Kelp perch

Brachyistius frenatus

Brachyistius frenatus is a fish of the family of the surf perch ( Embiotocidae ). He lives on the coasts of the eastern Pacific from British Columbia to the central Baja California and Guadalupe Island. The fish live in the kelp beds, never stray far from these and keep mainly in shallow water to depths of up to 30 meters. They feed on small crustaceans that they mainly abpicken from Tang. They also clean other fish and eat while their parasites. In the summer, they form large flocks.

Features

Brachyistius frenatus is 22 cm long. Its color is variable, olive-brown or golden-brown, often similar to the color of the Tangs. Above the lateral line organ they are darker or copper-colored, sometimes with small blue dots. Below the lateral line, the animals are often brighter and slightly reddish. Along the flanks often attracts irregular, bright stripes. The fins are translucent, shimmering pink. The front part of the anal fin is darker. The upper part of the pectoral fin base is usually speckled with small black dots.

The mouth is slightly upper constant, the head above the eyes concave. The dorsal fin is short, the distance between the end of the dorsal fin and the caudal fin large. The highest hard rays of the dorsal fin are the same length as the soft rays.

Fins formula: Dorsal VII-IX/13-16, Anal III/21-24