Scientific Name
Stereolepis gigas

Common Name
Giant seabass

Biology
Occur on rock bottoms; near shore, outside kelp beds and along drop-offs (Ref. 2850). Large specimens usually found deeper than 30 m, small ones over sand and in kelp beds mostly from 12-21 m (Ref. 2850). Aggregate for spawning in summer (Ref. 2850). Pelagic spawners (Ref. 56049). Longevity of 90 to 100 years (Ref. 56049) stemmed from speculation on the age of a 557 lb fish caught in 1962, but the oldest age determined from otoliths of a 435 lb fish was 72 to75 years (Ref. 4563). Validated age so far is up to >50 years using bomb radiocarbon (A.H. Andrews, pers. comm.)

Classification

Classified By

Ayres, 1859

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wreckfishes (Polyprionidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Humboldt Bay in California, USA to Mexico. Northwest Pacific: Japan (Ref. 559).

Range

41°N - 16°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

46 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 46 m (Ref. 2850)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

250 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7812 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (86 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=11; tmax=75; also Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Critically Endangered (CR) (A1bd), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group