Spotted sand bass

The spotted bay bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae, classified as part of the family Serranidae which includes the groupers and anthias. It is found in the central eastern Pacific Ocean.

Habitat

The spotted sand bass is normally found in shallow, warm-water areas in bays and harbours as well as sheltered coastal environments. They show a preference where the habitat has some structure, such as eelgrass, surfgrass or rocks. The spotted sand bass is carnivorous and they feed mainly on crustaceans, bivalves, and small fishes, The spawning season is from May until September. The females release their eggs into the water column and the pelagic larvae live for around a month before they settle. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. It is a rather secretive species which hunts during the day.

Distribution

The spotted sand bass is found in the central eastern Pacific Ocean. It is found in southern California, as far north as Monterey Bay but it is rare north of Santa Monica Bay, south to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico, although historically it was found as far south as Mazatlan.