Latin name

Sebastes taczanowskii

Other names

Taczanowski's rockfish, Ezo-mebaru 

Identification

Body moderately elongate, compressed at the sides, covered with ctenoid scales. The head rises steeply, giving the impression of a "humped" body. The eyes are moderately large. The lower jaw is protruding. There are faint ridges on the back of the head, hidden under the scales. There are 33-39 stamens on the first gill arch. There are 40-49 scales on the lateral line. The vertebrae are 26-2.

Features of fish fins

Dorsal fin with 13 barbs and 13-15 soft rays. There is a notch between the barbs and the soft rays. Anal fin with 3 barbs and 6-8 soft rays. The caudal fin is truncated with a small notch. 

Fish colouring

The body coloration is brownish purple with a slightly lighter belly. There are dark blotches on the back. Fins are dark. The posterior edge of the caudal fin is pale.

Distribution

Widespread in the Sea of Japan along the mainland coast from southeast of the Korean Peninsula to southwest of Sakhalin and Soviet Harbor. Occurs in the Sea of Okhotsk in Aniva and Terpeniya Bays and in the Pacific waters of Japan and the southern Kuril Islands.

Habitat

Marine groundfish, living at depths from 2 to 120 m between rocky outcrops and in thickets of sea grass near reefs. Sometimes found in estuaries and river mouths.

Size

The maximum body length is 32 centimeters.

Behavior

They stay in small groups and do not form flocks. 

Food and feeding habits

The diet includes crustaceans, polychaetes and fish. As the fish grows, the diet changes significantly. Small individuals feed mainly on bocoplaves and crayfish, and larger individuals switch to feeding on shrimp and juvenile fish.

Reproduction

Like other members of the genus Sebastes, they are viviparous fish with internal fertilization. They mature for the first time at the age of 4 years. Mating takes place in the fall. Sperm is stored in the ovaries of the female for several months before fertilization of the eggs. Incubation occurs inside the female and the larvae hatch in June-July. The larvae emerge once a year. They live in the water column for the first few months of their lives, then switch to a benthic lifestyle.

Fishing

There is no specialized fishery. Often caught as bycatch in trawl fisheries for other demersal species, as well as in seine fisheries. A popular sport fishing target.

Relationship with a person

Maintained in oceanariums. Edible fish.