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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Subtropical

Spotted kelpfish

Gibbonsia elegans Cooper, 1864
Max Length
16 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
23.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Found from subtidal rocky areas to 56 m depth, usually in seaweed. Female lays white eggs in seaweed, male guards egg mass .

Scientific Name
Gibbonsia elegans
Authority
Cooper, 1864
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
16 cm
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
23.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Spotted kelpfish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Spotted kelpfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

The spotted kelpfish feeds largely on epiphytic crustaceans, such as gammarid amphipods and flabilliferan isopods. Examples include the hump-backed shrimp, Spirontocaris paludicola, and S. picta. Spirontocaris picta was found to be the significant portion of Gibbonsia elegans' stomach content in one study. These crustaceans are found on the same plants that Gibbonsia elegans live on, including brown and red algae. The epiphytic crustaceans also match the color of their plant habitat. In addition to crustaceans, polychaete worms and microgastropods have been found in abundance in the stomach contents of spotted kelpfish.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous

Oviparous . Eggs are attached in algal nest and brooded by male parent .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 56 m , usually ? - 20 m . Subtropical; 36°N - 22°N, 121°W - 110°W central California, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico, including Guadalupe Island.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.3±0.51

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00676 × L3.09 (TL)
Max TL
16cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2011

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
23.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Cooper, 1864

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Clinus evides Jordan & Gilbert 1883 Synonym
Gibbonsia evides Jordan & Gilbert 1883 Synonym
Myxodes elegans Cooper 1864 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 17 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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