(Red rockfishes with weak head spines) |
Yellowmouth rockfish |
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Body color: Red intermixed w/ yellow-orange (or black in individuals < 40cm); diffuse olivaceous mottling on back; mouth w/ yellow, red and black blotches on whitish background. |
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| Maximum length: 23 in (58 cm) | Peritoneum color: silver w/black dots |
| Maximum depth: 200 fm (366 m) | Shape between eyes: convex to flat |
| Common depth: 56-183 fm (100-330 m) | Counts:
D:XIII,13-15, Ar:7-8, P1:18-20, GR:30-36, LLp:47-55, LLs:57-67, V:26 |
Pacific Ocean Perch - symphyseal knob sharp, elongate; no yellow blotches inside mouth; dorsal blotches discrete, opercular blotch diffuse; 43-55 scales below lateral line.
Redstripe RF - lateral line light, contrasted by dark mottling above and below; head spine count differs; gillrakers 36-43 (30-36 in Yellowmouth).
Chilipepper RF - no dorsal blotches; head spine count differs; belly whitish.
Sharpchin RF - dorsal blotches large w/ at least one extending across lateral line; forked bar radiates posteriorly from eye; head spines strong and count differs; 43-50 scales below lateral line; anal spine 2 longer than 3.
Rougheye RF, Shortraker RF, and Blackgill RF - head spines strong and count differs; 47-55 scales below lateral line; 0-8 spines below eye.
Distribution: Gulf of Alaska - Central California