Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 21 - 24; Vertebrae: 31 - 34. Color variable, olive brown to coppery above lateral line, with dark pigment under each scale, bright below lateral line; dark on axil; fins either pale or rosy (Ref. 6885).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Ovalentaria/misc

Family: Embiotocidae

Genus: Brachyistius

Species: Brachyistius frenatus Gill, 1862

Climate Zone

Location

• Eastern Pacific: northern British Columbia, Canada to central Baja California, Mexico, including Guadalupe Island, off north central Baja California.

Biology

Found among giant kelp, usually up in kelp canopy. Feed on small crustaceans, especially ones that live on kelp. Also a cleaner which picks external parasites from other fishes. Usually occur in large aggregations in summer (Ref. 2850). Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205).

Habitat

demersal

Conservation Status

Data deficient

Threat to Humans

Harmless