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Silver Surfperch

Hyperprosopon ellipticum

Silver Surfperch

Hyperprosopon ellipticum
Other Common Names
Silver perch
At the Aquarium
Sandy Coast
Other Common Names
Silver perch

At the Aquarium

Sandy Coast

Appearance

These silvery fish have dusky bars on their sides. The eyes are relatively large and there’s a dark spot on the anal fin.

Habitat

Mostly coastal waters with sandy bottoms, from the surf zone to depths of 360 feet

Diet

Small clams, amphipods, sand crabs, and small fishes

Life History

Silver Surfperch undergo internal fertilization and mate in shallow waters throughout the fall. A male transfers his milt into the female using his thickened anal fin. The female stores the sperm for several months and then uses it to fertilize between 4 and 30 eggs. Gestation lasts about 9 months, and the young emerge 2 inches long and fully-developed between June and August. These fish reach lengths of 11 inches and live up to 7 years.

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Surfperch are prey to a variety of fish, marine mammals, and birds. Their fish predators are striped bass, California halibut, Pacific bonito, lingcod, salmon, rockfishes, kelp bass, barred sand bass, and leopard sharks. Mammalian predators include river otters and harbor seals. Their bird predators include great blue herons, least terns, Caspian terns, Forster’s terns, cormorants, loons, ospreys, and gulls.
Range
British Columbia to northern Baja, Mexico
On the Oregon Coast
You may catch a silver surfperch while recreationally fishing from shore, jetties, or piers in Oregon. Year-old silver surfperches can occasionally be found in tidepools.
Fun Facts
Unlike most fish, surfperch undergo internal fertilization and live birth. Larger, older females birth more young than smaller females.

Citations & Other Resources

Back to All Animals

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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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