Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 8 m (Ref. 9310). Subtropical; 37°N - 20°N, 123°W - 105°W
Eastern Central Pacific: Monterey Bay in California, USA to Gulf of California.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9310)
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10; Vertebrae: 25. This species is distinguished by the following characters: interorbital region scaleless; mouth terminal; teeth incisiform; 5-9 vertical dark bands on body; D XI,10-11 rays; A III,10; gill rakers 4-5 + 11-12; 49-55 lateral line scales, of which 45-49 have pores; longitudinal row 43-49 scales; cheek scales 5-6; postorbital scales 7-8; precaudal vertebrae 10, caudal vertebrae 15; pterygiophores, 19-20 on dorsal, 11 on anal (Ref. 95491).
Inhabit shallow inshore areas to 8 m depth (Ref. 9310); coastal rocky reefs and reef flats with algal growth (Ref. 95491). Exclusively herbivorous (Ref. 95491). Encountered frequently in schools near Abudefduf troschelii. Pelagic spawner (Ref. 56049). Also caught with harpoons (Ref. 9310).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Pelagic spawner (Ref. 56049).
Knudsen, S.W. and K.D. Clements, 2013. Revision of the fish family Kyphosidae (Teleostei: Perciformes). Zootaxa 3751(1):001-101. (Ref. 95491)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.2 - 26.9, mean 23.2 °C (based on 114 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01660 (0.00840 - 0.03281), b=3.05 (2.87 - 3.23), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.0 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 70.1 [34.6, 122.5] mg/100g; Iron = 0.874 [0.485, 1.586] mg/100g; Protein = 17.6 [16.4, 18.8] %; Omega3 = 0.172 [0.086, 0.344] g/100g; Selenium = 21.1 [8.3, 49.6] μg/100g; VitaminA = 10.5 [2.2, 44.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.04 [0.71, 1.61] mg/100g (wet weight);