See all Semicossyphus pulcher photos
See also:     Various Fishes

California sheephead, juvenile, Semicossyphus pulcher, Catalina Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01935, all rights reserved worldwide. California sheephead, adult male, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01936, all rights reserved worldwide. Red gorgonian, sheephead, Lophogorgia chilensis, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02537, all rights reserved worldwide.
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
Sheephead and sponges, Bens Rock, Semicossyphus pulcher, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02379, all rights reserved worldwide.
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.