Sebastidae

noun

Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The livebearing Sebastes with about 110 species occurs mainly in the North Pacific. Body compressed; head usually with ridges and spines; gill membranes free from isthmus. Venom gland in dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines.

The family Sebastidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Scorpaeniformes. It contains 4 genera and 128 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are bearers. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is balistiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be sluggish. Etymology of this family name: Greek, sebastes = august, admirable , epithet given to the roman emperor Augustus