TREEFISH

TREEFISH

LIFE HISTORY

Adult Stage:

Adults are demersal and occur off central and southern California, at depths <46 m, associated with rocky substrates.

Composites: rocky shelf

Mating Stage:

No information.

Juvenile Stage:

Insufficient information to define EFH.

Larval Stage:

No information.

Parturition:

Insufficient information to define EFH.

Range

Treefish are found from San Francisco to central Baja California [240]; however, they are common from about Santa Barbara southward [197].

Fishery

Treefish are occasionally taken by party and private vessel anglers and by divers, mainly from Santa Barbara southward [197].

Habitat

Treefish are found to 46 m [240], but are most common from 6-30 m [197].

They shelter during the day in holes along rocky reefs at Catalina Island [93]. Young are often found in drifting kelp mats, which have broken free from beds and are traveling with the currents [197]. They recruit to hard substrate with high relief (> 1 m) [199].

Migrations and Movements

Treefish are solitary [197] and highly territorial, defending their shelter against intruders [93, 108, 197]. Translocated adults consistently return to the same shelter [93].

Reproduction

Treefish probably spawn in late winter [197].

Growth and Development

They can grow to 41 cm [197].

Trophic Interactions

Treefish feed on bottom invertebrates (such as shrimps and crabs) and small fishes [197]. Treefish are nocturnally active [93].

TREEFISH

SUMMARY TABLE