Ocean whitefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ocean whitefish |
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The ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It's also sometimes called the ocean tilefish. This fish is a type of ray-finned fish, which means its fins are supported by bony rays. It belongs to a family of fish called Malacanthidae, known as tilefish. You can find the ocean whitefish in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean.
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What Does It Look Like?
The ocean whitefish has a strong, somewhat square-shaped body. Its head is quite deep and slopes steeply. It has a small mouth that reaches the front of its eye. There's a soft ridge along the middle of its back, right before its dorsal fin (the fin on its back).
Its gill cover has a short, blunt spine, and the bone in front of its gill cover is a bit rough. The dorsal fin has about 7 to 10 spines and 24 to 27 soft rays. Its anal fin (the fin on its belly, near the tail) has 1 to 3 spines and 22 to 26 soft rays.
The ocean whitefish is usually pale brown on top and white on its belly. Its pectoral fins (the fins on its sides, like arms) are a mix of greenish-blue and yellow. The dorsal fin is yellow. This fish can grow quite large, up to about 102 centimeters (40 inches) long. The heaviest one ever recorded weighed about 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds).
Where Does It Live?
The ocean whitefish lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it from British Columbia in the north all the way down to central Peru in the south. It also lives around most of the islands in the eastern Pacific, except for Clipperton Island.
This fish loves warmer waters. It's most common around the banks and islands off the coast of California. You'll often see it from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County south to Baja California in Mexico.
Habitat and Life Cycle
The ocean whitefish usually lives in waters between 3 and 150 meters (10 to 490 feet) deep. It prefers rocky areas, but you might also find it over sandy or muddy bottoms.
Reproduction
This fish has a long spawning season. It lays its eggs from late autumn into early spring. The eggs and young larvae float freely in the ocean. Ocean whitefish become old enough to reproduce when they are about 3 to 5 years old. They can live for up to 13 years!
Daily Life and Diet
The ocean whitefish is a fish that likes to be alone. At night, it finds shelter in kelp forests or rocky reefs. It's a predator, meaning it hunts other animals for food. Its diet includes crabs, shrimp, large krill, squid, anchovies, and lanternfish. The ocean whitefish often digs into the ocean floor to find its meals.
Who Hunts the Ocean Whitefish?
Some of the animals that hunt the ocean whitefish include the giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas), the school shark (Galeorhinus galeus), and the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Like many animals, the ocean whitefish can also have tiny parasites living on or inside it.
How We Use It
The ocean whitefish is sometimes caught by accident by fishermen in California. This is called "bycatch" when they are trying to catch other types of fish using hooks and lines. It's also a very popular fish for sport fishing because it can be a fun challenge to catch!
