The California Garibaldi

The Pacific Ocean along the western United States coast is cold. The result of the frigid near-Arctic currents flowing south from Alaska unlike the warmer gulf stream waters off the eastern seaboard. Colder oceans tend to produce more drab colored marine life so not make themselves a target for predators, except Mother-Nature did not get the message when it came to these particular red-orange colored sea creatures whose females of the species are known to eat their own eggs.

The Garibaldi damselfish has been historically known as the “Catalina Goldfish” where they were first popularized by tourists visiting Santa Catalina Island during the turn of the twentieth century. It is a 14-inch scally curiosity slightly larger than two U.S dollar bills laid side-to-side whose namesake according to popular belief was in homage to the scarlet dressed followers of nineteenth century Italian politician and general, Giuseppe Garibaldi. Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala