The rosy sculpin was first formally described in as Eximia rubeliio in 1899 by the A merican physiologist and ichthyologist Arthur White Greeley with its type locality given as Monterey, California.

[1] The specific name, rubellio, means "the rosy one", an allusion to the pale red or pink color it can show.

There are tufts, made up of cirri, along the dorsal fin base, the lateral line and on the head.

This species is found in rocky habitats in the intertidal and sub tidal zones down to 34 m (112 ft).

[4] The rosy sculpin eats polychaetes and amphipods, the larger fish also prey on shrimp and small crabs.