Oxyjulis

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Oxyjulis californica (señorita)

Oxyjulis californica is a wrasse found along the eastern Pacific coast, from California to southern Baja California. It’s common in kelp forests and rocky reefs.

Size and look
- Grows up to about 25 cm (9.8 in).
- Shape is slender and cigar-like.
- Color is brown or bronze on top, orange on the sides, lighter on the belly; a large dark spot sits at the base of the tail.
- Mouth is small with protruding teeth used to scrape invertebrates from kelp.

Habitat and behavior
- Lives near the coast in kelp forests and reefs, usually at depths around 20 m (66 ft) or less; can go as deep as 73 m (240 ft).
- May swim in small groups; when threatened, it often hides by digging into the bottom and can bury its head at night.

Diet
- Feeds on invertebrates such as worms, bryozoans, crustaceans, snails, larvae, and squid.
- May also eat some seaweed and, notably, the parasites on other fish.

Cleaning role
- The señorita is a cleaner fish, removing parasites and other materials from other fish.
- Many fish come to be cleaned, including species like kelp bass, garibaldi, and others; some interact with the cleaner in special ways.

Predators and threats
- Predators include Brandt’s cormorant and the California sea lion.
- Not a major target for fishing and is considered a common species.

Reproduction
- Details are not fully known; some sources suggest possible sex change in some individuals, but this is not certain.
- Spawning occurs from May to August; eggs are pelagic (float in the open water).

Human use and conservation
- Not a valuable food fish; generally more of an ecological and recreational interest.
- Conservation status is Least Concern.