About Sebastes helvomaculatus Ayres, 1859
Sebastes helvomaculatus is a relatively small, slender rockfish with large eyes in proportion to its head size. Its body depth is just under one-third of its standard length. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines (with the second spine being very long) and 6 to 7 soft rays. The head bears robust spines: nasal, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, and parietal spines are present (some very robust), nuchal spines are typically absent, and the coronal spine is always absent. The caudal fin is slightly forked. This species varies in color from crimson, orange, yellow, to yellowish-green, marked with a series of faint stripes. The anal and dorsal fins usually have pink or green stripes, and the top of the head has green and white striping. It also has 4 to 5 white blotches, which may be edged or tinted pale. This species reaches a maximum total length of 41 centimeters (16 inches). Sebastes helvomaculatus occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from Kodiak Island in Alaska south to Guadalupe Island in Baja California. It is rare in waters south of San Francisco, California. It is a demersal fish that lives at depths between 25 and 549 meters (82 to 1,801 feet).
