False Kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829)

Scientific name: Sebastiscus marmoratus

Author(s)

Mark McGrouther
Updated

12/03/21
Read time

2 minutes

False Kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus — A False Kelpfish at a depth of 12 m, Green Point, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, July 1980. Image: Rudie Kuiter
© Rudie Kuiter

Fast Facts

Classification

Genus

Sebastiscus

Species

marmoratus

Family

Sebastidae

Order

Scorpaeniformes

Class

Actinopterygii

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

The species grows to 30 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

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 data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia