Queenfish facts for kids
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The queenfish (Seriphus politus) is a cool type of fish. It belongs to the Sciaenidae family, which are often called drums or croakers. They get this name because of the drumming or croaking sounds some of them make! This fish lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it mostly along the coast of North America. It swims from Oregon down to Baja California. Sometimes, it even travels as far north as British Columbia in Canada. It is most common in the waters around Southern California Bight. People also call it the queen croaker. The queenfish is the only species in its special group, called Seriphus.
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What Does the Queenfish Look Like?
The queenfish can grow up to about 30 centimeters long. That's about the length of a standard ruler! It has a long, flat body, almost like it's been gently squeezed from the sides. Its color can be blue-grey or tan on top. Its belly is shiny silver, which helps it blend in with the bright surface of the water. A dark line runs along its body from head to tail. The fins near its head (pectoral fins) are dark. Its other fins are usually yellowish. The queenfish has one or two rows of pointy teeth in its mouth.
Where Does the Queenfish Live and What Does It Eat?
This ocean fish lives in coastal waters. You can find it in places like bays and sloughs, which are muddy channels or inlets. At night, it moves to deeper parts of the ocean.
The queenfish eats small ocean animals and other small fish. When it is young, it eats tiny creatures called planktonic crustaceans. These include very small animals like copepods. As it gets older, adult queenfish also eat small fish, such as the Californian anchovy (Engraulis mordax).
Queenfish Behavior and Friends
Queenfish like to swim together in groups called schools. Swimming in a school helps them stay safe. Many bigger fish hunt the queenfish for food. For example, the kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) often eats queenfish.
Is the Queenfish in Danger?
Scientists don't have a lot of information about how many queenfish there are. However, they don't think this fish is in danger right now. It is not considered to be threatened.
The queenfish is a popular catch for people who enjoy sport fishing. Many people catch them from fishing piers in Southern California.
