Citharichthys sordidus (Girard, 1854)
Pacific sanddab
photo by Gotshall, D.W.

Family:  Cyclopsettidae (Sand whiffs)
Max. size:  41 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 9 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 549 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Bering Sea coast of Alaska to Cabo San Lucas, southern Baja California, Mexico. Occurrence in Nicaragua (Ref. 13613) needs validation.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 86-102; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 67-81; Vertebrae: 38-40. Caudal rounded; pectorals rather large and pointed (Ref. 6885). Eyed side dull brown or tan irregularly mottled with dark; Dorsal, anal, caudal and anal fins black; blind side white to pale brown (Ref. 6885). Freshly caught males with dull orange spots and blotches (Ref. 6885). Young light olive green on eyed side, finely and sparsely speckled with brown, black, and orange, especially on fins (Ref. 6885).
Biology:  Found on sand bottoms (Ref. 2850). Young may occur at depth less than 9 m (Ref. 2850).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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