The monkeyface prickleback (Cebidichthys violaceus), also commonly known as the monkeyface eel, is a species of prickleback native to the Pacific coast of North America. Despite being commonly called an eel due to its body shape, it does not fall into the fish order Anguilliformes with true eels, but either the Perciformes,[1] along with nearly half of all bony fish, or the Scorpaeniformes,[2] according to different authorities.
Ranging from southern Oregon down to the northern reaches of the Mexican state of Baja California, monkeyface pricklebacks are coastal fish that live in rocky, tidal areas close to shore. First described by Girard in 1854,[1] the fish spawn on the sea floor and show some nest guarding behavior. While young monkeyface pricklebacks feed on zooplankton and crustaceans, adults are primarily herbivorous, feeding on red and green algae. Adults have few predators other than humans, but young fish are vulnerable to birds and other fish, such as grass rockfish.[3] The species reaches a maximum size of 76 cm (30 in) and may live up to 18 years.[1][4] The heaviest monkeyface prickleback recorded to date was just over 6 lb (2.7 kg).[5]
Monkeyface pricklebacks have long been sought after for their edible white flesh, with remains found in the middens of Native American peoples along the California coast.[3] In the modern era, the fish's appeal is and has always been mostly among amateur anglers or foragers. The most common method of acquiring it is "poke poling": a technique involving a long bamboo rod and a baited hook stuck into the crevices where monkeyface prickleback are known to hide.[4]
In 2012, a fad for monkeyface eel in restaurants of the San Francisco Bay Area spawned a tiny commercial fishery, mostly spurred by local foragers interested in catch that is unusual and less heavily fished.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcFroese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Cebidichthys violaceus" in FishBase. June 2023 version.
^ abCalifornia Dept. of Fish & Game (2001), California's Living Marine Resources: A Status Report, University of California, Agricultural & Natural Resources, pp. 181–182, ISBN978-1-879906-57-0, retrieved 7 May 2012
monkeyface, prickleback, monkeyface, prickleback, cebidichthys, violaceus, also, commonly, known, monkeyface, species, prickleback, native, pacific, coast, north, america, despite, being, commonly, called, body, shape, does, fall, into, fish, order, anguillifo. The monkeyface prickleback Cebidichthys violaceus also commonly known as the monkeyface eel is a species of prickleback native to the Pacific coast of North America Despite being commonly called an eel due to its body shape it does not fall into the fish order Anguilliformes with true eels but either the Perciformes 1 along with nearly half of all bony fish or the Scorpaeniformes 2 according to different authorities Monkeyface prickleback At the Monterey Bay Aquarium Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Scorpaeniformes Family Stichaeidae Subfamily Xiphisterinae Genus CebidichthysAyres 1855 Species C violaceus Binomial name Cebidichthys violaceus Girard 1854 Synonyms Species Cebidichthys cristagalli Ayres 1855 Contents 1 Ecology 2 Fishery 3 References 4 External linksEcology editRanging from southern Oregon down to the northern reaches of the Mexican state of Baja California monkeyface pricklebacks are coastal fish that live in rocky tidal areas close to shore First described by Girard in 1854 1 the fish spawn on the sea floor and show some nest guarding behavior While young monkeyface pricklebacks feed on zooplankton and crustaceans adults are primarily herbivorous feeding on red and green algae Adults have few predators other than humans but young fish are vulnerable to birds and other fish such as grass rockfish 3 The species reaches a maximum size of 76 cm 30 in and may live up to 18 years 1 4 The heaviest monkeyface prickleback recorded to date was just over 6 lb 2 7 kg 5 Fishery edit nbsp Two monkeyface pricklebacks at the California Academy of Sciences Monkeyface pricklebacks have long been sought after for their edible white flesh with remains found in the middens of Native American peoples along the California coast 3 In the modern era the fish s appeal is and has always been mostly among amateur anglers or foragers The most common method of acquiring it is poke poling a technique involving a long bamboo rod and a baited hook stuck into the crevices where monkeyface prickleback are known to hide 4 In 2012 a fad for monkeyface eel in restaurants of the San Francisco Bay Area spawned a tiny commercial fishery mostly spurred by local foragers interested in catch that is unusual and less heavily fished 6 References edit a b c Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2023 Cebidichthys violaceus in FishBase June 2023 version J S Nelson T C Grande M V H Wilson 2016 Fishes of the World 5th ed Wiley pp 478 482 ISBN 978 1 118 34233 6 a b California Dept of Fish amp Game 2001 California s Living Marine Resources A Status Report University of California Agricultural amp Natural Resources pp 181 182 ISBN 978 1 879906 57 0 retrieved 7 May 2012 a b Monkeyface Prickleback Cebidichthys violaceus Encyclopedia of Life Net Gains The New York Times Magazine May 6 2012 Monkeyface eel becoming a star on dinner platters San Francisco Chronicle March 1 2012External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cebidichthys violaceus Monkeyface eel at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monkeyface prickleback amp oldid 1178261387, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
