Spotted sand bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Perciformes · Family: Serranidae · Genus: Paralabrax.

Accepted name: Paralabrax maculatofasciatus · Authority: (Steindachner, 1868) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 282058.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Serranus maculatofasciatus Steindachner, 1868.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282058 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 60 cm · Depth range: 1–61 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 36.5 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest.

FishBase notes: Usually found on sand or mud bottom near rocks and eelgrass, from the coast to a depth of 60 m. A secretive species, it feeds on small fishes and benthic crustaceans during the day (Ref. 9342). Capable of tolerating ample fluctuations of temperature (from 7.5 to 32°C) and survive extreme cold intervals (Ref. 9342).

Pelagic spawners (Ref. 56049). Important game fish caught in bays and harbors (Ref. 9342). Minimum depth range based on occurrence (Ref. 79604).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 3336) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paralabrax-maculatofasciatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

161,321 georeferenced occurrence records for Paralabrax maculatofasciatus are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 21 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 18 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (159,782); Mexico (1,425); Colombia (112); Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (1); Viet Nam (1).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2387722) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2387722&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282058 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Paralabrax maculatofasciatus (Steindachner, 1868) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 183576) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/183576/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2387722) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2387722/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The spotted sand bass has an elongate, compressed body which has a standard length which is 3.0-3.3 times its depth. It has a pointed head with a large mouth. The edges of the preopercle are finely serrated.

The dorsal fin has 10 spines, the third spine being greatly elongated, and 13-14 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7 soft rays. The caudal fin is rounded or concave. The overall colour of the body is tan with many black, brown and orange spots which meld together to create dark, vertical bars along the posterior of the ventral surface.

There is a dark line that runs from the eye to the operculum and there are 6 or 7 dark lines on the flanks. The anal, caudal, and the soft part of the dorsal fins are covered in a dense pattern of spots. The spotted sand bass has a maximum published total length of 67 cm with a maximum weight of 6.0 kg.

Distribution

The spotted sand bass is found in the central eastern Pacific Ocean. It is found in southern California, as far north as Monterey Bay but it is rare north of Santa Monica Bay, south to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico, although historically it was found as far south as Mazatlan.

Habitat and biology

The spotted sand bass is normally found in shallow, warm-water areas in bays and harbours as well as sheltered coastal environments. They show a preference where the habitat has some structure, such as eelgrass, surfgrass or rocks. The spotted sand bass is carnivorous and they feed mainly on crustaceans, bivalves, and small fishes, The spawning season is from May until September.

The females release their eggs into the water column and the pelagic larvae live for around a month before they settle. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. It is a rather secretive species which hunts during the day.

Taxonomy

The spotted sand bass was first formally described as Serranus maculatofasciatus in 1868 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner (1834-1919) with the type locality given as Mazatlan in Sinaloa, Mexico. It is one of the most derived species in the genus Paralabrax and is the sister taxon of the barred sand bass (P. nebulifer).

Utilization

The spotted sand bass is an important quarry species for recreational game fisheries where it is caught in bays and harbors. It is taken as a bycatch in the Gulf of California.

Source: Wikipedia: Spotted sand bass — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_sand_bass (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.