Animal Species:False Kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829)

The colouration of this fish is variable from yellowish to brown or red with a blotched pattern. The species occurs in coastal marine waters. It has been introduced to Australia.

False Kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus

False Kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus
Rudie Kuiter © Rudie Kuiter

Identification

As its standard name implies, the False Kelpfish resembles the Kelpfish. These two fishes are in the families Scorpaenidae and Chironemidae respectively. They can be separated by the False Kelpfish's larger mouth, spiny operculum and the presence of a suborbital stay. The colouration of this fish is variable from yellowish to brown or red with a blotched pattern.

Size range

The species grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in coastal marine waters from Hokkaido, Japan to the Philippines. It has also been introduced to Australia, most likely in the ballast water of ships. In Australia it is only known from Sydney Harbour, New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of False Kelpfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
marmoratus
Genus:
Sebastiscus
Family:
Sebastidae
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, False Kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus, Sebastidae,