garibaldi

The garibaldi is a stocky damselfish, growing to around 30 cm, with a brilliant orange body that makes it unmistakable in kelp forests and rocky reefs of the eastern Pacific. It is highly territorial and aggressive despite its small size, vigorously defending its patch of reef against intruders—including divers—by charging and nipping. These fish are endemic to cooler waters from central California to Baja California, typically encountered between 5 and 25 metres depth among giant kelp and rocky outcrops.