TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Family: Aulorhynchidae (Tube-snouts)

Genus/species: Aulorhynchus flavidus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The body has a small caudal fin and small soft dorsal fin. Color is a pale mottled brown, varying from olive-green to yellow-brown dorsally, creamy white ventrally and a bright silvery patch between operculum and pectorals extending to throat.

Length up to length: 18.0 cm (7 inches)

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: occurs on the west coast of North America from Prince William Sound, Alaska, to Rompiente, Baja California. Found in kelp beds, eelgrass, rocky areas, and over sand bottoms.

 

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds on small crustaceans and fish larvae.

REPRODUCTION: A nest is constructed in kelp and guarded by the male.

LONGEVITY: Up to 9 years

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern

References

California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, California Coast Gallery 2018

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink https://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1Tv

fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/3270

Pacific coast Fishes Eschmeyer et al Houghton Mifflin 1986 page 128

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/65134524/0

 EOL eol.org/pages/207010/overview