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Señorita (Oxyjulis californica) — Labridae

Señorita

Oxyjulis californica
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Señorita (Oxyjulis californica) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–97.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The señorita is a slender wrasse (Labridae) from the eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California. The species reaches about 25 cm, has a cigar-shaped, brown-orange body with a dark blotch near the tail and lives in kelp forests and over rocks. The fish often forms small groups that hover well off the bottom and is a well-known cleaner that picks parasites from other fishes. At night it sleeps buried in sand with its head protruding. Unlike many wrasses the señorita undergoes no sex reversal; it is a pelagic spawner and is mainly used as bait.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Señorita?

The Señorita has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Cleaner fish without sex reversal (unusual for wrasses); sleeps buried in the sand at night.

Where does the Señorita live?

The Señorita lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California.

How big does the Señorita get?

The Señorita grows to a maximum of about 25 cm. On average the species is around 16 cm.

Is the Señorita dangerous to humans?

No, the Señorita is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Señorita edible?

The Señorita is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Señorita verified
Scientific name
Oxyjulis californica
Family
Labridae
Other names
Señorita verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Average length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
97.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates; also picks parasites from other fishes (cleaning behaviour) sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
4.0 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Cleaner fish without sex reversal (unusual for wrasses); sleeps buried in the sand at night. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Labridae

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