| Sebastes ensifer | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae |
| Genus: | Sebastes |
| Species: | S. ensifer
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| Binomial name | |
| Sebastes ensifer L. C. Chen, 1971
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Sebastes ensifer, the swordspine rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.[1]
Sebastes ensifer was first formally described in 1971 by the Taiwanese ichthyologist Chen Lo-Chai (also known as Lloyd Chen) with the type locality given as off La Jolla, California.[2] Some authorities classify this species in the subgenus Sebastomus.[3] The specific name ensifer means “sword bearer”, a reference to the long second spine of the anal fin.[4]
Sebastes ensifer has a relatively slender body with a depth that is just over a quarter of its standard length. The body has many spines and is covered in scales. The colour varies from bronze to orange, pink, or red. There are 3 to 5 light-coloured spots on the upper body. The long head ends in a moderately long snout and has very large eyes, and a quite large terminally positioned mouth. The anal fin has 3 spines, the second spine is very robust and long, and 5 to 7 soft rays while the dorsal fin has 13 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays. The pectoral fins contain 16 to 18 rays.[5] This species grows to a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in).[1]
Sebastes ensifer is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean and has a restricted range off the western coast of North America. Its range extends from San Francisco, California[1] south to Guerrero Negroin Baja California Sur.[5] This species is a demersal fish which is found at depths between 70 and 433 m (230 and 1,421 ft).[1] They are found in rocky areas with high relief.[5]
Sebastes ensifer is ovoviviparous with internal fertilisation and the females release larvae in the winter and early spring.[3] They are batch spawners and will release larvae two or three times in a breeding season, although smaller females may only release a single brood in a season.[6] This species feeds in the water column, feeding largely on planktonic and nektonic crustaceans. They can live as long as 43 years.[5]
