Kelp Bass
Encyclopedia
The Kelp Bass sometimes referred to as the Calico Bass (leading to easy confusion with the freshwater fishes from the genus Pomoxis), is a species of marine fish
found in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean
from Baja California
, Mexico
, to Washington, USA (although rare in the northernmost part of its range). As suggested by its common name
, it is typically associated with kelp beds, but may also be found in rocky areas or near hard structures. It prefers relatively shallow water, but may occur as deep as 165 ft (50 m).
It can reach a length of 28½ inches (72 cm), and, being a slow grower, live for as much as 34 years. It is considered an excellent food fish, and is a popular recreational fishery species in Southern California
. While the population is believed to be stable, large individuals are relatively rare due to fishing pressure. Commercial fishing for this species has been illegal since the 1950s. Current regulations in California allow only 12 inch or longer kelp basses to be kept by recreational fishermen.
It feeds on small fishes, squid
, crustaceans, and, when abundant, plankton
. During the warmer months (May to August in California), Kelp Basses form spawning groups in deeper water. After 1–2 days, the pelagic eggs hatch into larvae, which metamorph into juveniles after approximately a month. The juveniles settle among blades of kelp. Kelp Bass have been known to bite at humans, which can break the skin, but does not usually cause severe puncture wounds. This may be more frequent when the fish are spawning.
words which mean "near Labrax". Labrax is the name of the European seabass
(Dicentrarchus labrax). Clathratus is also Greek, and refers to the blotchy markings on the fish's sides.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
found in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
from Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, to Washington, USA (although rare in the northernmost part of its range). As suggested by its common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
, it is typically associated with kelp beds, but may also be found in rocky areas or near hard structures. It prefers relatively shallow water, but may occur as deep as 165 ft (50 m).
It can reach a length of 28½ inches (72 cm), and, being a slow grower, live for as much as 34 years. It is considered an excellent food fish, and is a popular recreational fishery species in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. While the population is believed to be stable, large individuals are relatively rare due to fishing pressure. Commercial fishing for this species has been illegal since the 1950s. Current regulations in California allow only 12 inch or longer kelp basses to be kept by recreational fishermen.
It feeds on small fishes, squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
, crustaceans, and, when abundant, plankton
Plankton
Plankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...
. During the warmer months (May to August in California), Kelp Basses form spawning groups in deeper water. After 1–2 days, the pelagic eggs hatch into larvae, which metamorph into juveniles after approximately a month. The juveniles settle among blades of kelp. Kelp Bass have been known to bite at humans, which can break the skin, but does not usually cause severe puncture wounds. This may be more frequent when the fish are spawning.
Etymology
Paralabrax comes for two GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words which mean "near Labrax". Labrax is the name of the European seabass
European seabass
The European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, also known as Morone labrax, is a primarily ocean-going fish that sometimes enters brackish and fresh waters. It is also known as the sea dace...
(Dicentrarchus labrax). Clathratus is also Greek, and refers to the blotchy markings on the fish's sides.