Embiotoca lateralis

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Striped Surfperch, Ucluelet, BC, Canada imported from iNaturalist photo 405169031.jpg | image_caption = At the Ucluelet Aquarium | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = iucn>{{cite journal | author = Carpenter, K.E. & Robertson, R | year= 2019 | title = ''Embiotoca lateralis'' | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T141481460A141781371.en| s2cid= 240049628 | doi-access = free }}</ref> | taxon = Embiotoca lateralis | authority = Agassiz, 1854 | synonyms_ref = <ref name="worms">{{cite WoRMS|author= N. Bailly|year=2014|id=240740|title=''Embiotoca lateralis'' Agassiz, 1854 |db=fish|accessdate=3 March 2015}}</ref> | synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true|title=List |''Ditrema laterale'' (Agassiz, 1854) |''Embiotoca lineata'' Girard, 1854 |''Embiotoca ornata'' Girard, 1855 |''Embiotoca perspicabilis'' Girard, 1855 |''Holconotus agassizi'' Gibbons, 1854 |''Phanerodon cateralis'' (Agassiz, 1854) (misspelling) |''Sema signifer'' Jordan, 1878 |''Taeniotoca lateralis'' (Agassiz, 1854) }} }}

'''''Embiotoca lateralis''''', commonly known as the '''striped surfperch''' or '''striped seaperch''', is a species of surfperch native to the Northeastern Pacific Ocean.

== Distribution == The striped surfperch is found from Punta Baja, Central Baja California, to Wrangrell, Southeastern Alaska.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}

== Habitat == It is often found near rocky reefs, eelgrass beds, kelp forests, and underwater structures, including man-made piers. While frequenting shallow waters and intertidal zones, the striped surfperch can be found at depths up to {{Convert|95|m|ft}}.<ref name=":0" /> == Description == thumb|Juvenile The striped surfperch is characterized by bright blue stripes running lengthwise down the body, which can be bronze, brown-orange, or pink to darker black. It has blue spots on the head and operculum.<ref name="Eschmeyer83">{{cite book |last1=Eschmeyer |first1=William N. |url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetopaci00will |title=A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes: North America |last2=Herald |first2=Earl S. |last3=Hammann |first3=Howard |date=1983 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=061800212X |location=Boston |page=[https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetopaci00will/page/229 229] |url-access=registration}}</ref> The fins are often orange to yellow-black, and the anal and soft dorsal fins can possess black bands. They are deep bodied and have a laterally compressed frontal profile. They have small teeth on the mouth.

Individuals reach maximum lengths of {{Convert|41.5|cm|in}} and a maximum weight of {{Convert|1|kg|lb}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2017-03-14 |title=Striped Seaperch |url=https://www.pierfishing.com/striped-seaperch/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Pier Fishing in California |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Striped Surfperch {{!}} Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife |url=https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/embiotoca-lateralis#desc-range |website=wdfw.wa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

Like other surfperch, the fish is viviparous, giving birth to life offspring. They mature at around 2 years of age, usually being around {{Convert|22-25|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":1" />

==Ecology== It is sympatric with its only congener, the black surfperch (''E. jacksoni''). The two species share a high degree of overlap in their diets of small benthic crustaceans and bryozoans. As a result of interspecific competition, in areas where both species are present, ''E. lateralis'' is more often found in shallow algae-covered reefs, while ''E. jacksoni'' is more often found in deeper, comparatively food-poor waters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hixon |first=Mark A. |date=1980 |title=Competitive Interactions between California Reef Fishes of the Genus Embiotoca |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2307/1936761 |journal=Ecology |language=en |volume=61 |issue=4 |pages=918–931 |doi=10.2307/1936761 |jstor=1936761 |bibcode=1980Ecol...61..918H |issn=1939-9170|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ==Diet== The striped surfperch, like its close relative the black surfperch (''Embiotoca jacksoni'',) often feeds on marine worms, bryozoans, small crustaceans, and molluscs (such as bivalves and gastropods). They have also been observed eating ophiuroids/brittle stars, sea urchins, and fish eggs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=CA Marine Species Portal |url=https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/striped-seaperch/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov}}</ref>

== Fishery == thumb|In California Striped surfperch are a common recreational catch by inshore anglers, especially when targeting rockfish. They may be as much as 10% of recreational catches in north of San Francisco (excluding salmon.)<ref name=":1" /> They are known to have a mild taste and flaky meat, but as larger ones are often pregnant, they are thrown back. There is no targeted commercial fishery for the species, but they are taken incidentally on occasion.<ref name=":0" /> {{Clear}}

== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed" heights="140"> File:Embiotoca lateralis.jpg|In California File:Embiotoca lateralis 233028825.jpg|Eaten by a harbour seal File:Embiotoca lateralis VA 02.jpg|At the Vancouver Aquarium File:Embiotoca lateralis 155296321.jpg|Showing the teeth and fleshy lips File:Embiotoca lateralis 40865279.jpg|In Oregon File:Striped Surfperch (Embiotoca lateralis) (rotate) (cropped).webp|In California </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/117555-Embiotoca-lateralis/browse_photos Inaturalist photos] {{Taxonbar|from=Q142953}}

lateralis Category:Fish of North America Category:Fish of the Pacific Ocean Category:Taxa named by Louis Agassiz Category:Fish described in 1854