| Rock Greenling | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Hexagrammidae |
| Genus: | Hexagrammos |
| Species: | H. lagocephalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hexagrammos lagocephalus Pallas, 1810) |
|
Hexagrammos lagocephalus is a colorful marine fish with the common name Rock Greenling in the Greenling family.[1][2] It is sometimes known as Fringed Greenling and erroneously as the red rock trout.[3]
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The fish is maroon, with blue spot that fade to bright red.[1] The color pattern helps it blend in with its natural environment. It grows to up to 24 inches (60 cm).[2] Most adult have blue mouths,[4] while the young have bright red eyes.[3]
The species is usually solitary, but not aggressive, which has led to easy husbandry in public aquariums. It is sometimes cryptic however and often elusive to divers and spear fishermen as they prefer living among the rock in the heavy surge.[3]
Hexagrammos lagocephalus is a generalized feeder, eating everything from invertebrates such as crabs and isopods to fish eggs and algae. When young the fish eats zooplankton.
The Rock Greenling's natural distribution is along the Pacific Coast from Alaska's Bering Sea to the coast of south California. Its habitat of choice is rocky shoreline.[2] Sometimes however they can be found in tidepools, and sometimes sandy areas.[3]
Not commonly commercially fished like the related lingcod, although a popular gamefish. Most live among areas impossible to fish by commercial boats.[3] It is commonly caught by sport fishers off exposed rocky shores.[4]