Giant Sea Bass (Stereolepis gigas) - General biological information
Scientific Name:
 The American Fisheries Society has determined the common name of Stereolepis gigas to be giant sea bass. Despite the ruling, this species is most frequently referred to as black sea bass in California. In fact, many California fishermen do not use or recognize the name giant sea bass. Unfortunately the American Fisheries Society could not designate black sea bass as the accepted common name due to the use of that name for an unrelated species on the east coast of the United States. The east coast usage of a black sea bass predates the use of this name on the west coast.
Feeding behavior:
The most important prey items of the giant sea bass are sting rays, skates, lobster, crabs, various flatfish, small sharks, mantis shrimp, blacksmith, ocean whitefish, red crab, sargo, sheephead, octopus, squid and an occasional kelp bass or barred sand bass.
Giant sea bass are not built for sustained speed, and the vast majority of their prey are organisms that live on the bottom. These organisms, located crawling across the substrate or buried just below the surface, are drawn into the mouth of a giant sea bass by the vacuum produced when the huge mouth is rapidly opened. Certainly some mid-water fish are ambushed and sucked in by giant sea bass lurking in the shadows of the kelp.
Predators:
Giant sea bass themselves are likely eaten by a variety of fishes and marine mammals when they are small. But as they grow large, only man and large sharks have the ability to eat them.
Learn more about the Giant Sea Bass:
- General Description & Distinguishing Characteristics
- Geographic and Depth Distribution: Essential Habitat
- Age and Growth
- Food
- Toxins in the Environment
- Behavior and Migration
________________________________________________
|
