Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium
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Feature Creature of the Month:
Description: This bright orange fish is the California State Marine Fish. Garibaldis grow up to 12 inches in length. Juvenile garibaldis are orange with bright blue spots. When they get older, their spots fade and they turn to bright orange. These fish are found near reefs and kelp beds. Garabaldi can change from male to female multiple times throughout their lives!! If there are too many males or females, garibaldis will change gender in order to make up the difference.
Defense: Garibaldis are very territorial fish. They make a distinct clicking noise to ward off anyone that is near them.
Where they are Found: The Garibaldi is native to the North-Eastern subtropical parts of the Pacific Ocean and can be seen from Monterey Bay to Baja California. There are numerous Garibaldi near Santa Catalina Island.
Feeding:
Garibaldis
eat sponges, bryozoans, small anemones and occasionally might eat worms, small
fish, crabs and nudibranchs.
WOW!!! The name Garibaldi comes from an Italian Army leader named Guiseppie Garibaldi, whose wore bright orange when he went into battle.
Past Feature Creatures: Thornback Ray, Tube Anemone, Cabezon, Swell Shark, Moray Eel, Orange Puffball Sponge, White Plume Anemones, Sheephead, Ocean Sunfish, Sunflower Star
All photos not labeled otherwise are from Eric Martin of the Roundhouse.