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Kelp Perch

  • carlgwinn
  • Aug 12
  • 1 min read
Kelp perch are like little gold coins, glittering as they dart and hover in schools, just below the kelp canopy. Here one kelp perch swims in front of a kelp stipe, showing off its golden colors.
Kelp Perch (Brachyistius frenatus)

Kelp perch are like little gold coins, glittering as they dart and hover in schools, just below the kelp canopy. They are skittish, and reflect light well; it's tricky to capture their golden color.

This kelp perch was enjoying a small stand of kelp off Sea Lion Beach, on the South (or "back") side of Anacapa Island. It seems like just about every group of fish has a species that begins with "kelp": kelp perch, kelp bass, kelp rockfish, kelp greenling, ... . And kelpfish form a group of their own, within the clinids: giant kelpfish, spotted kelpfish, island kelpfish,... . Kelp perch are far from the only perch that like to hang out in kelp, but they may be the most charming.

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