Brachyistius frenatus
Kelp Perch
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Embiotocidae (Surfperches)
Brachyistius
Brachyistius frenatus (Kelp Perch)
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. Color variable, olive brown to coppery above lateral line, with dark pigment under each scale, bright below lateral line; dark on axil; fins either pale or rosy (Ref. 6885).
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: northern British Columbia, Canada to central Baja California, Mexico, including Guadalupe Island, off north central Baja California.
Habitat Associations
Marine. demersal.
Biology
Found among giant kelp, usually up in kelp canopy. Feed on small crustaceans, especially ones that live on kelp. Also a cleaner which picks external parasites from other fishes. Usually occur in large aggregations in summer (Ref. 2850). Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205).
Max length: 22.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers); parental care: maternal. Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2018-10-12. Resilience: High (tm=1).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 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.
Hart, J.L. (1973) Pacific fishes of Canada. Bull. Fish. Res. Board Can. 180:740 p.
Comments On Brachyistius frenatus