the cods in the genus Gadus, nor the rock cod, Lotella rhacina.
Not all authorities recognise this family as distinct from Scorpaenidae. FishBase does recognise it, but ITIS does not.
Of about 130 species in this family, the substantial majority belong to genus Sebastes, including the rose fish (Sebastes norvegicus). They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Over 100 of the species are viviparous, and these occur mainly in the North Pacific. All species have venom glands in their dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines.
