Dive Dry with Dr. Bill Bushing of Catalina: #357: Up a Tree… Fish!

Treefish reach a maximum length of about 16 inches but are most commonly in the 10 to 12 inch range. They are one of the easiest of our local fish to identify… right up there with the garibaldi. Theis species has a bright to dull yellow background with dark gray to solid black vertical stripes. Like other members of their family, they have sharp spines. In fact, the species name serriceps means “saw head.” Another very distinctive feature of the adult fish is their pink lips. They look like young teenage girls who have tried applying lipstick for the first time. I grew up with three younger sisters so I know something about this! Despite their lip gloss, these fish are almost always solitary… although they must “get together” some time to create their beautiful young ‘uns.

See here for more: http://www.starthrower.org/products/DDDB/DDDB_350-399/DDDB_357%20treefish.htm