California Marine Vertebrates

Myliobatus californica

• (Bat ray)

Anarrhichthys ocellatus

• (Wolf eel)

Rhinogobiops nicholsii

• (Black eyed goby)

Brachyistius frenatus

• (Kelp perch)

• Small but tall belly, tiny mouth

Cymatogaster aggregata

• (Shiner surfperch)

• 3 vertical yellow lines, deeply forked tail, more common than white surfperch

Embiotoca jacksoni

• (Black surfperch)

• Vertical black stripes, enlarged scales below pectoral fin

Embiotoca lateralis

• (Striped surfperch)

• Bright blue lateral lines, orange diagonal line at base of anal fin

Hypsurus caryi

• (Rainbow perch)

• Uneven vertical stripes and horizontal lines; tend to be smaller; black dots on fins

Phanerodon furcatus

• (White surfperch)

• Deeply forked tail

Rhacochilus toxotes

• (Rubberlip perch)

• Big lips, wide vertical black band, deeply forked tail

Phanerodon vacca

• (Pile perch)

• Normal lips, wide vertical black band, deeply forked tail

Oxyjulis californica

• (Señorita)

• Cigar shaped, black patch on caudal peduncle, swims with pectoral fins

Semicossyphus pulcher

• (Sheephead)

• Transition between male/female; females have long white lateral line

Paralabrax clathratus

• (Kelp bass)

• Midwater column, have jewel bright blue eye

Girella nigricans

• (Opaleye)

• Chubby body with small mouth, straight caudal fin, white spot below dorsal fin, herbivore

Medialuna californiensis

• (Halfmoon)

• Chubby body with small mouth, curved caudal fin

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

• (Cabezon)

• Big (wide and tall) head, fleshy 'antennae'

Sebastes atrovirens

• (Kelp rockfish)

• Light color, piscivore, big eyes

Sebastes auriculatus

• (Brown rockfish)

• Big head, dark spot on back edge of gill operculum, on bottom and easily spooked

Sebastes carnatus

• (Gopher rockfish)

• No solid lateral line, piscivore

Sebastes caurinus

• (Copper rockfish)

• Key feature is distinct white lateral line, piscivore

Sebastes chrysomelas

• (Black and yellow rockfish)

• Yellow blotches dorsally, lateral line is mottled yellow

Sebastes flavidus

• (Yellowtail rockfish)

• Grouped with Sebastes serranoides (olive rockfish)

• Black spot on dorsal fin, silvery ventral part of body, sometimes yellow tail

Sebastes serranoides

• (Olive rockfish)

• Grouped with Sebastes flavidus (yellowtail rockfish)

• Black spot on dorsal fin, silvery ventral part of body

Sebastes maliger

• (Quillback rockfish)

• Key feature is head bump

Sebastes melanops

• (Black rockfish)

• Rounded anal fin, piscivores (bigger mouth)

Sebastes miniatus

• (Vermillion rockfish)

• Bright red with white lateral line, black edging on fins

Sebastes mystinus

• (Blue rockfish)

• Square anal fin, planktivores (smaller mouth, present in canopies)

Sebastes nebulosus

• (China rockfish)

• Yellow nike swoosh that extends onto dorsal fin

Sebastes paucispinis

• (Bocaccio rockfish)

• Giant mouth, slender body

Sebastes pinniger

• (Canary rockfish)

• White lateral line and white on bottom of pelvic fin

Sebastes serriceps

• (Treefish)

• 5-6 dark vertical bars (2 diagonally coming back from its eyes)

Hexagrammos decagrammus

• (Kelp greenling)

• Males have blue spots near head, females have many dark red speckles all over; both have large pectoral fins

Ophiodon elongatus

• (Ling cod)

• Torpedo body, large mouth, mottled black

Oxylebius pictus

• (Painted greenling)

• 5-7 vertical reddish brown bars, small mouth

Enhydra lutris

• (Sea otter)

Zalophus californianus

• (Sea lion)

• Ear flaps, large forelimbs to move

Phoca vitulina

• (Harbor seal)

• No ear flap

Chromis punctipinnis

• (Blacksmith)

• Very shiny

Sebastes rastrelliger

• (Grass rockfish)

• Big head, varied color

Aulorhynchus flavidus

• (Tubesnout)