China rockfish

Biology

The China rockfish has a distinctive yellow stripe along the lateral line, which contrasts with its black body, which may be covered with small yellow spots, for which it has also been known as the yelowspotted rockfish. Maximum reported size is 45 centimetres, and when confronted with an intruder, the fish erects its spines and tries to look larger. As juveniles they live in shallow coastal water, while adults are solitary and territorial, preferring rocky outcrops with boulder fields and crevices.

Conservation

In some regions, like California, the China rockfish has been over-exploited by commercial fishing.