HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesCalifornia sheephead California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) Scientific name: Semicossyphus pulcher Ayres, 1854 The California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Monterey Bay in California, USA to Guadalupe Island (off northern central Baja California) and Gulf of California. BiologyPrefer rocky bottom, particularly in kelp beds. Often feed on hard-shelled organisms such as sea urchins, mollusks, lobsters and crabs. Spawning occur during the summer and the eggs are pelagic. Live to more than 50 years of age. Each individual functions first as a female but changes to a male at a length of about 30 cm. Pelagic spawners. Flesh is white, of good quality and marketed fresh. The large teeth can cause serious bite wounds.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSemicossyphus pulcherFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length91.0Depth range0–55 m (0–180 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 55 m, usually 3 - 30 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionEastern Pacific: Monterey Bay in California, USA to Guadalupe Island (off northern central Baja California) and Gulf of California.Conservation status (IUCN)Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist GroupThreat to humansTraumatogenicUsesFisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tmax=53; tm=5) More wrassesSe?oritaOxyjulis californicaCunnerTautogolabrus adspersusBlueheadThalassoma bifasciatumGreen razorfishXyrichtys splendensBluelip parrotfishCryptotomus roseusRosy razorfishXyrichtys martinicensisSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026