Kelp greenling
The kelp greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Hexagrammidae, the greenlings. It occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean Species description and etymology The kelp greenling was first formally described in 1810 as Labrax decagrammus by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas with its type locality given as Cape St. Elias in Alaska. The specific name, decagrammus, means "ten lines" refers to the 5 lateral line canals on each flank, giving a total of 10. Description Kelp greenlings 21 or 22 spines in their first dorsal fin and 24 soft rays in their second dorsal fin while the anal fin contains a single spine and 23 or 24 soft rays. The males are gray to brownish olive in color, dotted with irregular blue spots over the anterior half to two-thirds of their body. Each of these spots has a ring of small rusty spots around it. The females are also gray to brownish in color but they are marked all over with rust colored or golden spots. They have yellowish orange fins. In both males and females the inside of the oral cavity is yellowish and there is frequently and eye-like spot, an