Amphistichus argenteus
Barred Surfperch
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Embiotocidae (Surfperches)
Amphistichus
Amphistichus argenteus (Barred Surfperch)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Bodega Bay in northern California, USA to northern central Baja California, Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Marine. demersal. depth range 0-73 m.
Biology
Mostly found in surf of sand beaches, but reported from trawl catches at depths up to 73 m. Also occur near rocks, pilings and other sources of cover and food. Usually form small groups. Also caught from piers and skiffs. Feed preferably on sand crabs but also eats clams and other invertebrates. Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205). Minimum depth range based on ecology (Ref. 96339).
Max length: 43.0 cm TL; common length: 30.0 cm TL; max weight: 2000 g; max age: 9 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); mating system: monogamy; bearers (internal live bearers); parental care: maternal. Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: N.E. (N.E.). Resilience: Medium (K=0.15-0.18; tm=2; tmax=9; Fec=113).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Carlisle, J., J. Schott and N. Abramson (1960) The barred surfperch (Amphistichtus argenteus Agassiz) in Southern California. Calif. Fish Game Fish. Bull. (109):79 p.
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann (1983) A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p.
Shanks, A.L. and G.L. Eckert (2005) Population persistence of California Current fishes and benthic crustaceans: a marine drift paradox. Ecol. Monogr. 75:505-524.
Love, M.S., C.W. Mecklenburg, T.A. Mecklenburg and L.K. Thorsteinson (2005) Resource inventory of marine and estuarine fishes of the West Coast and Alaska: A checklist of North Pacific and Arctic Ocean species from Baja California to the Alaska-Yukon border. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Seattle, Washington, 98104.
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