Fish Identification Photos: Hubbs' Tilefish, Caulolatilus hubbsi: The Hubbs Tilefish is characterized by its oblong body, overall light blue-green appearance, and long anal and dorsal fins that maintain their width throughout their length. The Hubbs Tilefish has a characteristic large mouth that extends to the pupil of the eye, and thick fleshy lips. The caudal fin is yellow and either straight or slightly concave. The base of the pectoral fin is dark.

The Hubbs Tilefish is easily confused with Pacific Goldeneyed Tilefish, Canlolatilus affinisi (which has a small mouth and characteristic yellow stripe below and in front of the eye), and the Ocean Whitefish, Canlolatilus princeps (blue-grey with a concave yellow caudal fin).

The Hubbs Tilefish is a member of the Malacanthidae Family which are also known as Tilefishes and Blanquillos. Three species of Tilefishes are found in the Gulf of California, each from the subfamily Latilinae, and they are found in moderately deep water over rubble bottoms. The Tilefishes are robust fish having moderately deep bodies with a characteristic predorsal ridge and long anal and dorsal fins that maintain their width throughout their length. At present there are 39 species of Malacanthidae known globally.

The Hubbs Tilefish is a shallow water tilefish found at depths between 60 and 120 feet over both rock and sand bottoms. In Mexico, the Hubbs Tilefish is found along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, in all parts of the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the mainland. However, it is absent from the oceanic islands. The Hubbs Tilefish is reported to reach 16 inches in length. It is viewed by locals to be good table fare, but too rare to be of significant interest.