Spotted sand bass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted sand bass |
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Serranus maculatofasciatus Steindachner, 1868 |
The spotted bay bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus) is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It's a kind of sea bass. This fish belongs to a larger group of fish called Serranidae. This family also includes groupers. You can find the spotted bay bass in the central eastern Pacific Ocean.
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What Does the Spotted Bay Bass Look Like?
The spotted bay bass has a long, flat body. Its head is pointed, and it has a big mouth. The edges of its gill cover bones are slightly bumpy.
This fish has two main fins on its back. The first back fin has 10 sharp spines. The third spine is much longer than the others. The second back fin has 13 or 14 soft rays.
It also has a fin on its belly near the tail. This fin has 3 spines and 7 soft rays. The tail fin can be rounded or curved inward.
The body of the fish is usually tan. It has many black, brown, and orange spots. These spots often join together. They form dark stripes along the back part of its belly.
A dark line runs from its eye to its gill cover. There are also 6 or 7 dark lines on its sides. The fins on its belly and the soft part of its back fin are very spotty.
The spotted bay bass can grow quite large. The biggest one ever recorded was about 67 centimetres (26 in) long. It weighed up to 6.0 kilograms (13.2 lb).
Where Does the Spotted Bay Bass Live?
The spotted bay bass lives in the central eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it along the coast. It lives in southern California, as far north as Monterey Bay. However, it is not common north of Santa Monica Bay.
It also lives south of there, all the way to the tip of Baja California in Mexico. Long ago, it was found even further south, near Mazatlan.
Habitat and Life Cycle
The spotted bay bass usually lives in shallow, warm waters. It likes bays and harbors. It also lives in calm areas along the coast.
These fish prefer places with structures. This includes areas with eelgrass, surfgrass, or rocks. They like to hide among these features.
The spotted bay bass is a carnivore. This means it eats other animals. It mainly eats crustaceans, like crabs. It also eats bivalves, such as clams. Small fish are also part of its diet.
The fish lay their eggs from May to September. Females release their eggs into the water. The tiny baby fish, called larvae, float for about a month. After that, they settle down to live on the bottom.
This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. This means they are born female. Later in their lives, some of them can change into males.
The spotted bay bass is a bit shy. It hunts for food during the day.
Why Are Spotted Bay Bass Important?
The spotted bay bass is a popular fish for people who like to fish for fun. They catch it in bays and harbors. Sometimes, it is also caught by accident. This happens when people are fishing for other types of fish.
