Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Embiotocidae (Surfperches)
Etymology: Amphistichus: Greek, amphi = on both sides + Greek, stix, -ichos = row (Ref. 45335); koelzi: Named after Walter Koelz, U.S. ichthyologist (Ref. 6885).
Eponymy: Dr Walter Norman Koelz (1895–1989) was an American zoologist, botanist, anthropologist, fisheries biologist and collector whose doctorate was awarded by the University of Michigan (1920). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Hubbs.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 9 m (Ref. 2850). Subtropical; 49°N - 26°N, 125°W - 112°W
Eastern Pacific: near Cape Flaterry in Washington, USA to northern Baja California, Mexico. Recorded 32 km from the Canadian border (Ref. 6885).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 31.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6885)
Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 28; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 26 - 32. Generally silvery overlaid with brassy tones; back bluish or olivaceous; lower head and lower anterior part of body tinged with red; sides with series of brown speckles which form rough narrow vertical bars; pectorals plain, other fins usually reddish (Ref. 6885).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Adults occur usually in sand beaches in surf (Ref. 2850). Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205).
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. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
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