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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


Marine Fish: Garibaldi


Fishes are aquatic vertebrates that have fins, gills and scales. Gills are the part of the respiratory system that provide surface area for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide under water.

Fish are ectotherms, commonly referred to as 'cold-blooded', meaning their temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment. They have a range of diets, being herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. Some fish reproduce by laying eggs, while others reproduce by bearing live young.

California fish species reside in freshwater and coastal/marine waters. Coastal, or marine fish are an abundant and valuable resource. However, the ocean's supply is not limitless, and therefore careful planning and education must be undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the world's largest food source.
garibaldi are the state fish for California California designates the garibaldi as the official state marine fish. The garibaldi is found in shallow waters off the Southern California coast and Mexico. When disturbed garibaldi emit a thumping sound which can be heard by divers. The garibaldi is the largest of the damselfish family; adults typically reaching 14 inches. Males build the nests, the female enters several of them and then makes her decision. The garibaldi is one of the few fish to use the same nesting site every year.

Way back in 1971, the California Department of Fish and Game recommended that the garibaldi be fully protected and not taken for sport or commercial purposes because of relatively limited stocks, poor acceptance as food, and high aesthetic value.

The garibaldi's aesthetic value, highlighted by its brilliant orange color, eclipsed its value as a food source. Not much came of this recommendation.
Then the saltwater aquarium industry targeted the garibaldi because of it bright color and relative ease of capture. Legislation was passed in 1993 that was designed to protect the garibaldi from overharvesting.

Garibaldi can be found in Pacific Ocean, from Monterey Bay to Baja California.  In San Diego, the Garibaldi can be found most commonly in and around La Jolla Cove.  The Garibaldi can also be seen along the rocky reefs, just a few feet from the La Jolla Caves. 

They live at depths of up to 30 meters, usually in association with reefs and typically over rocky sea bottoms. The Garibaldi and other local La Jolla marine life are visible in between the surf grass, which grows along the nearby rock reefs.  The surf grass provides protection from predators like the California sea lion, brown pelican, and other birds.

The juvenile Garibaldi have little blue spots along their sides and are quite a bit smaller than the adult Garibaldi.  Once the juvenile garibaldi lose their blue spots, it's the indication that they're ready for reproduction.
Garibaldi make a thumping sound when startled Garibaldi feed mainly on invertebrates that they remove from rocks. Adult garibaldi maintain a home territory. The male garibaldi clears a sheltered site within his territory, and the female then deposits eggs within the nest.

The male subsequently guards the nest until the eggs hatch in two or three weeks. Like all male damsel fish, the male Garibaldi will boldly attack much larger swimming creatures, including humans, to the point of biting divers in order to try to drive them away from the area where the eggs are deposited.

These beautiful fish are protected by law in California, and may not be caught for any purpose. For this reason, Garibaldi can be seen in the same areas over and over because of their extreme territorial nature.

The name "garibaldi" comes from the Italian Army leader, Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose forces wore bright red shirts. 
 
 
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