Opaleye

📖 Overview

A resident intertidal species with homing behavior . Can leave tide pools if aquatic conditions become inhospitable . Also found near or over rocks and in kelp beds up to about 30 m depth. Feed mainly on seaweed, occasionally takes invertebrates. Form dense schools in spring in kelp beds. Pelagic spawner . Breathe air when out of water . Considered an important game fish and may incidentally be caught in commercial fishing activities . Marketed fresh .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Opaleye is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Opaleye exhibit homing behavior, meaning that they continuously return to a specific tidepool or area. Homing behavior is predominantly seen in juvenile opaleye, as they spend the first part of their lives living in tidepools where they can leave and return to one specific pool. This behavior decreases as the fish grow older, because they eventually leave the intertidal area for the subtidal zone. Some juvenile opaleye individuals have shown cleaning behavior, where they remove scales or ectoparasites from other fish species. However, this behavior is not done habitually. Pre-juvenile opaleye have been known to sometimes aggregate under floating objects like masses of kelp and jellyfish, both offshore (before reaching the intertidal zone) and in tidepools.

🦐 Diet

Opaleye are omnivorous fish, however the majority of their diet is herbivorous. Primarily, they feed on red and green algae and seagrasses. They do feed on kelp as well, but less often than other types of algae. Small organisms that live on the algae they eat are also incorporated into their diet. Although the proportion of their diet that consists of animals is very small, they do sometimes feed on crustaceans, hydroids, and other small animals. Their feeding habits depend on factors such as habitat, water temperature, and digestive system morphology. In warmer water temperatures, opaleye tend to be more herbivorous, feeding on a higher amount of algae than they do in colder water. Also, opaleye that are more herbivorous usually have longer guts allowing them to digest plant material more easily. Predators of opaleye include seabirds such as cormorants, terns, and bald eagles, as well as larger fish species, seals, and sea lions.

🥚 Reproduction

Pelagic spawner .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 30 m , usually 2 - 6 m . Subtropical; 0°C - 33°C ; 38°N - 23°N, 125°W - 106°W Central Pacific: San Francisco in California, USA to southern Baja California, Mexico.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Opaleye is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Opaleye has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 22 records indexed .

👥 Community & Contribute