California Sheephead Wrasse PhotographsPhotos of Semicossyphus pulcherSee all Semicossyphus pulcher photos See also: Various Fishes |
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| Juvenile, approx 3", Catalina Island, California, California sheephead, juvenile, Semicossyphus pulcher, Image 01935 | Characteristic supermale coloration, San Clemente Island, California, California sheephead, adult male, Semicossyphus pulcher, Image 01936 | With gorgonians, Santa Barbara Island, Red gorgonian, sheephead, Lophogorgia chilensis, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island, Image 02537 |
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| With sulfer sponges, Ben's Rock, Mexico, Sheephead and sponges, Bens Rock, Semicossyphus pulcher, Image 02379 | ||
| Semicossyphus pulcher begins life as a female and will remain so at least until it becomes sexually mature (approx 12" in length). Later, the California sheephead can, and likely will, change its gender to male in response to spawning behaviors and the presence or absence of other males living nearby. A given locale will have a limited number of fully mature males. When a mature male dies or moves off, usually a local female changes gender and replaces the departed fish as one of the males. It is possible for a male sheephead to become female again, but usually it will remain male for the rest of its life. The sheephead has strong jaws and teeth, enabling the fish to crush and eat shellfish and urchins. These fish are thought to live as long as 50 years, and are found from the Monterey Bay south to Guadalupe Island. | ||
| Keywords: semicossyphus, pulcher, semicossyphus pulcher, sheephead, sheepshead, sheeps head, california sheephead, fish, fishes, ocean, photography, photograph, underwater, wildlife, ocean, marine, teleost, bony fish, temperate, tropical | ||
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