California Sheephead - Bizarre Animal)

California Sheephead Wrasse: Scuba Diving Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park.

Diving at a depth of about only 25 feet, we see a Kelp Forest (00:37) which we are guided into by a Kelp Bass (Paralabrax clathratus; 00:55). We meet our first California sheephead (01:16) whose mixed coloration suggest that it may be a young female transforming into an adult male. A mature adult male (01:21) and adult female (01:23) appear together in frame, and then a curious male inspects a dead sea urchin being held by a diver (01:38). Finally, an adult male goes for a snack in the form of a snail (02:33), but the snail luckily avoids being eaten.

This video featuring the California sheephead wrasse (Semicossyphus pulcher) is a compilation from videos taken while scuba diving during the month of August in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The dive sites were in the vicinity of Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands National Park of Ventura County, California.

By Anup Sahni| 383 views