Sebastes viviparus was first formally described in 1845 by the Danish zoologist Henrik Nikolai Krøyer, although he had described it in 1844 as a subspecies of Sebastes marinus but this taxon is thought to be a synonym of Serranus scriba, with the type locality given as Norway.

The colour is pale red with three clear blotches on the back along the base of the dorsal fin.

It is also found around the Great Britain and Ireland from the Shetland Island southwards but it is rare in the English Channel.

It has been recorded from Rockall Bank, it is common around the Faroes and Iceland but it is erratic in its occurrences off East Greenland.

[5] Sebastes viviparus is found in shoals that move closer to the coast during the summer.