# Ocean whitefish

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The **ocean whitefish** (***Caulolatilus princeps***), also known as the **ocean tilefish**, is a [species](/source/Species) of marine [ray-finned fish](/source/Ray-finned_fish), belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) Malacanthidae, the [tilefishes](/source/Tilefish). It is native to the Eastern [Pacific Ocean](/source/Pacific_Ocean). It may also be known as the **blanquillo** or **whities**.[1]

## Taxonomy and etymology

The ocean whitefish was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) in 1840 as *Latilus princeps* by the English [naturalist](/source/Natural_history) [Leonard Jenyns](/source/Leonard_Jenyns) (1800–1893). The type specimen was collected in the Galapagos by *[H.M.S. Beagle](/source/HMS_Beagle)*.[2] The specific name *princeps* means "first" or "most important", the reason for the name was not explained but maybe because it was larger than its presumed congeners at the time Jenyns named it.[3] Hubbs's tilefish (*[Caulolatilus hubbsi](/source/Caulolatilus_hubbsi)*) was described as a new species from the Galápagos Islands in 1978 but since then studies have shown that it is not readily distinguishable from *C. princeps* and should be considered a [junior synonym](/source/Junior_synonym) of this species.[4]

## Description

The ocean whitefish has a sturdy, quadrangular body with a relatively deep head which has a steep profile and a small mouth extending to the front of the eye. There is a fleshy ridge along the centerline of the body in front of the [dorsal fin](/source/Dorsal_fin). The gill cover has a short blunt spine while the [preoperculum](/source/Operculum_(fish)) is serrated, and is quite sharp. The dorsal fin contains between 7 and 10, normally 9, spines and 24–27 soft rays while the [anal fin](/source/Anal_fin) has 1–3 spines and 22–26 soft rays.[5] The overall color is pale brown with a white abdomen. The [pectoral fins](/source/Pectoral_fins) are colored greenish-blue and yellow while the dorsal fin is yellow.[6]

This species can reach a length of 102 centimetres (40 in) [total length](/source/Fish_measurement). The greatest recorded weight for this species is 5.8 kilograms (13 lb), but most fish are under 3.6 kilograms (7.9 lb).[6][7][8] The IGFA record lists the max size as a 7.74 kilograms (17.1 lb) caught in 2011.[1]

## Distribution

The ocean whitefish is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Here it ranges from Southern [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia) to Central [Peru](/source/Peru), possibly as far south as Northern [Chile](/source/Chile). It is also found at almost all of the Eastern Pacific [archipelagos](/source/Archipelago), except for [Clipperton Island](/source/Clipperton_Island).[9]

It prefers warmer waters and is most common on the banks and offshore islands of the coast of [California](/source/California), from [Point Conception](/source/Point_Conception) in [Santa Barbara County](/source/Santa_Barbara_County) south to [Baja California](/source/Baja_California) in Mexico.[6]

## Habitat and biology

The ocean whitefish is found at depths between 3 and 150 m (9.8 and 492.1 ft).[9] It is found mainly over rocky substrates, but may also be encountered over sandy or muddy substrates.[8] It is a solitary species which shelters during the night in [kelp forests](/source/Kelp_forest) or in [rocky reefs](/source/Reef). It is a predatory fish which has a diet comprising [crabs](/source/Crabs), [shrimp](/source/Shrimp), large [krill](/source/Krill), [squid](/source/Squid), [anchovies](/source/Anchovy), and [lanternfish](/source/Lanternfish).[6] The ocean whitefish also forages by digging into the substrate.[8]

This species has an extended spawning season which runs from the late autumn into early spring. The eggs are fertilized externally, and the larvae live a [pelagic](/source/Pelagic_fish) lifestyle until growing larger and adapting a more [demersal](/source/Demersal_fish) lifestyle. They are sexually mature at 3–5 years old and may live for 13 years.[7]

The predators of the ocean whitefish include the [giant sea bass](/source/Giant_sea_bass) (*Stereolepis gigas*), [school shark](/source/School_shark) (*Galeorhinus galeus*) and [California sea lion](/source/California_sea_lion) (*Zalophus californianus*).[6] Known [parasites](/source/Parasites) include the [trematodes](/source/Trematodes) *[Choanodera caulolatili](/source/Choanodera_caulolatili)*, *[Choricotyle caulolatili](/source/Choricotyle_caulolatili)*, *[Jaliscia caballeroi](/source/Jaliscia_caballeroi)* and *[Myzotus vitellosus](/source/Myzotus_vitellosus)*.[10]

## Relation to humans

The ocean whitefish is caught as [bycatch](/source/Bycatch) off California by the [groundfish](/source/Demersal_fish) [commercial fishery](/source/Commercial_fishing) using [longline](/source/Longline_fishing) or hook and line tactics. It is also a popular fish for [sport fishing](/source/Recreational_fishing).[6] The taste of the meat has been regarded as good, with soft texture and small flakes, but the skin is recommended to be removed before cooking on account of it not tasting very good.[1]

## References

1. ["Ocean Whitefish"](https://www.pierfishing.com/ocean-whitefish/). *Pier Fishing in California*. 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2025-05-02.

1. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (18 September 2020). ["Series EUPERCARIA (Incertae sedis): Families CALLANTHIIDAE, CENTROGENYIDAE, DINOLESTIDAE, DINOPERCIDAE, EMMELICHTHYIDAE, MALACANTHIDAE, MONODACTYLIDAE, MORONIDAE, PARASCORPIDIDAE, SCIAENIDAE and SILLAGINIDAE"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220217162719/https://etyfish.org/eupercaria/). *The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database*. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Archived from [the original](https://etyfish.org/eupercaria/) on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2021.

1. Robert N. Lea & Richard F. Feeney (2016). ["Status of two species of tilefish *Caulolatilus princeps* (Jenyns) and *C. hubbsi* Dooley, originally described from the Galápagos Islands"](https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/84318538.pdf). *Galapagos Research*. **68**: 10–12.

1. ["Species: Caulolatilus princeps, Ocean whitefish, Ocean tilefish"](https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/sftep/en/thefishes/species/1220). *Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system*. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 11 March 2021.

1. ["Ocean Whitefish"](https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/seafood-profiles/ocean-whitefish). *California Sea Grant*. University of California, San Diego. Retrieved 11 March 2021.

1. ["CA Marine Species Portal"](https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/ocean-whitefish/true/). *marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov*

1. Findley, L.; Bessudo, S.; Acero, A.; Cotto, A. (2010). "*Caulolatilus princeps*". Vol. 2010. [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183991A8212524.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183991A8212524.en). Retrieved 20 November 2021.

1. Dr Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "*Caulolatilus princeps* (Jenyns, 1840)". 276217. Retrieved 11 March 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ocean whitefish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_whitefish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_whitefish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.