Anisotremus davidsonii
Anisotremus davidsonii
(Sargo)
Marine Fishes
Native Transplant
Collection Info
Point Map
Species Profile
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Peter Bryant © Copyright Info
Anisotremus davidsonii (Steindachner, 1876)
Common name: Sargo
Taxonomy: available through www.itis.govITIS logo

Identification: Miller and Lea (1972); Thomson et al. (1979); Eschmeyer et al. (1983). Also appears as A. davidsoni.
Size: 58 cm.
Native Range: Tropical, marine. The sargo is native to the Pacific Ocean from Santa Cruz, California, to southern Baja California (Eschmeyer et al. 1983).

Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Nonindigenous Occurrences: This species was established in the Salton Sea in California (Walker et al. 1961; Shapovalov et al. 1981), but was extirpated due to changing environmental conditions in the lake sometime betwen 2000-2003 (Riedel 2016). It was introduced into and later extirpated at an unspecified location in New Mexico (Sublette et al. 1990).

Table 1. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Anisotremus davidsonii are found here.

StateFirst ObservedLast ObservedTotal HUCs with observations†HUCs with observations†
CA195119911Salton Sea
NM19901990*

Table last updated 3/28/2025

† Populations may not be currently present.

* HUCs are not listed for states where the observation(s) cannot be approximated to a HUC (e.g. state centroids or Canadian provinces).
Means of Introduction: A total of 65 fish were stocked in the Salton Sea in 1951 by the California Department of Fish and Game (Walker et al. 1961). The means and reason for introduction to New Mexico are unknown.
Status: Extirpated in Californa and New Mexico.
Impact of Introduction: The impacts of this species are currently unknown, as no studies have been done to determine how it has affected ecosystems in the invaded range. The absence of data does not equate to lack of effects. It does, however, mean that research is required to evaluate effects before conclusions can be made.
Remarks: This species feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and bryozoans (Eschmeyer et al. 1983). The population in the Salton Sea was at times very large and represented a major fishery in the lake (Walker et al. 1961; Shapovalov et al. 1981).
References: (click for full references)

Cordone, A.J. - Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. Response to NBS-G non-indigenous questionaire. 1992.

Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald, and H. Hamann. 1983. A field guide to Pacific Coast fishes of North America. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA.

Riedel, R. 2016. Trends of abundance of Salton Sea fish: a reversible collapse or a permanent condition? Natural Resources 7:535-543. https://www.scirp.org/html/2-2000684_71495.htm.

Shapovalov, L., A.J. Cordone, and W.A. Dill. 1981. A list of freshwater and anadromous fishes of California. California Fish and Game 67(1):4-38.

Sublette, J.E., M.D. Hatch, and M. Sublette. 1990. The fishes of New Mexico. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM. 393 pp.

Walker, B.W., R.R. Whitney, and G.W. Barlow. 1961. Fishes of the Salton Sea. Pages 77-92 in B.W. Walker, ed. The ecology of the Salton Sea, California, in relation to the sport fishery of California. Department of Fish and Game Fish Bulletin 113.

Other Resources:
FishBase Summary
Author: Fuller, P., and Neilson, M.
Revision Date: 1/28/2021
Peer Review Date: 5/17/2000

Citation Information:
Fuller, P., and Neilson, M., 2025, Anisotremus davidsonii (Steindachner, 1876): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=724, Revision Date: 1/28/2021, Peer Review Date: 5/17/2000, Access Date: 3/28/2025

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.

Disclaimer:

The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. It is the user's responsibility to use these data consistent with their intended purpose and within stated limitations. We highly recommend reviewing metadata files prior to interpreting these data.

Citation information: U.S. Geological Survey. [2025]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [3/28/2025].

Contact us if you are using data from this site for a publication to make sure the data are being used appropriately and for potential co-authorship if warranted.

For general information and questions about the database, contact Wesley Daniel. For problems and technical issues, contact Matthew Neilson.



Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.



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