Opaleye

Girella nigricans

The opaleye (Girella nigricans) is a medium-sized sea chub reaching up to 66 cm. It has an olive-green body with one or two distinctive white or light blue spots below the dorsal fin, and characteristic brilliant opalescent blue-green eyes that give the species its common name. Found in the eastern Pacific from San Francisco to southern Baja California and the Galapagos, it inhabits rocky reefs, kelp forests, and tide pools at depths of 0 to 30 meters. This herbivorous species feeds primarily on red and green algae, with occasional consumption of small invertebrates. It is commonly seen in schools on rocky reefs and kelp-lined channels. Its bright eyes are its most distinctive feature, appearing to glow with an inner light underwater, making it an instantly recognizable and charming resident of California's kelp forests.