TAXONOMY
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder:Labroidei
Family: Embiotocidae (surfperches)
Genus/species: Embiotoca jacksoni
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:The body is deep and compressed. Their colors are various shades of brown, red, green above, yellowish below, darker bars on sides with a blue bar on base of anal fin. Note a mustache-like black bar on upper lip.
Length up to 39 cm (15 in)
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT; Black Surfperch are found from Fort Bragg, California to Punta Abreojos, Baja California, Mexico nearshore reefs and kelp forests. They are also found over sand, and in estuaries near algae usually within 1 m (3 ft) of the substrate.
DIET IN THE WILD: E. jacksoni feed on worms, crustaceans and mollusks. They are also cleaner fish of conspecifics as well as other species.
REPRODUCTION: Summer is the peak breeding season. Fertilization is internal. Viviparous; young embryos are nourished internally and are quite large as newborns.
PREDATORS: Leopard sharks
CONSERVATION: Not evaluated
REMARKS: The species name jacksoni, is after A.C. Jackson, who, in the 19th century, first noted that surfperches gave birth to live young. Fertilization is also internal as it is in Rockfishes.
References
California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, California Coastal Marine 2019
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/4716007223/in/set-72157608359804936/
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-C7
eol eol.org/pages/207197/details
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/3628