REFERENCECOPY 

Do Not Remove from the Library . 

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Biological Report 82(11.107) erlancls ~esecrcn ~en;.er TR EL-82-4 

~ugust 1989 700 Ca j un Dome Boulevard 

Lafayette, Louisiana 70.506 

Species Profiles: Life Histories and 

Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes 

and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest) 

PACIFIC AND SPECKLED SANDDABS 

Coastal Ecology Group 

Fish and Wildlife Service Waterways Experiment Station - 

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Bi 01 ogi cal Report 82( 11.107) 

TR EL-82-4 

August 1989 

Species Profiles: Life Hi stories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal 

Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest) 

PACIFIC AND SPECKLED SANDDABS 

Joseph P. Rackowski 

Department of Fisheries and Wi 1 dl ife 

Oregon State University 

Hatfield Marine Science Center 

Newport, OR 97365 

and 

Ellen K. Pikitch 

University of Washington 

School of Fisheries 

Fisheries Research Institute 

Seattle, WA 98195 

Project Officer 

David Moran 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

National Wetl ands Research Center 

1010 Gause Boulevard 

Sl i dell , LA 70458 

Performed for 

Coastal Ecology Group 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Waterways Experiment Station 

Vicksburg, MS 39180 

and 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Research and Devel opment 

National Wetl ands Research Center 

Washington, DC 20240 
This series may be referenced as follows: 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983-19-. Species profiles: life histories 

and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates. U.S. Fish 

Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 82(11). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. 

This profile may be cited as follows: 

Rackowski, J.P., and E.K. Pikitch. 1989. Species profiles: life histories and 

environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific 

Southwest)--Pacific and speckled sanddabs. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 

82( 11.107). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. 18 pp. 
PREFACE 

This species profile is one of a series on coastal aquatic organisms, 

principal ly fish, of sport, commercial, or ecological importance. The profiles 

are designed to provide coastal managers, engineers, and biologists with a brief 

comprehensive sketch of the biological characteristics and environmental 

requirements of the species and to describe how populations of the species may be 

expected to react to environmental changes caused by coastal development. Each 

profile has sections on taxonomy, 1 ife history, ecological role, environmental 

requirements, and economic importance, if appl icable. A three-ri ng binder is 

used for this series so that new profiles can be added as they are prepared. 

This project is jointly planned and financed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Suggestions or questions regarding this report should be directed to one of 

the foll owing addresses. 

Information Transfer Special i st 

National Wetlands Research Center 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

NASA-Slidell Computer Complex 

1010 Gause Boulevard 

Slidell, LA 70458 

U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station 

Attention: WESER-C 

Post Office Box 631 

Vicksburg, MS 39180 
CONVERSION FACTORS 

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CONTENTS 

Page 

PREFACE .................................................................... iii 

CONVERSION FACTORS .......................................................... iv 

FIGURES ..................................................................... vi 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................. vii 

NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY ................................................... 1 

MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS .......................................... 1 

Pacific sanddab .......................................................... 1 

Speckled sanddab .......................................................... 2 

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE ............................................................ 2 

Pacific sanddab ........................................................... 2 

Speckled sanddab .......................................................... 2 

REASON FOR INCLUSION IN THE SERIES .......................................... 2 

LIFE HISTORY ............................................................... 2 

Reproduction .............................................................. 5 

Early Development ........................................................ 6 

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS .................................................... 7 

MIGRATION AND MOVEMENT OF ADULTS ........................................... 9 

ECOLOGICAL ROLE ............................................................. 9 

Food and Feeding .......................................................... 9 

Species Association ....................................................... 10 

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREIVIENTS .................................................. 11 

Substrate ................................................................. 11 

Temperature ............................................................... 11 

Vegetation .............................................................. 11 

Salinity ............................................................... 11 

Dissolved Oxygen .......................................................... 12 

Contaminants .............................................................. 12 

COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL IMPORTANCE ...................................... 12 

Commercial Fishery ........................................................ 12 

Sport Fishery ............................................................. 13 

LITERATURE CITED ............................................................ 15 
FIGURES 

Number Page 

1 Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) ............................ 1 

2 Speckled sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus) .......................... 1 

3 Geographic distribution of Pacific sanddab along the 

California coast ................................................. 3 

4 Geographic distribution of speckled sanddab along the 

California coast .................................................... 4 

5 Larval stages of Pacific sanddab .................................... 6 

6 Larval stages of speckled sanddab ................................... 6 

7 Length-weight relationship for Pacific sanddab ...................... 8 

8 Length-weight relationship for speckled sanddab ..................... 9 

9 Commercial landings of sanddabs from 1915-1986 ...................... 12 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We thank Susan Jurasz for preparing the illustrations of both species of 

sanddabs and for helping us to prepare the maps and graphs; and Ms. Joyce 

Underhill, California Department of Fish and Game, Long Beach, for providing 

unpubl ished commercial landings data. We also wish to thank Dr. Will iam Pearcy, 

Oregon State University, Corvallis, Dr. David Stein, Oregon State University, 

Corvall is, and Mr. Larry Quirollo, California Department of Fish and Game, 

Eureka, for their critical review of an earlier draft of this profile. Ms. 

Theresa Ketchum assisted in typing the manuscript. 
Fisure 1. Pacific sanddab Fisure 2. Speckled sanddab 

(~itharichthys sordidus), 36 cm (~itharichthys k.tigmaeus), 14 cm 

(redrawn from Arora 1951). (redrawn from Bane and Bane 1971). 

PACIFIE AND SPECKLED SANDDABS 

NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY 

Scientific name ......... Citharichthys 

sordi dus Gi rard 

Preferred common name ......... Pacific 

sanddab (Figure 1) 

Other common names ... Mottled sanddab, 

soft f 1 ounder 

Scientific name ........ .Ci tharichthys 

stigmaeus Jordan and Gilbert 

Preferred common name ........ Speckled 

sanddab (Figure 2) 

Other common names .... .Ca tal i na sanddab 

Class .................... Osteichthyes 

Order ............... Pleuronectiformes 

Family ................ Paralichthyidae 

MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS 

In species of Citharichthys, the 

body is compressed, high1 y 

asymmetrical and colored only on the 

left side. The blind side is usually 

white or cream. The asymmetrical head 

is deep and blunt; both eyes are on 

the left side. Jaws are symmetrical 

and heavy with a median knob. The 

maxillary bone extends to the forward 

part of the lower eye. Pelvic fins 

are asymmetrical; fin of the eyed side 

is attached directly to the ventral 

ridge (Miller and Lea 1972; Hart 

1973). 

Pacific Sanddab 

As the species name sordidus 

suggests, body and fin coloration on 

the eyed side is dull brown or tan and 

irregularly mottled with ye1 1 ow and 

orange (Miller and Lea 1972; Hart 

1973). The ridge between the eyes is 

concave; the lower eye is longer than 

the snout. Pectoral fin reaches to 

the middle of the eye when projected 

forward (Miller and Lea 1972). Gill 

rakers 15-16 on the lower section of 

the first anterior arch; dorsal rays 

86-102, originating just anterior to 

the eye; anal rays 67-81, caudal 

rounded; scales ctenoid on eyed side, 

cycloid on blind side (Arora 1951; 

Eschmeyer et al. 1983). Lateral line 

scales 61-70; vertebrae 39-40; length 

to 16 inches (40 cm); weight to 2 

pounds (Arora 1951; Roedel 1953; 

Miller and Lea 1972; Hart 1973). 
Maximum reported total length (TL) 403 

mm (Arora 1951; Chamberlain 1979). 

Speckl ed Sanddab 

Coloration is 01 ive brown or tan 

with black speckling on the eyed side, 

and white to cream on blind side 

(Miller and Lea 1972; Hart 1973). 

Ridge between eyes flat to convex; 

pectoral fin, projected forward, fa1 1s 

short of the lower eye. Gill rakers 

8-10 on the lower section of the first 

anterior arch; dorsal rays 75-97, 

first 2 or 3 rays anterior to upper 

eye (Batts 1964; Miller and Lea 1972). 

Anal rays 58-77, caudal rounded; 

scales imbricated, deciduous, ctenoid 

on both sides of the body. Vertebrae 

34-39 (generally 36); lateral line 

straight, scales 52-58. Length to 

about 7 inches (17 cm); weight to 

about 1 pound (Miller and Lea 1972; 

Hart 1973; Wang 1981). Maximum 

reported length is 169 mm (Chamberlain 

1979). 

GEOGRAPHIYC RANGE 

Pacific Sanddab 

Occurs along the Pacific coast 

from the Bering Sea to Cabo San 

Lucas, at the tip of Baja California 

(Wilimovsky 1954; Miller and Lea 

1972; Hart 1973; Roedel 1948; Arora 

1951). Most abundant along north 

central California, from Eureka to San 

Francisco, and fairly common in 

southern California (Figure 3). 

Pacific sanddabs occupy depths to 306 

m, but are usually found at 18-275 m, 

and the optimum depth is 35-95 m 

(Hart 1973; Arora 1951; Roedel 1953; 

Fitch and Lavenberg 1971; Miller and 

Lea 1972). Pacific sanddabs tend to 

inhabit shall ower depths at higher 

1 ati tudes (Chamberl ain 1979). 

Speckl ed Sanddab 

This species occurs along the 

Pacific coast from Montague Is1 and, 

Alaska, to Magdalena Bay, Baja 

California (Wilimovsky 1954; Hart 

1973; Townsend 1935; Miller and Lea 

1972; Ford 1965); most abundant in 

nearshore waters along central and 

southern California (Figure 4). 

Speckl ed sanddabs inhabit depths 

extending from the intertidal zone to 

366 m (Fitch and Lavenberg 1971; Hart 

1973; Townsend 1935; Ford 1965). 

REASON FOR INCLUSION IN THE SERIES 

The Pacific sanddab is 

commercial ly important in California 

with demand often exceeding supply. 

Speckl ed sanddabs have 1 i ttl e 

commercial importance because of their 

small size. Throughout the late 1970's 

and early 1980's sanddabs became 

increasingly important i n the 

commercial fishery, in both pounds 

landed and do1 lar value of the catch. 

Because sanddabs inhabit shallow, 

environmental 1 y sensitive areas such 

as bays and estuaries, it is important 

to investigate the effects of 

pollutants and human interactions on 

their ecology. 

LIFE HISTORY 

In life history studies of the 

Ci tharichthys reviewed here, Arora 

(1951) ~rovided the most com~lete 

review of the Pacific sanddab and' Ford 

(1965) investigated the general 

bi 01 ogy, popul ati on dynami cs , arld 

behavior of the speck1 ed sanddab. 

Reproduction of both species was 

studied by Chamberl ai n (1979). 

Ahlstrom et a1 . (1984) pub1 ished 

detai 1 ed i nformation on the 

development and distribution of 

sanddab 1 arvae. Feeding ecol ogy of 

the Pacific and speckled sanddabs was 

described by Hulberg and Oliver (1978) 

and Ambrose (1976). 
Figure 3. Geographic distribution of Pacific sanddab along the Cal ifornia 

coast. 

3 
Figure 4. Geographic distribution of the speckled sanddab along the 

California coast. 
Reproduction hours indicated that the fish spawned 

in early morning (Ford 1965). 

Reproductive patterns of the two 

species of Citharichthys are similar. 

Differences in water temperature 

from year to year may influence the 

time of spawning (Chamberlain 1979; 

Ford 1965). Southern species of 

~i tharichthys begin reproduction 

earlier and continue it lonaer than 

sanddabs in cool er northern" waters 

(Chamberl ai n 1979). Adul ts spawn near 

bottom in bays and the open ocean, 

where water temperature is 1 ow. 

Vi tell ogenesi s begins as early as 

February for both species of 

Ci thari chthys (Chamberl ai n 1979). 

Spawning season in Pacific 

sanddabs, collected at depths of 35 to 

90 m from Point Reyes to San 

Francisco, was determined from a 

series of observations of egg size 

(Arora 1951). The eggs were largest 

from July to September; most reached 

maximum size in August. Male 

development peaked during this same 

period. By October nearly all females 

were spent. Females matured at age 3, 

at an average of 190 mm TL (Arora 

1951). 

In specimens of speckled sanddabs 

of 91 to 148 mm (TL), from depths of 5 

to 45 m, collected on the intercanyon 

shelf off southern California,. Ford 

(1965) found that spawning began in 

April, when more than 50% of all eggs 

were mature, and ended in September. 

Spawning coincided with a sudden 

decline in bottom water temperature 

(from 15 to 10.5 "C) due to spring 

upwelling (Ford 1965). No mature eggs 

were found in sanddabs collected in 

October or December. Female speckled 

sanddabs matured at age 2, at an 

average length of 70 to 80 mm TL (Ford 

1965). Spawning male and female 

speckl ed sanddabs congregated at the 

head of La Jolla Canyon during spring 

and summer. The collection of large 

numbers of recently fertilized eggs of 

sanddabs in surface net tows over 

the intercanyon shelf at 0800 to 0900 

Three distinct groups of egg 

maturity stages have been described 

for the two species of sanddabs 

reviewed here: stage I, immature; 

stage 11, small , semi-opaque to 1 arge 

and granular; and stage 111, mature. 

Arora (1951) and Ford (1965) both 

concl uded that mu1 ti pl e spawni ngs per 

season occur because the three size 

groups of eggs are present 

simultaneously in mature females. 

Eggs of west coast species of 

Ci tharichthys are spherical , translucent, similar in size, and 

contain one oil globule at maturity. 

Immature eggs may contain several oil 

globules of various sizes. The modal 

diameter of mature Pacific sanddab 

eggs was reported to be about 0.650 mm 

by Arora (1951). The average maximum 

diameter of Pacific sanddab eggs 

collected off Orange County in August 

was 0.845 mm (Chamberl ain 1979). The 

largest speckled sanddab eggs averaged 

0.448 mm in September, 0.540 mm in 

February, and 0.760 mm in May 

(Chamberl ai n 1979). 

Testes of mature Pacific and 

speckled sanddabs averaged 0.11% and 

0.21%-0.36% respectively of fresh, wet 

body weight (Chamberlain 1979). Weight 

of fresh, wet ovaries were 1.0% to 

4.4% of body weight for Pacific 

sanddab and 1.7% to 5.6% for speckled 

sanddab (Chamberlain 1979). 

No fecunditv estimates for 

Pacific sanddabs have been pub1 ished. 

Ford (1965) reported that speckled 

sanddabs 50.0 to 67.5 mm TL 

contained only immature eggs of 0.03 

to 0.15 mm, and fish larger than 78 mm 

TL had large numbers of mature or 

maturing eggs 0.35 to. 0.77 mm in 

diameter. Estimated numbers of eggs 

spawned per season by speckl ed 

sanddabs were 4,200 at lengths of 85- 

90.5 mm, 12,100 at 109.5-110.5 mm. and 

22,500 at greater than 129.0 mm TL 

(Ford 1965). Many post-spawning males 
and females of both species (which 

were sampled at various times during 

the spawning season) retained the bulk 

of the sperm or ovarian mass, suggesting that relatively wall numbers of 

sperm and eggs are released throughout 

the spawning season, and multiple 

spawnings occur. 

Early Devel opmen t 

Chamber1 ain (1979) pub1 ished the 

most detai 1 ed description of 

Ci thari chthys eggs and embryos, and 

Ahlstrom et al. (1984), the best study 

of larval stages. 

Larvae hatch at about 2.0 mm TL 

or less, and complete the yo1 k-sac 

stage of development at about 3.0 mm 

TL (Wang 1981). Para1 ichthid 

flatfish, including sanddabs, are Figure 5. Larval development of the 

usual 1 y sinistral ; during Pacific sanddab (Ah1 strom and Moser 

metamorphosis the larvae transforms to 1975). 

a juvenile form with both eyes on the 

left side of the head and an 

asymmetrical pigmentation pattern 

(Ah1 strom et a1 . 1984). Timing of 

metamorphosis in flatfish is more 

closely re1 ated to environmental 

temperature and individual size than 

to age (Ahlstrom and Moser 1975). 

Citharichthys larvae longer than 5 mm 

can be identified on the basis of a 

combination of pigment characters, 

meristic counts, and location of 

capture (Ahlstrom et a1 . 1984; 

Ah1 strom and Moser 1975). 

At about 5 mm TL, Pacific 

sanddabs develop two elongated, 

ornamental rays at the insertion of 

the dorsal fin and two corresponding 

rays from the pelvic fins (Figure 5). 

Speckled sanddabs develop no such rays 

during their development (Figure 6). 

Pacific sanddabs lose the rays during 

metamorphosis (Porter 1964). The 

meristic characteristics of adults are 

useful in identifying Young Figure 6. Larval development of the 

Ci ttfari chthys (see summary of adul t speck1 ed sanddab (Ahlstrom and Moser 

characteristics). 1975). 
Larval Pacific sanddabs have 

groupings of me1 anophores along the 

dorsal, anal, caudal, and eyed-side 

pectoral fins, whereas speckl ed 

sanddab larvae lack melanin 

(Chamber1 ai n 1979; Porter 1964). 

Pacific sanddabs lose much of the 

melanin during the late juvenile and 

early adult development stages, but 

this characteristic is useful in 

differentiating the juveniles of the 

two species. At about 28 mm standard 

length (SL), myotomes take on a Wshaped appearance. Pigmentation on 

the eyed side of Pacific sanddabs 

becanes more pronounced during grwth 

from 110 to 120 mm SL. 

Location of capture is important 

to the identification of sanddab 

larvae because of the differences in 

their distribution (Ahlstrom and Moser 

1975). The geographic distributions 

of larval speckled and Pacific 

sanddabs overlap each other and also 

those of larval C. fragilis (gulf 

sanddab), and C. xanthostigma (longfin 

sanddab) in the southern portion of 

their range (Baja to southern 

California). Location of capture may 

often he1 p to differentiate gulf and 

longfin sanddabs gathered from trawls 

north of their range. 

Pelagic speckl ed sanddab 1 arvae 

have been col 1 ected from close inshore 

to 320 km offshore (Berry and Perkins 

1966) ; and pelagic 1 arvae of Pacific 

sanddabs from close inshore (Berry and 

Perkins 1966) to 724 km offshore 

(Ah1 strom 1965). Juveni 1 e 

Ci tharichthys usually inhabit the 

entire bathymetric range of the 

species, and may prefer the same 

substrate types as the adul ts 

(Chamberlain 1979). Ah1 strom (1959) 

reported sanddab larvae distributed 

between the surface and 88 m in depth. 

During spring, summer, and fall 

transformati on and settl ing , speckl ed 

sanddabs of 25 to 75 mm TL were most 

abundant at depths of 15 to 25 m on 

the intercanyon shelf (Ford 1965). 

Larvae and juveni 1 es move re1 ativel y 

short distances in search of prey, 

cover from predators, and more 

suitable temperature (Ah1 strom and 

Moser 1975; Chamberlain 1979; Ford 

1965); in addition larvae are carried 

long distances by ocean currents. 

Larvae of the four species of 

Citharichthys composed 87% of all 

flatfish larvae sampled during the 

California Cooperative Oceani c 

Fisheries Investigations (CALCOFI) 

between 1955 and 1960 (Ahlstrom and 

Moser 1975; Ahlstrom 1969). Eggs and 

larvae are planktonic, occurring along 

the entire CALCOFI sampling area, and 

were collected in large numbers from 

June to August. Loeb et al. (1983) 

reported that 1 arva! flatfish 

abundance peaked from October through 

November, primari 1 y because 1 arge 

numbers of Pacific and speckled 

sanddabs were found in all nearshore 

regions. 

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 

Growth in sanddabs has been shown 

to be regulated by numerous factors: 

prey availabi 1 i ty, population density, 

environmental temperature, salinity, 

and suitable habitat (Chamberlain 

1979; Ford 1965; Ehrlich et al. 1979; 

Hul berg and 01 iver 1978). 

Most age and growth studies 

conducted on Pacific and speckled 

sanddabs have been based on the scale 

method of age determination. Females 

of both species grow faster and attain 

larger sizes than males (Chamberlain 

1979; Ford 1965; Villadolid 1927). In 

the Pacific sanddab, the growth rate 

is faster and the life span (8-10 

years) is longer than in the speckled 

sanddab (3-4 years) (Arora 1951; Ford 

1965). 

Pacific sanddabs grow rapidly 

from July to November (Arora 1951). 

Average total 1 engths of Pacific 

sanddabs at ages I to IV (males and 

females combined) are 95, 148, 192, 
and 226 mm. Corresponding average 

weights are 6.6, 27.8, 69.3, and 116.5 

g (Arora 1951). Throughout 

development, weight increased at a 

rate slightly higher than the cube of 

the length (Arora 1951). After the 

fourth year, females grew faster than 

males; at the end of the seventh year, 

males averaged 246 mm, and females, 

274 mm TL (Arora 1951). Vi 11 ado1 id 

(1927) reported similar growth rates 

for Pacific sanddabs col 1 ected off San 

Francisco and Monterey. 

Arora (1951) determined the age 

composition and 1 ength-weight re1 ation 

for Pacific sanddabs from 150 fish 

col lected near the Farall on Is1 ands, 

off the northern California coast; and 

Chamberl ain i 1979) col 1 ected 1 ength 

and weight data for this species in 

trawl surveys off southern Cal ifornia. 

Figure 7. Length-weight relationship 

with fitted curve for Pacific sanddab 

(Chamberlain 1979). 

Arora's (1951) length-weight equation 

(logW = 5.59 + 3.26 logL) was similar 

to Chamberlain's equation (Figure 7 ). 

The two equations have different Y 

intercept values, however, because 

Arora used total 1 ength measurements 

and Chamberl ai n measured standard 

1 ength. Both researchers determined 

that standard length increases 84 mm 

for every 100-mm increase in total 

1 ength. 

Ford (1965) examined 50 speckled 

sanddabs, 50-148 mm TL, to estimate 

1 ength-at-age. Growth rates are 

typical of most fish; there is a very 

rapid increase in length during the 

first year (Ford 1965). Seasonal 

variation in growth is similar to that 

in Pacific sanddabs: most rapid growth 

is during summer and early fa1 1 . At 

the end of the first year, speckled 

sanddabs attain 55%-60% of the median 

total length and 13%-18% of the median 

weight attained at the end of the 

third year (Ford 1965). Total length 

ranges (millimeters) for groups 0-111 

were 25-75, 76-105, 106-120, and 121- 

150. Estimated mean total lengths at 

the end of the first, second, and 

third year were 66.5, 93.8, and 111.0 

mm for males and 69.0, 99.6, and 

126.6 mm for females (Ford 1965). 

Growth rate decreased at a median 

total length of 70 mm. Differences 

between the sexes in total length and 

median dry weight near the end of the 

third year of life were about 16 mm 

and 1.9 g for speckled sanddabs (Ford 

1965). 

Ford (1965) used total length 

measurements in relating dry and wet 

weight to length in speckled sanddabs: 

LoglO Dry Wt(g)= -6.2753 + 3.2953 

LoglO TL; and Loglo Wet Wt(g)= -5,5750 

+ 3.2953 LoglO TL. These equations 

are similar to the length-weight 

re1 ati on developed by Chamberl ai n 

(1979)(Figure 8). Once again, the 

method of measurement is responsi bl e 

for the differences in coefficients. 
by short-term, die1 variations in 

environmental conditions (Ford 1965). 

Figure 8. Length-weight relationship 

with fitted curve for speckled sanddab 

(Chamberlain 1979). 

The abundance of speck1 ed 

sanddabs peaked in King Harbor, 

Redondo Beach, CA, from winter through 

early summer, when bottom temperatures 

were low (Ehrl ich et a1 . 1979). After 

summer and fa1 1 breakdown of thermal 

stratification, the numbers of 

speckled sanddabs decreased in King 

and Los Angeles Harbors (Ehrlich et 

al. 1979; Stephens et al. 1973). 

Water temperature fluctuations, 

pollution, and human interference 

increase stress on inner harbor 

sanddab popul ati ons by causing 

increased rates of infection, 

parasitism, and higher mortality 

(Ehrlich et al. 1979; Stephens et al. 

1973). Due to the instability of 

inner harbor environments which may 

force fish to move seaward into other 

waters, the occurrence of 

subpopul ati ons of sanddabs in inner 

harbor waters is unlikely (Ehrlich et 

a1 . 1979; Chamberl ain 1979; Stephens 

et al. 1973 ; Taylor 1957). 

ECOLOGICAL ROLE 

MIGRATION AND MOVEMENT OF ADULTS 

Food and Feeding 

Adult Ci tharichthys are not 

high1 y migratory (Chamberl ain 1979). 

Movement of adult sanddabs is 

influenced by prey avai 1 abi 1 i ty 

(Hulberg and Oliver 1978; Cailliet et 

al. 1978), seasonal temperature 

fluctuations (Ehrl ich et a1 . 1979; 

Stephens et al. 1973; Ford 1965), and 

substrate type (Feder et al. 1974; 

Ambrose 1976). 

Population densities and age 

composition of speckled sanddabs on 

the intercanyon shelf, off La Jolla, 

CA, were relatively stable, reflecting 

the constancy of the bathymetric 

distribution and abundance over a 

sampl ing period averaging 30 days. 

Distribution was not greatly affected 

Larval Ci tharichthys have been 

described as planktonic by several 

authors (Ahlstrom and Moser 1975; 

Fi tch and Lavenberg 1971). Postlarvae 

eat zooplankton and adults eat a wide 

variety of small pelagic fish, 

cephalopods, crustaceans, and marine 

worms (Hogue and Carey 1982; Hulberg 

and Oliver 1978; Ambrose 1976; Fitch 

and Lavenberg 1971; Ford 1965). 

Marine fish larvae feed on many 

kinds of organisms but copepod nauplii 

appear to predominate in their diets 

(Houde and Taniguchi 1979). Larval 

survival and growth rate and the 

length of the larval period depend on 

concentrations of food organisms, but 

during the larval period marine fish 
are also most vulnerable to predation 

(Houde and Schekter 1980). 

Morphological adaptations such as 

long symmetrical jaws, sharp teeth, 

and long serrated gi 11 rakers a1 low 

sanddabs to grasp and hold animals 

while swimming in midwater (Pearcy and 

Hancock 1978; A1 exander 1974). 

Significantly greater stomach fullness 

in Pacific sanddabs collected at dawn 

in trawl samples (versus samples 

collected from trawls at other times) 

suggests that the fish are nocturnal 

feeders (Hopkins and Hancock 1980). 

Young and Mearns (1980), in work 

on the flow of pollutants through the 

marine food web, assigned sanddabs to 

primary and secondary carnivore 

trophic positions. Hul berg and 01 iver 

(1978) showed that euphausid and mysid 

crustaceans accounted for most of the 

number and volume of crustaceans eaten 

by adult Pacific sanddabs of 85 to 

211 mm SL. The polychaetes eaten by 

sanddabs were almost exclusively 

species that feed at the sediment 

surface (e.g., Nothria elegans, 

Amaeana occidental i s , and Magel ona 

saccul ata) . Tentacles of - A. 

occidental is were eaten more 

frequent1 y than the enti re animal . Juvenile rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) 

and razor clams (Sil iqua spp. ) were 

also found in stomachs of Pacific 

sanddabs. Habits of the prey suggest 

Pacific sanddabs are opportunistic 

feeders and poor diggers (Hulberg and 

01 i ver 1978). 

Cross et al. (1985) reported that 

the proportion of crustaceans 

decreased and the proportion of 

polychaetes increased in the Pacific 

sanddab diet, along an increasing 

pol 1 ution gradient of municipal 

wastewater on the mainland shelf near 

Los Angeles, CA. In the same study, 

speckl ed sanddabs fed primarily on 

benthic, epibenthic, and nektonic 

crustaceans. 

Juvenile speckled sanddabs , shorter than 75 mm, fed on copepods, 

amphi pods, cumaceans and mysi ds; 

adults (76 mm and larger) re1 ied less 

on these forms and seemed to 

concentrate on the larger decapods, 

mollusks, and small fish (Ford 1965). 

Speckled sanddab prey consisted 

primari 1 y of crustaceans (61%) ; the 

major taxa, in order of importance, 

were Amphipoda, Decapoda, Mysidacea, 

Cumacea, Copepoda, and Isopoda (Ford 

1965). In concurrence, Ambrose (1976) 

found amphipod and mysid crustaceans 

to be the most important prey for 

speckl ed sanddabs at seaward stations 

of El khorn Slough, CA. When speckl ed 

sanddabs fed at inner slough stations 

they ate pol ychaetes, bivalve siphons, 

decapods, and (to a lesser extent) 

fish. 

Speckled sanddabs had the second 

highest mean trophic diversity among 

all species sampled (0.51, on a scale 

of 0-l), at stations where it occurred 

(Ambrose 1976). Speck1 ed sanddabs were 

generalized feeders at seaward of 

Elkhorn Slough, and much more 

special ized feeders at inner slough 

stations where they fed on one species 

of mysid, Acanthomvsis davisii 

(Caill iet 1977; Ambrose 1976). 

Speckled sanddabs rely on sight for 

feeding and pick food cleanly from the 

bottom, without much extraneous 

material (Ford 1965). These fish take 

advantage of normally unavai 1 able 

infauna dislodged from sand by the 

digging rays Urol o~hus ha1 leri and 

Mvliobatis californica. Since speckled 

sanddabs reach densities of up to l/m2 

over sand, they may increase the 

mortal i ty rates of infaunal prey 

disturbed by digging rays (VanBl aricom 

1982). Poor vi si bi 1 i ty and substrate 

type at some inner slough stations may 

have affected speckl ed sanddab feeding 

habits (Ambrose 1976). Food types at 

inner slough areas did not appeqr to be 

a limiting factor (Ambrose 1976). 

Species Association 

In southern California, Pacific 

sanddabs are found in associations 

with Dover sole, Mi crostomus 
paci f i cus , Pori chthys 

Zal embi us 

combf i sh, 

(Chamberla 

plainfin midshipman, 

notatus, pink seaperch, 

rosaceus, and shortspine 

Zaniolepis frenata 

in 1979; Stephens et al. 

Larval Pacific sanddabs are 

preyed on by albacore (Thunnus 

alalunga), salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), 

chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), and 

invertebrates such as medusae and 

ctenophores (Fi tch and Lavenberg 

1971). 

In southern Cal ifornia, speckled 

sanddabs are found in associations in 

shall ow water with Cal i forni a tonauefish, Symphurus atri cauda; hornyhead 

turbot, Pleuronichthys verticalis; and 

Engl i sh sole, Parophrys vetul us 

(Chamberlain 1979; Stephens et a1 . 1973; Ford 1965). 

Juveniles and adults of both 

species are preyed on by larger fish 

such as the Cal ifornia ha1 i but, 

Paralichthys californicus (Ford 1965). 

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS 

Substrate 

Both species of sanddabs reviewed 

here have similar preferences for 

sandy bottom areas along the 

California coast (Hulberg and Oliver 

1978; Hart 1973; Ambrose 1976; 

Cailliet et al. 1978; Ford 1965). 

Chamberlain (1979) coll ected sanddab 

specimens from fine sand and sandymud containing broken shell material. 

Feder et al. (1974) reported Pacific 

sanddabs to be dominant in deep sand 

or sandy-mud areas. Speckled sanddabs 

prefer irregularities and foreign 

objects in their habitat, resulting in 

their higher densities around rock 

pilings, pier pilings, and canyons 

(Feder et al. 1974; Ford 1965). Ford 

(1965) determined that speckl ed 

sanddabs tolerated sediments having a 

wide range of grain sizes and that 

grain size had no effect on the 

quantity of sui tab1 e food organisms 

avai 1 abl e to speckl ed sanddabs. 

Ambrose (1976) reported substrate and 

turbidity to be the most likely 

factors limiting the movement of 

speckl ed sanddabs in El khorn Slough. 

Temperature 

Ehrl ich et a1 . (1979) estimated 

a temperature range of 8-13 "C for 

efficient growth, in a laboratory 

study of speckled sanddabs from King 

Harbor. A1 though on1 y 1 imi ted 

information is available on the 

effects of temperature on sanddab 

physiology , it is general 1 y expected 

that temperature affects oocyte 

maturation, time of spawning, larval 

devel opment , adul t and 1 arval movement 

into different habitats, food 

availability, and growth rate. 

Densities of juvenile and adult 

speckl ed sanddabs were higher at 

depths greater than 15 m, where 

temperatures were 1 ower and relative1 y 

stable, than at depths less than 15 m. 

Speckled sanddabs seemed to favor a 

temperature range of 10.0 to 20.5 "C, 

over a depth range extending to 45 m 

(Ford 1965). 

Vegetation 

Information concerning the 

specific vegetation requirements for 

sanddabs was not found in the 

literature. Larvae, postlarvae, and 

young juvenile sanddabs may increase 

survival by inhabiting vegetated areas 

where protection from predators is 

available and prey organisms are more 

highly concentrated as compared with 

open areas. 

Sal ini ty 

Chamberlain (1979) estimated the 

specific gravity of fresh eggs of 
speckled sanddabs to be demersal at 

1.025. As the salinity increases to 

1.045, sanddab eggs become planktonic. 

Eggs of both species hatch in salt 

water. Sal ini ty requirements for 

juveniles and adults were not found in 

the 1 i terature. 

Dissolved Oxygen 

Expl ici t physiological requirements for dissolved oxygen were not 

found in the literature. 

Contaminants 

Livers of Pacific sanddabs 

col lected near sewage outfall s had 

higher levels of DDTs, PCBs, PCB 

metabolites, copper, and zinc than did 

a control site. Concentrations of DDT 

metabolites and cadmium were sometimes 

higher at the control site, but that 

site may be exposed to some 

contamination. Gonads of Pacific 

sanddabs had higher concentrations of 

DDT, PCBs, and zinc near the sewage 

outfalls relative to the control site; 

there was not a similar trend for 

copper and cadmi um (Brown et a1 . 1986). 

COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL IMPORTANCE 

Commerci a1 Fishery 

The two species of Ci tharichthys 

discussed here are taken incidentally 

with other bottom fish in commercial 

fisheries (Frey 1971). The Pacific 

sanddab ranked second in abundance 

among fish species collected in trawl 

surveys conducted from 1969-1972 by 

the Southern Cal ifornia Coastal Water 

Research Project (1973). During trawl 

surveys conducted on Santa Plonica Bay 

over a 6 year period, Carlisle (1969) 

found speckled sanddabs to be the most 

abundant species sampled. 

Because of their small size, 

speckled sanddabs are usual 1 y 

discarded at sea or ground up for use 

in fish meal. In the Los Angeles 

area, speckled sanddabs obtained from 

a commerci a1 hook-and-1 i ne fishery, 

were sold in local markets until the 

late 1940's (Anon. 1949). 

Most Paci f i c sanddabs are 

harvested commercial 1 y by bottom 

Figure 9. Commercial landings of sanddabs, 1915 - 1986 (Frey 1971; Joyce 

Underhill, California Department of Fish and Game, Long Beach, CA; pers. comm.). 
fishermen using otter trawls (Fi tch 

and Lavenberg 1971). The commercial 

Pacific sanddab catch is landed almost 

entirely from the ports of Eureka, San 

Francisco, and Monterey (Fitch and 

Lavenberg 1971; Anon. 1949). Before 

1938, San Francisco landings amounted 

to more than 95% of the total 

commercial catch. Highest 1 andings to 

date were in 1917 when more than 2 

mill ion pounds were taken (Anon. 

1949). Landi ngs then decl i ned 

(Figure 9), rose to 2 million pounds 

in 1925, and averaged about 500,000 

pounds from 1930-1970 (Arora 1951, 

Anon. 1949). Commercial landings from 

1970-1986, averaged over 900,000 

pounds (Figure 9), indicating an 

increased demand for this species 

(Joyce Underhi 11, Cal ifornia 

Department of Fish and Game, Long 

Beach, CA; pers. comm.). Price 

quotations from the Fisherman's 

Marketing Association in April 1987, 

indicated that commercial fish 

buyers were paying $0.37 per pound 

for Pacific sanddabs. 

Sport Fishery 

Sanddabs are caught by sport 

fishermen with hook-and-line. Wire in 

the form of a hoop, around which 

several hooks are fastened, is baited 

with squid, fish, shrimp, or clams and 

lowered to a point close to the bottom 

(Fitch and Lavenberg 1971). Sandy 

bottom areas with consistently good 

fishing include the horseshoe kelp 

area west of Los Angeles Harbor and 

areas offshore from La Jolla, Newport 

Beach, Avalon, San Pedro, Ma1 i bu, 

Goleta, Pismo Beach, Pacific Grove, 

Moss Landi ng , and Capi to1 a 

(Chamber1 ai n 1979; F i t c h and Lavenberg 

1971). Fitch and Lavenberg (1975) 

noted that speckled sanddabs make 

interesting additions to aquaria. 

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Ahlstrom, E.H. 1959. Vertical 

distribution of pelagic fish eggs 

and larvae off California and Baja 

California. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. 

Fish. Bull. 60:107-146. 

Ahlstrom, E.H. 1965. Kinds and 

abundances of fishes in the 

California current region based on 

egg and larval surveys. Calif. 

Coop. Oceanic Fish. Invest. Rep. 

10: 31-52. 

Ah1 strom, E . H . 1969. Mesopel agi c and 

bathypel agi c fishes in the 

Cal ifornia current region. Cal if. 

Coop. Oceanic Fish. Invest. Rep. 

13: 39-44. 

Ahlstrom, E.H., and H.G. Moser. 

1975. Distributional atlas of fish 

larvae in the California Current 

region: flatfishes, 1955 through 

1960. Calif. Coop. Oceanic Fish. 

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Ahlstrom, E.H., K. Amaoka, D.A. 

Hensley, H.G. Moser, and B.Y. 

Sumi da. 1984. P l e u r o n e c t i formes: 

Development. Pages 640-670 H.G. 

Moser, W.J. Richards, D.M. Cohen, M. 

P. Fahay, A.W. Kendall, Jr., and S. 

L. Richardson, eds. Ontogeny and 

systematics of fishes. American 

Association of Ichthyologists and 

Herpetologists Special Publ i cation 

1. 760 pp. 

A1 exander , R. M. 1974. Functi anal 

design in fishes. The Anchor Press, 

Tiptree Essex. 160 pp. 

Ambrose, D.A. 1976. The 

distribution, abundance, and feeding 

ecology of four species of flatfish 

in the vicinity of El khorn 

Slough, California. M.S. Thesis, 

San Jose State University. 121 pp. 

Anonymous. 1949. The commerci a1 

fish catch of California for the 

year 1947 with a historical review 

1916-1947. Calif. Dep. Fish Game. 

Fish. Bull. No. 80. 87 pp. 

Arora, H.L. 1951. An investigation 

of the Cal ifornia sand dab. 

Ci thari chthys sordi dus (Gi rard) . Calif. Fish Game 37:3-42. 

Bane, G.W., and A.W. Bane. 1971. 

Pages 124-126 in Bay fishes of 

Northern ~alifornia. Mariscos 

Publ i cations, Southamp ton and Plew 

York. 

Batts, B. S. 1964. Lepidology of 

adult pl euronecti form fishes of 

Puget Sound, Washington. Copeia 

1964 (4):666-673. 

Berry, F.H., and H.C. Perkins. 1966. 

Survey of pelagic fishes of the 

California current area. U.S. Fish 

Wild. Serv. Fish. Bull. 65:625-682. 

Brown, D.A., R.W. Gossett, G.P. 

Hershelman, C.F. Ward, A.M. Westcott, 

and J.N. Cross. 1986. Municipal 

wastewater contamination in Southern 

California, U.S.A., Bight. Part I. 

Metal and organic contaminants in 

sediments and organisms. Mar. 

Environ. Res. 18:291-310. 
Cailliet, G.M. 1977. Several 

approaches to the feeding ecology of 

fishes. Pages 1-13 in C.A. 

Simenstad and S.J. ~i~ovsk~, eds. 

Gutshop '76 fish food habits 

studies. Proc. First Pac. 

Northwest Tech. Workshop, October 

13-15, 1976. University of 

Washington Press, Seattle. 

Cailliet, G., B.S. Antrim, and D.S. 

Ambrose. 1978. Trophic spectrum 

analysis of fishes in El khorn Slough 

and nearby waters. Pages 118-128 

- in C.A. Simenstad and S.J. Lipovsky, 

eds. Gutshop '78 fish food habits 

studies. Proc. Second Pac. 

Northwest Tech. Workshop, October 

10-13, 1978, University of 

Washington Press, Seattle. 

Carl isle, J. G. , Jr. 1969. Results of 

a six year trawl study in an area of 

heavy waste discharge: Santa Monica 

Bay, California. Calif. Fish Game 

55: 26-46. 

Chamberlain, D.W. 1979. Histology of 

the reproductive systems and 

comparison of selected morphological 

characters in four Eastern Pacific 

species of Citharichthys (Pisces: 

Bothidae). Ph.D. Dissertation. 

~niversi ty of Southern Cal ifornia, 

Los Angeles, CA. 297 pp. 

Cross, N.J., J. Roney, and G.S. 

Kl eppel . 1985. Fish food habits 

along a pollution gradient. Calif. 

Fish Game 71:28-39. 

Ehrlich, K.F., J.S. Stephens, G. 

Muszynski, and J.M. Hood. 1979. 

Thermal behavior of the s~eckled 

sanddab, Ci tharichthys stigmaeus: 

1 aboratorv and field i nvesti aati ons. 

U. S. ~atl . Mar. Fish. ~erv: Fish. 

Bull. 76(4) :867-872. 

Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald, and H. 

Hammann. 1983. Lefteye Flounders: 

Family Bothidae. Pages 283-286 fi 

R.G. Peterson, ed. The Peterson 

field guide series: a field guide 

to the Pacific coast fishes of 

North America from the Gulf of 

Alaska to Baja California. 

Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 336 

PPFeder, H.M., C.H. Turner, and C. 

Limbaugh. 1974. Observations on 

fishes associated with kel p beds 

in Southern California. Calif. 

Dep. Fish Game, Fish Bull . 160. 144 

PP. 

Fitch, J.E., and R.J. Lavenberg. 

1971. Pages 41-43 - in Marine food 

and game fishes of California. 

University of Cal ifornia Press, 

Berkel ey . 

Fitch, J.E., and R. J. Lavenberg. 

1975. Pages 32-34 fi Tidepool and 

nearshore fishes of Cal ifornia. 

University of Cal i fornia Press, 

Berkeley. 

Ford, R.R. 1965. Distribution, 

population dynamics and behavior of 

a bothid flatfish, Citharichthys 

stigmaeus. Ph.D. Dissertation. 

University of California, San Diego. 

243 pp. 

Frey, H.W. (ed). 1971. California 

1 iving marine resources and their 

utilization. California Department 

of Fish and Game. 148 pp. 

Hart, J. L. 1973. Pages 596-599 

Pacific fishes of Canada. Fish. 

Res. Board Canada. Bull. 180. 

Hopkins, J.A., and M.K.Hancock. 

1980. Die1 feeding pattern and 

prey of the Pacific sanddab, 

Citharichthys sordidus. Am. Zool. 

20(4):950. 

Hogue, E.W., and A.G. Carey, Jr. 

1982. Feeding ecology of 0-age 

flatfishes at a nursery ground on 

the Oregon coast. U.S. Natl. Mar. 

Fish Serv. Fish. Bull. 80(3): 

555-565. 
Houde, E.D., and R.C. Schekter. 1980. 

Feeding by marine fish larvae: 

devel opment and functional 

responses. Envi ron. Bi 01. Fishes 

5:315-334. 

Houde, E.D., and A.K. Taniguchi. 

1979. Laboratory culture of marine 

fish larvae and their role in marine 

environmental research. Pages 

176-205 F.S. Jacoff, ed. 

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research. Proc. of a symp., 

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Narrangansett, R.I. Rep. No. EPA600/9-79-035. 

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1978. Prey availability and the 

diets of two co-occurring flatfish. 

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S.J. Lipovsky, eds. Gutshop '78 

fish food habits studies. Proc. 

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seasonal patterns of larval fish 

species structure in the California 

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132-151. 

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Game. Fish Bull. 157. 235 pp. 

Pearcy, W.G., and D. Hancock. 1978. 

Feedina habits of Dover sole, 

~i crostomus paci f i cus; rex sol e; 

Gl yptocephal us zachi rus; sl ender 

sole, Lyopsetta exilis; and Pacific 

sanddab, Ci thari chthys sordi dus, in 

a reaion of diverse sediments and 

bathGetry off Oregon. U.S. Natl. 

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76(3):641-651. 

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fecundity, spawning and early life 

hi story of Petrale sole (Eopsetta 

jordani ) , with descriptions of 

flatfish larvae collected in the 

Pacific Ocean off Humboldt Bay, 

California. M.S. Thesis. Humboldt 

State College. 124 pp. 

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fishes of California. Calif. Fish 

Game Bull. No. 68. 150 pp. 

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fishes of the California Coast. 

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PP - 

Southern California Coastal Water 

Research Project. 1973. The 

ecol ogy of the Southern 

California Bight: implications for 

water quality management. Threeyear report of the SCCWRP. 531 pp. 

Stephens, J.S., Jr., D. Gardiner, and 

C. Terry. 1973. The demersal 

fish populations of San Pedro 

Bay. Pages 147-166 fi D.F. Soule 

and M. Oguri, eds. Marine Studies 

of San Pedro Bay, California. Part 

11, Biological Investigations. 

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University of Southern Cal if . , Los Angeles. 

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populations of four species of 

Pacific Coast flatfish. Ph.D. 

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California, Los Angeles. 351 pp. 

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~i tharichthys sordidus and - C. 

stigmaeus with an extension of 

range. Copeia 1935 (4) : 193. 

VanBlaricom, G.R. 1982. Experimental 

analyses of structural regulation in 

a marine sand community exposed to 

oceanic swell . Ecol . Monogr. 52: 283- 

306. 

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f 1 atf i shes (Heterosomata) of the 
Pacific Coast of the United States. 

Ph.D. Dissertation. Stanford 

University, 332 pp. 

Wang, Johnson C.S. 1981. Taxonomy of 

the early 1 ife stages of fishes -- 

fishes of the Sacramento-San Joaquin 

Estuary and Moss Landing Harbor - 

El khorn Slough, Cal ifornia. 

Ecological Analysts, Inc., Concord, 

CA. 168 pp. 

Wilimovsky, N.J. 1954. List of the 

fishes of Alaska. Stanford 

Ichthyol . Bull. 4:279-294. 

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SO372 -101 

REPORT WCUMENTATION / 1. 2 

PAGE 1 Bi 01 ogi cal Re port 82( 11.107) 

I 

3. Ru~o~mnt's Accmsslon No. 

7. Authofls) 1 --, 

Joseph P. ~ackowski' and Ellen K. pikitchL 

P.r(ormlns Ommn~zmt~on Nmmm and Addrmsm t l~eDartment of Fisheries and Wildlife 2~isheries Research Institute 

*U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Report No. TR EL-82-4 

16. Abstna (Limit: 200 words) 

8. Pmrformtns Orsan~zatlon Ram. No. 

10. Pm~rrt/Tmsb/Worh Unlt No. 

0regon State University School of Fisheries 

Hatfield Marine Science Center University of Washington 

Newport, Oregon 97365 Seattle, W4 98195 

12. Sponsonns Orsantratlon Nmmm and Addrmss 

Species profiles are literature summaries of taxonomy, morphology, range, growth 

characteristics, ecology, life history, and commercial importance of coastal species. 

Pacific sanddab, Citharichthys -- sordidus, and speckled sanddab, Citharichthys stigmaeus, 

are common along the California coast from the intertidal zone to depths of 306 m. 

Pacific sanddabs spawn from July to September and speckled sanddabs, from April to 

September. Eggs and larvae are common throughout the range of the species. Average 

1 ife span is 8-10 years in Pacific sanddabs and 3-11 years in speckled sanddabs. Females 

4. Titlm and Subtltlm Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental 

Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific southwest) 

Pacific and Speckl ed Sanddabs 

11. Contract(C) or Crant(C) NO. 

(GI 

of both species live longer than males. Female Pacific sanddabs attain sexual maturity 

at age 3 and female speckled sanddabs, at age 2. Postlarvae feed on zooplankton; adults 

eat a variety of crustaceans and fish. Both species prefer sandy bottoms. The speckled 

sanddab was the most abundant species caught in trawl surveys off southern California. 

I Rapor( Dmtm 

August 1989 

6. 

National Wetlands Research Center 13. Typa of Rmpoa 6 Pmr~od Cowl U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Fish and Wildlife Service Waterways Experiment Station 

U.S. Department of the Interior P.O. Box 631 

\dashington, D.C. 20240 Vicksburg, MS 39180 

Commercial catch statistics lump both species under "sanddabs". Average annual landings, 

1930-70, were 500,000 pounds and from 1971-86, landings rose to 900,000 pounds. 

Commercial fish buyers paid $0.37 per pound for sanddabs in April, 1987. 

Pacific 

Ci 

Growth 

Fishes 

Flatfishes 

Life 

Eco 

Feeding 

17. 

tharichthys 

Docummnt 

1 ogy 

history 

habits 

sanddab 

Analysis 

spawning 

sordidus 

a. Dmscrioton 

Temperature 

Sal 

Life 

inity 

cycles 

Speckl 

Citharichthys 

Commercial 

ed sanddab 

and 

stigmaeus 

recreational 

I 

importance 

Habitat requirements 

c. COSATI FieldlCmuo 

18. Avm~lmbllity Statmment 1 19. Sccuroty Class nhls Rmpoa) 

I Unclassified 

Unlimited distribution I 20. O.urtty Class (This Pmsm) I Unclassified 

21. NO. of paam. 

18 

a. Price 

(k. ANSI-239.18) OPI'IONAL FORM 272 (671 

(Forrmrly NTlS35) 

D.paammnt d Commmrc* 
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the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned 

public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the 

wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish 

and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our 

national parks and historicai places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses 

our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their 

development is in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation 

communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S. 

administration. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

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TAKE PRIDE 

in America 

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National Wetlands Research Center 

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