The Opaleye

What They Look Like:

• Size: The older opaleyes are 4 to 15 inches long.
• Color: Dark and light green with blue eyes that really stand out.
• Unique features: The opaleyes have two unusual dots located under the dorsal fin.

• Range: The opaleye is found from Otter Rock, Oregon to Southern Baja California. They are mostly seen from Point Conception southward.
• Habitat: They live near rocky beaches and close to shore.

• Diet: They eat algae, small invertebrates, and jelly fish. They usually eat during the daytime.
• Reproduction: The opaleye doesn't mate, the female lays her eggs. The male fertilizes the eggs and takes care of them until they hatch.

• The adult opaleyes have gray and green bodies with really cool eyes.
• The young opaleyes have blue backs and silvery bellies.
• The babies are usually 1 to 3 inches long.
• The opaleyes lay their eggs in very unusual spots. They lay their eggs in very deep waters. They think it protects their eggs more.
• The female opaleyes lay their eggs from April to June.

The County Connections Project

Questions or Comments
contact Mark Thompson at

hmarkt@aol.com

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