California Sheephead Wrasse
The California sheephead wrasse, Semicossyphus pulcher, is an interesting fish. It begins its life as a female and remains so until adulthood. When the region’s dominant adult male dies or leaves then switcheroo! one of the remaining adult females will switch genders to assume the role of dominant male of the reef. Note the distinctly different colorations of the juvenile, female and dominant male sheephead wrasses below:
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| Juvenile sheephead, Farnsworth Banks. Catalina Island, California, USA. Image: 05184 Species: Semicossyphus pulcher Location: Catalina Island, California, USA  |
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| Juvenile sheephead wrasse. Image: 08647 Species: Semicossyphus pulcher |
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| Sheephead wrasse, adult male coloration (a juvenile or female is partially seen to the right). Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico. Image: 09624 Species: Semicossyphus pulcher Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico |
Keywords: California sheephead wrasse photo, Semicossyphus pulcher, gender change, underwater photo, Guadalupe Island.
