Thin-bodied.. Silvery with coppery sheen, often with bluish spots. Abundant to common N. California to B.C.; uncommon central and S. California.
Thin, oval shaped body; tail deeply notched between large rounded lobes. Aggressively territorial. Protected from any type of harvest as the California state marine fish. Abundant S. California; occasional to rare central California.
TP generally >12inches, green to lue-green and occasionally orange. IP typically between 5 and 12 inches, yellow to orange or orangish brown. Occasional S. California.
Two distinct color phases, terminal and initial. Older TPs develop a bulbous limp on nape. Occasional to uncommon central California; formally common but numbers greatly reduced by overfishing, especially spearfishing of large TP.
Numerous dark spots and several darkish blotches. Can lighten and darken with background. After mating, males guard masses of white eggs; guarding males often dark black. Occasional Alaska through California.
Pair of small cirri above eyes and another tiny pair between eyes and dorsal fin. Five lateral lines. Abundant to common Alaska to central California, rare S. California.