monkeyface prickleback
Cebidichthys violaceus
Rocky-shore fish of the eastern Pacific, which lives between the tides, under rocks and algae, and breathes air out of the water. It is taken for subsistence and for aquariums, and it is used in sport fishing.
Also called: peixe-cara-de-macaco, abrojo cara de mono, monkeyface prickleback
- maximum
- 76 cm
- depth
- 0–1 m
who is the monkeyface prickleback
Fish of the family Cebidichthyidae, with an elongated body, reaching 76 cm and living up to 18 years. It occurs on the Pacific coast, from southern Oregon, in the United States, to northern Baja California, in Mexico, and is rare south of Point Conception. It lives in the intertidal zone, among rocks and shallow pools, down to 24 m, most commonly from 0 to 1 m. It eats mainly crustaceans and algae and usually hides among rocks and algae. It is taken for subsistence, is used as a sport fish, and is collected for aquariums.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the monkeyface prickleback.
fun facts
- Breathes air and can stay out of water for 15 to 35 hours, as long as it stays damp.
- One of the parents coils its body around the eggs, laid in rock crevices.
identification
Long, thin body of an elongated fish, with a long dorsal fin running along the back, a common trait of the family. Its common name, monkeyface, comes from the look of its head. The best sign is the place: between the tides, under rocks and algae, in shallow pools on rocky shores, where it can stay out of water, hidden and damp, during low tide.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
From southern Oregon, in the United States, to northern Baja California; in Latin America, only in Mexico, on rocky shores and tide pools.
Habitat: Intertidal zone, under rocks and algae, in shallow pools and rocky areas down to 24 m.
rules for the monkeyface prickleback
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No recorded danger to anglers. If it is taken out of the water, keep it damp, since it survives out of water as long as its skin stays wet.
in the kitchen
Taken for subsistence and considered good to eat.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00389, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Cebidichthys violaceus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cebidichthys violaceusNames by country and language.