Fish Identification Photos: California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher: The California Sheephead is characterized by its wrasse-like shape, and three different color patterns for juveniles, adult males, and adult females.

Juvenile California Sheephead are orange-red with a white midlateral stripe down the side, and large black spots on the anal and dorsal fins, and at the base of the caudal fin.

Adult males California Sheephead have a large dark head with a fleshy bump that is very black in mature fish, a white chin, broad pink to crimson band through the midbody, and the rear portion is black.

Adult female California Sheephead have a uniform red to brown coloration.

The California Sheephead, due to its unique coloration pattern is easy to identify and not easily confused with other species with the only possible exception being the Mexican Hogfish, Bodianus diplotainia (more aerodynamic, no white chin). It has been reported to reach a length of 3 feet and 36 pounds. The California Sheephead is normally found in deep water and up to 150 feet deep in the water column.

The California Sheephead is the largest member of the Labridae or Wrasse Family. In Mexico, the California Sheephead is found along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, being more abundant in the northern portions, and along the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez north of Santa Rosalia. The California Sheephead is too rare to be of great interest, but is sold commercially on a limited basis.

Note: the California Sheephead has also been known as Pimelometopon pulchrum in the scientific literature.