Señorita Wrasse

Halichoeres californicus is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Pacific Ocean along the coasts of California and Baja California. Its distribution extends from Salt Point in Sonoma County, California, to southern central Baja California, near Cedros Island. It is a very common species; its common name in Spanish is señorita.

This fish can grow to 25 cm (9.8 in) in total length. Its body is fusiform, frequently described as "cigar-shaped". It is brown or shiny bronze dorsally and orange on its sides, becoming paler ventrally. The base of the tail fin is mostly covered with a large black or chocolate brown spot. The mouth is small and it has protruding "buck teeth" which it uses to scrape tiny invertebrate prey items off of kelp.