Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Tripadvisor Tiktok
Search
Close this search box.

Pile Surfperch

Rhacochilus vacca

Pile Surfperch

Rhacochilus vacca
Other Common Names
Pile Perch
At the Aquarium
Sandy Coast
Other Common Names
Pile Perch

At the Aquarium

Sandy Coast

Appearance

They are usually silver-colored with a dark bar on their midside and a forked tail; they can weigh up to 4 lbs.

Habitat

Ocean waters or estuaries; they use estuaries in spring and summer until giving birth in fall. Often seen near rocks, piers, kelp beds or eelgrass.

Diet

Mostly hard-shelled prey: mussels, barnacles, crabs, shrimps, snails, brittle stars, and sand dollars. Will also eat octopus, fishes, and fish eggs.

Life History

Pile perch reach sexual maturity between 2 and 5 years of age. They mate in fall and the female stores the sperm for about 3 months, and then fertilizes her eggs from mid-December to early February. The young gestate for about 196 days, with the female giving birth to 7-80 offspring from July to mid-August. These fish can reach lengths up to 17 inches and can live up to 13 years.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Pile Perch are important members of marine food webs. These fish are eaten by a variety of predators including copper rockfish, kelp bass, striped bass, cormorants, seals, and sea lions.
Range
Southeastern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico
On the Oregon Coast
These fish are commonly caught by recreational anglers.
Fun Facts
Pile perch have short, blunt teeth on their lips and thick, flat, blunt teeth in their throats for crushing their hard-shelled prey. During mating season, the pelvic and anal fin of males turn a bright yellow and they develop black spots on the snout.

Citations & Other Resources

  • Biodiversity of the Central Coast website: https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/pile-perch-bull-rhacochilus-vacca.html
  • Lane, E. David, and Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. A review of the biology and fishery of the Embiotocids of British Columbia. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat= Secrétariat canadien de consultation scientifique, 2002.https://oaresource.library.carleton.ca/wcl/2016/20160811/Fs70-5-2002-123-eng.pdf
  • Love, Milton S. Certainly more than you want to know about the fishes of the Pacific Coast: a postmodern experience. Really Big Press: Santa Barbara. 2011. 649 pp. ISBN 978-0-9628725-6-3
  • Oregon Conservation Strategy website: https://www.oregonconservationstrategy.org/strategy-species/pile-perch/
Back to All Animals

Contact Us

Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Youtube Tiktok Tripadvisor

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

Subscribe Now

About Oregon Coast Aquarium

Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Media Policy

Copyright © 2022 Oregon Coast Aquarium. All rights reserved.

Need to update your cookie permissions?

×
Cookies
We use cookies to improve your experience and see how our guests are navigating the website. If this is alright by you, hit 'Accept All', or 'Settings' to customize and learn more. Read our cookie policy
Settings Accept All
Cookies
Choose what kind of cookies to accept. Your choice will be saved for one year. Read our cookie policy
Save Accept All