Splitnose Rockfish

Sebastes diploproa is a relatively small stockfish with a deep body a deep-body and large eyes. Its upper jaw has a distinct incision which separates two tooth-bearing knobs on each side. There are robust spines on the head with the nasal, preocular, postocular, tympanic and parietal spines being present and there are no supraocular, coronal and nuchal spines. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 11-14 soft rays while the anal fin 3 spines and 5-8 soft rays. The caudal fin is slightly forked. This species attains a maximum total length of 46 cm (18 in) and the maximum published weight of 810 g (29 oz). The adults are light pink, pale orange or white with darker pink, orange or red blotches or bars on the upper body, head and fins. The spines in the dorsal fin may be tipped with white while the membranes between them can have dark edges.

Sebastes diploproa Is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the western coast of North America from the Alaska Peninsula south to Cedros Island off Baja California. It occurs at depths between 0 and 800 m (0 and 2,625 ft). The pelagic juveniles live underneath floating mats of kelp at the surface settling on the seabed as adults on soft substrates.