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Red Irish Lord

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus

Red Irish Lord

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus
At the Aquarium
Rocky Coast

At the Aquarium

Rocky Coast

Appearance

Red Irish lords have large heads and eyes. They come in a variety of colors, often mostly red with a mix of black, white, and brown mottling. Males have black and white pelvic fins while those of females are all white. They have a band of scales above the lateral line and another band of scales below the lateral line.

Habitat

Tidepools, rocky intertidal to subtidal, adults usually rest on a bottom of rock, gravel-cobble, or sand/shell, though they sometimes are found in the kelp canopy

Diet

Crabs, hermit crabs, snails, mussels, shrimps,barnacles, worms, sea urchins, brittlestars, octopuses, and small fish

Life History

A female spawns once between October-March, laying a batch of 59,000-126,000 pink eggs. The eggs are deposited on rocks or other surfaces, including barnacles or mussels, in areas with a high current. The female, and sometimes the male also, will guard the egg mass by sitting on top of it. Larvae hatch out after 22-26 days, at 0.2 inches long and settle to nearshore areas starting at 0.8 inches long. Can reach a length of 20 inches and at least 6 years of age.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Red Irish Lord predators include Pacific cods, various greenlings, other sculpins, salmon, and snailfishes, bald eagles, minks, and river otters.
Range
Alaska to California
On the Oregon Coast
You might catch a red irish lord while recreationally fishing in Oregon from a boat, pier, or shore.
Fun Facts
During the breeding season, males develop white spots on their darkened pelvic fins.

Citations & Other Resources

  • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  • 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
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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.

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