Tag: Saltwater Fish

Black & Yellow Rockfish

Scorpionfishes and Rockfishes: Family Scorpaenidae Species: Sebastes chrysomelas (Jordan & Gilbert 1881); from the Greek word sebastes (magnificent), and the Latin word chrysomelas (black and yellow). Alternate Names: Black-and-tan rockfish, black-and-yellow rock cod, and sand bass. Early commercial fishermen in California (who often were Italian…

C-O Sole

Righteye Flounders: Family Pleuronectidae Species: Pleuronichthys coenosus (Girard 1854); from the Greek words pleuron (side) and ichthys (fish), and the Latin word coenosus (muddy). Alternate Names: Mottled turbot, C-O turbot, and popeye sole. Identification: An oval-shaped, right-eyed member of the flatfish family. C-O sole are…

Yellowfin Goby

Gobies: Family Gobiidae Species: Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845). Alternate Names: Japanese river goby (Former USSR), Mahaze (Japan), Spotted goby (Viet Nam), Yaponskii rechnoi bychok (Former USSR). Called gobio extranjero in Mexico. Identification: Typical goby shape. Color varies, generally brown but can be light…

Blackeye Goby

Gobies: Family Gobiidae Species: Coryphoterus nicholsii (Bean, 1882); from the Greek roots coryphos (head on summit, crest on head) and pteros (fin reaching the dorsal fin) and nicholsii (from captain H.E. Nichols, U.S.N., its discoverer). Some sources use Rhinogobiops nicholsii. Alternate Names: Goby, onespot goby,…

Giant (Black) Sea Bass

Wreckfishes: Family Polyprionidae Species: Stereolepis giga (Ayres, 1859); from the Greek words sterolepsis (firm scales) and gigas (giant). Although called a bass, bass-like might be more appropriate since they are considered members of the family Polyprionidae—Wreckfishes. Alternate Names: Commonly called black sea bass in our fair state…

Topsmelt

Silversides: Family Atherinidae Species: Atherinops affinis (Ayres, 1860); from the Greek words ather (a spike or arrow) and ops (like), and the Latin affinis (related to an associated species). Alternate Names: Smelt, bay smelt, rainbow smelt, least smelt, little smelt, silverside, capron, pescadillo, Panzarotto. Called…

Northern Anchovy

Picture courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Anchovies: Family Engraulididae Species: Engraulis mordax (Girard, 1854); from the Greek word engraulis (European anchovy) and the Latin word mordax (biting). Alternate Names: Anchovy, California anchovy, pinheads (small anchovies). Called anchoveta or anchoveta norteña in…

Fantail Sole

Lefteye Flounders: Family Bothidae Species: Xystreurys liolepis (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880); from the Greek words Xystreurys (meaning raker and wide), and liolepis (smooth and scale). Alternate Names: Long fin sole, long finned flounder, fantail halibut, fantail flounder, true petrale. Identification: Oval-shaped with a highly arched…

Sand Sole

Righteye Flounders: Family Pleuronectidae Species: Psettichthys melanostictus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words psetta (flounder), ichthys (fish), melas (black) and stictos (specks). Alternate Names: Halibut, sand flounder, spotted flounder, fringe sole or fringe flounder. Identification: Sand sole are in the right-eye flounder family. Most easily…

Longjaw Goby

Gobies: Family Gobiidae Species: Gillichthys mirabilis (Cooper, 1864); from the word gillichthys (gill fish, named in honor of the 19th Century American ichthyologist Theodore Gill) and the Latin word mirabilis (wonderful). Alternate Names: Mudsucker. Called chupalodo grande or gobio in Mexico. Identification: Typical goby shape…