[5] The rock greenling was first formally described in 1810 as Labrax lagocephalus by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas with its type locality given as the Kuril Islands.

[6] The specific name, lagocephalus, means "harehead", an name not explained by Pallas but may refer to the rounded, rabbit like snout.

[9] The species is usually solitary, but not aggressive, which has led to easy husbandry in public aquaria.

It is sometimes cryptic, however, and often elusive to divers and spear fishermen, as they prefer living among the rock in the heavy surge.

[5] Hexagrammos lagocephalus is a generalized feeder, eating everything from invertebrates such as crabs and isopods to fish eggs and algae.