Semicossyphus pulcher (California Sheephead)
"California Sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher)" by CaliforniaDFW is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
about the species
Semicossyphus pulcher, commonly known as the California sheephead, is a reef-associated wrasse found along the rocky reefs and kelp forests of California and Baja California. This species plays an important ecological role as a predator of benthic invertebrates, including sea urchins, helping maintain kelp forest structure. California sheephead are sequential hermaphrodites, changing sex from female to male, and are culturally and economically significant within California’s nearshore fisheries.
why species was selected
California sheephead was selected due to its ecological importance, fishery relevance, and sensitivity to harvest pressure. Genomic data can inform stock structure, connectivity among populations, and responses to fishing and environmental change, supporting sustainable management and conservation of nearshore marine ecosystems in California.
