About Hypsypops rubicundus (Girard, 1854)
Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) are deep-bodied, laterally compressed fish covered in coarse scales. They have one single dorsal fin with approximately 12 spines and 16 rays. Adults of this species are uniformly bright orange. It is the largest member of the damselfish family, and can reach a maximum length of 35.6 cm (14 inches). This species displays sexual size dimorphism: on average, adult males grow 25 mm (1 inch) larger than adult females. This is an unusual trait for damselfish and other marine fish in southern California, where adult females are typically the larger sex. Juveniles are a deeper, more reddish orange than adults, and are covered in many small iridescent blue stripes and spots that they gradually lose as they mature. Their caudal (tail) fin and dorsal fin are more translucent than the same fins on adult Garibaldi. Garibaldis inhabit waters up to 30 metres (98 ft) deep, and are almost always associated with rock reefs, typically occurring over rocky sea-bottoms. They prefer rocky-bottom habitats on exposed or semi-protected coasts that have clear water, and plenty of crevices and small caves for shelter. Juveniles can be found in tide pools and at depths up to 40 feet (just over 12 m). This species is native to the northeastern subtropical Pacific Ocean, with a range extending from Monterey Bay, California, to Guadalupe Island, Baja California.
