Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Embiotocidae (Surfperches)
Etymology: Hyperprosopon: Greek, hyper = over + Greek, prosopon = face, snout of animal (Ref. 45335); ellipticum: From the Latin 'ellipticum' - referring to the outline of the body (Ref. 6885).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 110 m (Ref. 2850). Subtropical; 56°N - 30°N, 135°W - 116°W
Eastern Pacific: southern British Columbia, Canada to Rio San Vincente, northern Baja California, Mexico.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850)
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 28; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 29 - 34. Dark green dorsally, sides and belly silvery; a series of narrow vertical bars of pale golden pink on body wall; pectoral fins colorless (Ref. 6885). British Columbia specimens dark on end of caudal fin and free edge of spinous dorsal (Ref. 6885).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found inshore, in surf and sandy areas, also occur around rocks and piers (Ref. 2850). Intertidal and to 110 m (Ref. 96339). Viviparous, female carries the developing young (Ref. 205). Frequently caught, but not of much importance as a sport fish due to its small size (Ref. 2850).
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; aquarium: public aquariums
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