Other Saltwater
California Sheephead
Semicossyphus pulcher
SaltwaterLabridaeLeast Concern
About
The California Sheephead is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning it starts as female and can transition to male. They are a robust fish with thick lips and prominent teeth, often seen swimming actively around rocky reefs and kelp forests.
- Average size
- 12-36 inches, 2-15 lbs
- Colors
- Females are typically a dull pink or reddish-brown. Males have a black head and tail, a red midsection, and a white chin.
- Diet
- Sea urchins, crabs, lobsters, mollusks, and other invertebrates.
- Region
- Coastal California and Baja California, Mexico