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California Sheephead |
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Family: |
Labridae (Wrasses) |
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Genus and Species: |
Semicossyphus pulcher
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Description: |
The body of the California
sheephead is elongate, robust, and compressed. This species is a "protogynous
hermaphrodite"; meaning that it begins life as a female, but then
becomes a male later in life. Females mature at about 8 inches in
length when they reach 4 to 5 years of age. Most females transform
to males at a length of about 12 inches at 7 to 8 years of age.
This sex change is accompanied by a marked change in appearance.
Younger fish (females) are a uniform pinkish red with a white
lower jaw. As they age and become males, the head and rear third
of the body turns black, the midsection of the body remains red
and the lower jaw remains white. In all stages of their
development, sheephead have unusually large dog-like teeth. |
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Range: |
California sheephead occur from
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, to Monterey Bay, California, with
an isolated population in the Gulf of California. They are
uncommon north of Point Conception. California sheephead are
generally taken in rocky kelp areas near shore, in water from 20
to 100 feet deep, although they do occur as deep as 180 feet. |
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Natural History: |
Crabs, mussels, various sized
snails, squid, sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers are
typical food items. The large canine-like teeth are used to pry
food from rocks. A special plate in the throat crushes shells into
small pieces for easy digestion. Occasionally, large adults have
been observed out of the water in the intertidal hanging onto
mussels after a wave has receded. Spawning takes place in early
spring and summer. Young about 0.5 inch long occur in late May
through late December and do not resemble the adult. They are
brilliant red orange with two black spots on the dorsal fin and a
black spot at base of tail fin. Pelvic and anal fins are black,
trimmed in white. Occasional lemon yellow young are seen. The
young live close to rocks at depths from 10 to well below 100
feet, particularly around beds of gorgonian corals (sea fans).
When disturbed, they seek shelter in sea fans or among red
seaweed. The following summer, juveniles are 3 to 4 inches long
and have faded to dull pink. At 2 years they are 6 to 8 inches
long, have lost all spots, and have a typical female color
pattern. |
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Fishing Information: |
Sheephead will take a variety of
live and cut baits, such as anchovy or squid, fished on the
bottom. Those interested in trophy-sized sheephead may try a
whole, live mackerel fished on the bottom. The angler who hooks a
California sheephead is usually in for a strong, tugging battle. A
battle that commonly ends in disaster when the "catch" runs
through or around a kelp plant, or under the nearest rocky ledge. |
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Other Common Names: |
sheepie, goat, billygoats
(large), red fish, humpy, fathead. |
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Largest Recorded: |
36 inches; 36.25 pounds. |
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Habitat: |
Shallow Rocky Environment |
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