Shiner surfperch
Cymatogaster aggregata
- Animal type
- Fishes
- Ecosystem
- Coastal wetlands
- Relatives
- Surfperches; Family: Embiotocidae
- Diet
- Small crustaceans, arrow worms, amphipods, fish eggs
- Range
- Southeast Alaska to central Baja California
- Size
- Up to 7 inches (18 cm)
Meet the shiner surfperch
The most abundant surfperch along the California coast, shiner surfperch live in loose schools in sloughs, bays, and around pilings.
Did you know?
A male shiner surfperch changes color with the seasons. Come summer, he covers his shiny silver and yellow stripes with a darker suit of courtship colors.
Conservation
Shiner surfperch are a common California recreational catch. There's also a limited commercial catch in California averaging 600 pounds per year.
Cool facts
- Shiner surfperch can live in both salty ocean water and the fresher water in coastal wetlands.
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