California sheephead

California sheephead

Taxobox
name = California sheephead


image_width = 250px
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=Cornish & Dormeier|year=2005|id=61340|title=Semicossyphus pulcher|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is vulnerable ]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Labridae
genus = "Semicossyphus"
species = "S. pulcher"
binomial = "Semicossyphus pulcher"
binomial_authority = (Ayres, 1854)

The California sheephead ("Semicossyphus pulcher") is a fish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its range is from Monterey Bay, California to the Gulf of California, Mexico.FishBase species | genus = Semicossyphus | species = pulcher | month = February | year = 2006]

Description

The sheephead can reach a size of 91 cm and a weight of 16 kg. The male is black with a white jaw and a broad red band spanning the body transversally. The female is pink. The juvenile form is bright red with a white stripe spanning the body. All sheepheads are born as females and eventually change to males. The age of the transition depends on environmental factors such as food supply. [cite web | url = http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/default.asp?hOri=1&inhab=215 | publisher = Monterey Bay Aquarium: online field guide | title = California sheephead | accessdate = 3 April | accessyear = 2006]

Biology

The sheephead inhabits kelp forests and rocky reefs, where it feeds on sea urchins, mollusks, lobsters, and crabs. Spawning occurs during the summer and results in pelagic larvae.

Fishery

Once abundant in California, overfishing has largely reduced the Sheephead population. Its lack of timidity around divers has made the species especially vulnerable to spearfishing. Additionally, the Sheephead has a low resilience to population changes, due to its long doubling time of 4.5-14 years.

In Spanish, the fish is marketed under its common name "vieja" (old lady), or "vieja de California".

References

*


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • California sheephead — storagalvė lūpažuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Pimelometopon pulcher angl. California redfish; California sheephead rus. толстоголовый губан ryšiai: platesnis terminas – storagalvės lūpažuvės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • California sheephead — dėmėtoji negra statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Pinguilabrum punctatum angl. California sheephead rus. пятнистый негро ryšiai: platesnis terminas – negros …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • California spiny lobster — Taxobox | name = California spiny lobster image width = 250px image caption = regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda subphylum = Crustacea class = Malacostraca ordo = Decapoda infraordo = Achelata familia = Palinuridae genus = Panulirus species =… …   Wikipedia

  • California redfish — storagalvė lūpažuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Pimelometopon pulcher angl. California redfish; California sheephead rus. толстоголовый губан ryšiai: platesnis terminas – storagalvės lūpažuvės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • sheephead — variant of sheepshead * * * /sheep hed /, n., pl. (esp. collectively) sheephead, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) sheepheads. a large California food fish, Semicossyphus pulcher, of the wrasse family. Also called fathead, redfish …   Useful english dictionary

  • sheephead — /sheep hed /, n., pl. (esp. collectively) sheephead, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) sheepheads. a large California food fish, Semicossyphus pulcher, of the wrasse family. Also called fathead, redfish. [1535 45; so called from… …   Universalium

  • sheephead — sheep•head [[t]ˈʃipˌhɛd[/t]] n. pl. (esp. collectively) head, (esp. for kinds or species) heads. ich a large California food fish, Semicossyphus pulcher, of the wrasse family Also called fathead redfish sheepshead • Etymology: 1535–45; from the… …   From formal English to slang

  • Maritime history of California — History of California This article is part of a series Timeline …   Wikipedia

  • Sequential hermaphroditism — (called dichogamy in botany) is a type of hermaphroditism that occurs in many fish, gastropods and plants. Here, the individual is born one sex and changes sex at some point in their life. They can change from a male to female (protandry), or… …   Wikipedia

  • List of edible fish — This is a list of fish that are considered as suited for human consumption. This list is simply a copy of list of fish common names where the most obviously inedible species are removed. Of course some of the removed species can be eaten, but the …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”