Semicossyphus darwini

Galápagos sheephead wrasse | Goldspot Sheepshead
Semicossyphus darwini
Semicossyphus darwini, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Photo: Graham Edgar

Distribution

Tropical Eastern Pacific


Description

Initial phase reddish with a large yellow patch behind head above pectoral fin and a white chin, becoming blue-grey with age but retaining yellow patch and white chin. Males develop large hump on head.


Information

Max Size: 70 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 20.1-25.7°C

Depth: 3-100m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Data Deficient

Occurrence: Widespread (56.0% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (2 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: Joe Shields