Quillback Rockfish - Sebastes maliger is a drawing by Zephyr Polk which was uploaded on February 21st, 2019.
Quillback Rockfish - Sebastes maliger
There are more than 35 species of rockfish in coastal BC, including the beautiful quillback rockfish. Quillbacks feed mainly on crustaceans, but... more
by Zephyr Polk
Title
Quillback Rockfish - Sebastes maliger
Artist
Zephyr Polk
Medium
Drawing - Archival Ink On Paper
Description
There are more than 35 species of rockfish in coastal BC, including the beautiful quillback rockfish. Quillbacks feed mainly on crustaceans, but also will eat small fish such as herring. Their mottled orange and brown colouration helps them blend in to their homes in rocky crevices, reefs and kelp beds at about 15-150m deep. They are generally solitary, but not territorial. Female quillbacks tend to live longer and get larger than males, reaching a maximum length of 50 cm in BC (they may grow larger in warmer waters). The older the female, the more young she can produce. They can live up to 95 years, and grow and mature slowly. Along with their near-shore habitat and market desirability, these attributes make them especially vulnerable to overfishing. Even when not targeted, these fish do not survive well when accidentally caught, as their swim bladder expands too quickly and pushes their stomach out their mouth when they are pulled rapidly from depths of 20m or more. It is important to avoid fishing in Rockfish Conservation Areas to keep their populations viable.
Uploaded
February 21st, 2019
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