California State Fish
Golden Trout (common name) Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita (scientific name) Overview The golden trout is native only to California and was named the official state fish by act of the state legislature in 1947. The fish has golden flanks with a red, horizontal band along the lateral line and 10 dark oval marks, called "parr marks," on each side. Dorsal, lateral and anal fins have white leading edges. In their native habitat, adults range from 6–12 in (15–30 cm) long. Fish over 10 inches (25 cm) are considered large. Originally the species was found only in a few streams in the icy headwaters of the Kern River, south of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the United States outside of Alaska. Populations have been in steady decline for decades. As a result, the California Department of Fish and Game signed an agreement with federal agencies in September 2004 to work on restoring back-country habitat. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: 6–12 in (15–30 cm) Weight: up to 11 lbs (5 kg) Width: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) LIFESPAN Up to 9 years HABITAT Range: Native to California's Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek, and the South Fork Kern River, as well as nearby creeks. Non-native populations can be found in New Mexico. Water type: Freshwater Water temp: 58–62°F (14–17°C) Elevation: 10,000 ft (3,000 m) Conservation Status: Not evaluated DIET Mayflies, gnats, mosquitoes, stoneflies, ants, beetles, spiders, dobsonflies, worms and larvae; vegetable detritus, plankton, trout eggs, and other small fish are also sources of nutrients. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Once a lifetime Mating behavior: Distinct pairing Egg laying: Unguarded, in sand or gravel USES Game fish OTHER NAMES none TRIVIA Originally the California golden trout was placed in the species Oncorhynchus aguabonita. Most taxonomists now classify the golden trout as a subspecies of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, placing it with several other subspecies commonly known as Redband Trout. In 1978, federal legislation created the 303,000-acre Golden Trout Wilderness in Northern California, which encompasses most of the Kern Plateau. The U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Game developed a management plan to restore and maintain golden trout habitat. The world record golden trout was caught on August 5, 1948, from Cook Lake in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. That fish was 28 inches (70 cm) long and weighed 11.25 pounds (5.1 kg).
	Click to enlarge an image California Golden Trout Juvenile California Golden Trout California Golden Trout Fingerlings at Fish Hatchery California Golden Trout Natural Habitat CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Oncorhynchus Species: O. mykiss Subspecies: O. mykiss aguabonita
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

California State Fish
Garibaldi (common name) Hypsypops rubicundus(scientific name) Overview The bright orange garibaldi is the largest member of the damselfish family. It looks like an oversized goldfish, with a roughly oval body and visible scales. Its tail fin has a deep notch that creates almost equal rounded upper and lower lobes. It also has triangular rear fins on both its back and its belly, the upper fin being slightly larger. A garibaldi usually has a small mouth with noticeable lips and a sloping head with a noticeable bump on its forehead. Its eyes are green and very visible against the fish’s orange scales. An adult garibaldi is colorful, but a young fish is even more so. It has a redder body covered with small and bright iridescent blue spots. As the fish ages, it gradually fades to bright orange all over. A garibaldi prefers shallow waters up to about 100 ft (30 m). Males and females are solitary with a distinct home range, which a male fish in particular will defend from intruders. Groups of these fish can be seen during mating season, at which time the male builds a nest where one or more females deposit eggs. The male stays near the nest and keeps predators away until the young hatch. The garibaldi became California’s official "marine fish" in 1995. ALSO KNOWN AS Ocean sunfish, golden perch Close-up STATUS Official State Marine Fish PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: 12 in (30.5 cm); maximum 14 in (36.6 cm) Weight: 12 in (30.5 cm); maximum 14 in (36.6 cm) LIFESPAN Up to 17 years. Average 12 years. HABITAT Range: Rocky bottoms in open areas and protected shallow bays in the southernmost parts of California and Mexico. Water type: Shallow saltwater Water Temp: 59°F Elevation: 45-95 ft (14–29 ft) Conservation Status: Least concern, though catching garibaldis for the saltwater aquarium industry has reduced the overall population. DIET Underwater invertebrates such as worms, small shellfish, crabs, and shrimp, small sea anemones, bryozoans, and sponges. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Annual Mating behavior: Multiple pairings Egg laying: Guarded, in red algae TRIVIA A garibaldi male clucks to attract mates and thumps to intimidate intruders. A garibaldi cleans and re-uses the same nesting site every year. A female Garibaldi will readily eat her own eggs. The male has to drive her away before she does. Though a male defends his nest vigorously, he will sometimes eat a clutch of eggs if it seems that he can attract more females and more eggs with an empty nest.
	Click to enlarge an image Garibaldi Fish Close-up of Garibaldi CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Pomacentridae Genus: Hypsypops Species: H. rubicundus
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press