Opaleye (Girella nigricans)

Scientific name: Girella nigricans Ayres, 1860

Opaleye (Girella nigricans)

The Opaleye (Girella nigricans) is a marine fish of the family Kyphosidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 33°C (91°F). Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, San Francisco in California, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico.

Opaleye care at a glance

Temperature
33°C (91°F)

Biology

A resident intertidal species with homing behavior. Can leave tide pools if aquatic conditions become inhospitable. Also found near or over rocks and in kelp beds up to about 30 m depth. Feed mainly on seaweed, occasionally takes invertebrates. Form dense schools in spring in kelp beds. Pelagic spawner. Breathe air when out of water. Considered an important game fish and may incidentally be caught in commercial fishing activities. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Girella nigricans
Family
Kyphosidae (Sea chubs)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
66.0
Depth range
2–30 m (7–98 ft)
Environment
Marine; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 30 m, usually 2 - 6 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Central Pacific: San Francisco in California, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2.5; tmax=10)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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