Embiotoca lateralis

Embiotoca lateralis, commonly known as the striped surfperch or striped seaperch, is a species of surfperch native to the Northeastern Pacific Ocean.

Embiotoca lateralis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Blenniiformes
Family:	Embiotocidae
Genus:	Embiotoca
Species:	E. lateralis
Binomial name
Embiotoca lateralis Agassiz, 1854
Synonyms[2]
Ditrema laterale (Agassiz, 1854) Embiotoca lineata Girard, 1854 Embiotoca ornata Girard, 1855 Embiotoca perspicabilis Girard, 1855 Holconotus agassizi Gibbons, 1854 Phanerodon cateralis (Agassiz, 1854) (misspelling) Sema signifer Jordan, 1878 Taeniotoca lateralis (Agassiz, 1854)

Description

The striped surfperch is characterized by bright blue stripes running lengthwise down the body, which can be bronze, brown-orange, or pink to darker black. It has blue spots on the head and operculum.^[3] The fins are often orange to yellow-black, and the anal and soft dorsal fins can possess black bands. They are deep bodied and have a laterally compressed frontal profile. They have small teeth on the mouth.

Individuals reach maximum lengths of 41.5 centimetres (16.3 in) and a maximum weight of 1 kilogram (2.2 lb).^[4][5]

Like other surfperch, the fish is viviparous, giving birth to life offspring. They mature at around 2 years of age, usually being around 22–25 cm (8.7–9.8 in).^[6]

Habitat and ecology

The striped surfperch is found from Punta Baja, Central Baja California, to Wrangrell, Southeastern Alaska.

It is often found near rocky reefs, eelgrass beds, kelp forests, and underwater structures, including man-made piers. While frequenting shallow waters and intertidal zones, the striped surfperch can be found at depths up to 95 metres (312 ft).^[4]

Diet

The striped surfperch, like its close relative the black surfperch (Embiotoca jacksoni,) often feeds on marine worms, bryozoans, small crustaceans, and molluscs (such as bivalves and gastropods). They have also been observed eating ophiuroids/brittle stars, sea urchins, and fish eggs.^[6]

Fishery

2 Striped surfperch caught near Pedro Point in California

Striped surfperch are a common recreational catch by inshore anglers, especially when targeting rockfish. They may be as much as 10% of recreational catches in north of San Francisco (excluding salmon.)^[6] They are known to have a mild taste and flaky meat, but as larger ones are often pregnant, they are thrown back. There is no targeted commercial fishery for the species, but they are taken incidentally on occasion.^[4]