Download Angelfish – Family Pomacanthidae Perhaps one of the most popular

Angelfish – Family Pomacanthidae
Perhaps one of the most popular fish found on coral reefs, the angelfish certainly
attract attention. These graceful fish exhibit a multitude of colors including yellow,
blue, purple, green, gold, black and gray. There are over 70 species of angelfish worldwide; however, only seven species are found in the western Atlantic. These include the
blue, queen, gray, French, rock beauty, cherubfish and flameback angelfishes. Most
angelfish have rounded, laterally compressed bodies and large dorsal and anal fins.
While angelfish often appear to be similar in shape to many butterflyfish, angelfish
have a large spine on the preoperculum, the first section of the gill cover. Most angelfish are typically slow swimmers but their large bodies make awkward mouthfuls for
predators. The two small species found in the western Atlantic are the cherubfish and
the flameback angelfish. Neither of these species grows to be more than 3 inches in
length while the other angelfish species grow to an average of 12-18 inches. The average lifespan for most large angelfish is 10 years.
Angelfish inhabit many areas on coral reefs from the top shelf to deeper areas,
sandy bottoms, grassy flats and other habitats associated with the coral reef. There
they feed mainly on sponges, their favorite food. Territories are established on the reef
and mates are defended more often than food sources. Reproduction within the angelfish family varies from mated pairs to sex changing females. Unlike wrasse, some
angelfish species, such as the rock beauty, do not require removal of the terminal male
in order for another large female to change sex to male. The blue, queen and rock
beauty angelfish are believed to undergo sex changes from females to males. These
two species appear to only change after the removal of the dominant male. Gray and
French angelfish remain the same sex throughout their lives and adults often live as
mated pairs over a large territory. Pairs spend most of the day swimming together.
Angelfish reproduction requires more study for definitive answers but general information indicates that most species are pelagic spawners, releasing their gametes into the
water column. The eggs are very small (.02-.03 inches). Most species are believed to
spawn as pairs rather than in groups, although males may spawn successively with
several females.
Blue Angelfish
Holacanthus bermudensis
Size: 8-18 inches
The Blue angelfish is a purplish-green color
that may also appear to have a gray cast.
The tail and pectoral fins are bordered in
yellow. Juvenile blue angels appear quite
similar to juvenile queen angelfish but can
be distinguished by straight blue body bars rather than the curved body bars seen on
the juvenile queen angelfish. The blue and queen angelfish are closely related and
often interbreed, producing a hybrid. Blue angelfish feed largely on sponges. Their
teeth are tightly packed in strong jaws to enable these fish to tear the sponge’s tough
exterior.
Queen Angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
Size: 8-18 inches
The queen angelfish is often considered to be one
of the most beautiful fish seen around coral reefs.
Queen angelfish get their name from the dark
blue “crown” surrounded by bright blue located on
their forehead. Their fins are yellow and their
body is marked with blue, yellow, green and orange. Juvenile queen angelfish look much like
juvenile blue angelfish but identification can be
determined by the curved blue stripes along the
body. The queen angelfish is somewhat more
skittish than other species and often seeks shelter
when approached. Queen angelfish are pelagic
spawners and large females can release up to 75,000 eggs
during each spawning event and up to 10 million eggs in a spawning season. Fertilized
eggs hatch in less than a day and the larvae spend up to one month floating among the
planktonic community. Once they grow to their juvenile stage, they settle along the
bottom of coral reefs where they function as cleaner fish. Although the queen angelfish
is sought after for the pet trade, it is currently not listed as a threatened species.
Rock Beauty
Holacanthus tricolor
Size: 5-12 inches
The rock beauties add a bright splash of color to
many coral reefs in the Caribbean and Gulf of
Mexico. The front half of their body is bright
yellow and the back half is dark black. The tail
and the edges of the pectoral and anal fins are
also bright yellow. Rock beauties are known to
be protogynous hermaphrodites, changing sex from female to male. Harems are
formed and the dominant male mates with several smaller females. Some females
change sex without the removal of the dominant male and are called ‘bachelor” males.
These fish tend to keep a low profile and do not experience much reproductive success.
They do tend to exhibit a growth spurt and their increased size puts them in the position to take control of a harem if given the opportunity. Size is the main factor in
differentiating males from females. Juveniles are not known to participate in cleaning
activities for other fish.
Gray Angelfish
Pomacanthus arcuatus
Size: 10-24 inches
The gray angelfish is probably the least visually appealing of the Caribbean
angelfish. It is uniformly gray all over. The leading edge of the pectoral fin is yellow
and the edge of the tail fin is squared off. The juvenile gray angelfish appears quite
similar to the juvenile French angelfish. Both juveniles are black with yellow stripes,
however identification between the two can be determined by the yellow band on the
forehead of the gray angelfish that extends across the lips and a yellow ring around the
lips. Gray angelfish feed on sponges, coral polyps, invertebrates and algae. They have
four rows of strong, pointed teeth that they use to tear at the sponges tough exterior.
Juveniles function as cleaner fish until they reach approximately 3 inches in length.
Gray angelfish are not believed to undergo any sex change during growth to maturity.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to New York and south to
Brazil.
French Angelfish
Pomacanthus paru
Size: 10-18 inches
The French angelfish is a stately specimen
displaying bold yellow edges of its scales against
a black background. The tail is rounded rather
than square as in the gray angelfish and they
have a bright yellow ring around the eye.
Juveniles can be distinguished from juvenile
gray angelfish by the yellow border surrounding
a black oval on their tail. Like many other
juvenile fish, young French angels function as
cleaner fish. French angelfish also form mated pairs but little is known about their
actual spawning behavior. Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and
Brazil.
Surgeonfish- Family Acanthuridae
There are three species of surgeonfish that inhabit the tropical western Atlantic.
These are the ocean surgeonfish, doctorfish and blue tang. Surgeonfish are aptly
named for their scalpel-like spine at the base of their tail. These spines are used for
defense against predators. When the tail muscles flex, the spine extends outward and
can be slashed at a predator by swinging the tail from side to side. When the muscles
are relaxed, the spine folds forward against the body. All the species of surgeonfish
have a similar body shape. They are thin-bodied (also called laterally compressed) and
oval and all have long dorsal and anal fins that extend to the rear of their body. Their
tails are crescent shaped.
Surgeonfish have small mouths located at the front of their face with small
brush-like teeth that they use to pick algae from reef habitats. They feed throughout
the day and help keep the growth rates of algae and other plant material under control. Blue tangs are specific algae feeders that do not ingest any sediment. These fish
have long intestines and thin-walled stomachs as do most herbivores. Ocean
surgeonfish and doctorfish are more generalized grazers and have a gizzard-like stomach for digesting the quantities of sediment they ingest while feeding.
Ocean Surgeonfish
Acanthurus bahianus
Size: 6-15 inches
The ocean surgeonfish is slightly
less rounded than the blue tang but also
displays a uniform body color. The color
may range from blue to gray or brown
and may pale or darken readily. The
edges of the dorsal, anal and tail fins
may have a blue or white edge. Often
the face has markings radiating from the eye toward the nose. Ocean surgeonfish are
detritus grazers, thus they ingest a lot of sediment. Their intestines and stomachs are
designed to deal with the large volume of sediment. These fish are foragers and often
ingest many small invertebrates as they feed, so they are considered omnivores. They
can often been seen feeding over sandy bottoms along with doctorfish. Peak spawning
season for these fish is between December and March. Although these fish spawn in
the same area as their relatives, there appears to be little hybridization. After spawning, the surgeonfishes’ eggs hatch in about 28 hours. The larvae settle on rock and
coral patches. Larval surgeonfish are believed to utilize chemical clues that aid them
in settling near juvenile communities of their own species. The larval fish are nearly
transparent but are shaped similar to the adults. Surgeonfish mature in about 2 years
and are thought to live about 10 years.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda south to Brazil
Doctorfish
Acanthurus chirurgus
Size 6-12 inches
Doctorfish appear very similar to ocean
surgeonfish but can be distinguished by the presence of body bars. These bars may be quite faint or
dark. Their pectoral fin has a dark edge. Like
other surgeonfish species, these fish may pale or
darken readily. Their spawning cycle and behavior
is similar to the other members of their family.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda south to Brazil, western Africa.
Blue Tang
Acanthurus coeruleus
Size: 5-15 inches
The blue tang is named for its overall blue
color. Its distinctive white spine can be seen at
the base of its tail. The juveniles of this species
are bright yellow overall and as they mature, their
head begins to turn blue followed by the rest of
the body. The tail changes color last. Blue tangs are often found in large schools and
spend much of the day feeding. These fish reproduce mainly in large spawning groups.
However, the populations of Bimini reproduce in pair spawning groups. These pair
spawning fish actively chase any trespassers from their area. After spawning, the
larval fish settle to the bottom on hard reef structures. Blue tangs feed mainly on
algae by scraping it from the reef with their small brush-like teeth. Due to their feeding behavior, they do not ingest the invertebrates that add to the diet of the ocean
surgeonfish and doctorfish.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to New York, Bermuda
south to Brazil.
Butterflyfish- Family Chaetondontidae
Butterflyfish are regularly seen swimming about the coral reef during the day in
pairs or small groups. These brightly colored fish seem to flit about using their pectoral fins much like their winged namesake. There are 120 species of butterflyfish
worldwide but the majority of these reside in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The
Atlantic is home to only 13 species with 7 of these found mainly in the Caribbean.
Butterflyfish have small protruding mouths with tiny teeth that they use to pick
their food from the reef. They have keen eyesight that aids them in finding their food.
Like angelfish, they are laterally compressed with extensive dorsal fins. Butterflyfish
rarely grow to over 10-11 inches in length and many exhibit false eyespots and bold
markings that help protect them from predators. They have strong spines on the
dorsal and anal fins that serve as deterrents to predators. Predators may include
moray eels, snappers, groupers and other larger reef fish.
Butterflyfish appear to remain with a chosen mate for a long time although
distinguishing between the two is nearly impossible. Only during a spawning event
can the female be distinguished by her swollen belly filled with eggs. Very little is
known about their courtship behavior or the precise time at which spawning occurs. It
is thought that females release several hundred to a few thousand eggs depending on
her size. The tiny eggs, once fertilized, hatch in one to two days. The larvae are
unique in that they have several clear, armor-like plates and often serrated spines.
These larvae are so different from other fish larvae that they have been given their
own name, tholichthys. Juvenile butterflyfish tend to be solitary and spend their first
year living among coral formations and mangrove roots.
Spotfin Butterflyfish
Chaetodon ocellatus
Size: 3-8 inches
The spotfin butterflyfish is named for the
tiny black spot on the trailing edge of the dorsal
fin. Juveniles also have this spot in addition to
a black blotch stretching from the base of the
anal fin to the base of the dorsal fin. In adults,
the fins are all yellow and there is a small
black stripe across the face through the eye. This
stripe helps conceal the eye, making it more difficult for predators to see. The rest of their body is silver to white in color. They swim in pairs and
feed on tubeworms, sea anemones and small crustaceans.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico north to Massachusetts, Bermuda
south to Brazil.
Reef Butterflyfish
Chaetodon sedentarius
Size: 3-6 inches
The reef butterflyfish can be distinguished from the other two species by its broad
black blotch on the rear of the body encompassing the rear dorsal and anal fins. The juvenile
reef butterflyfish is similar to the spotfin except
that its rear black blotch is not as extensive as
the spotfins. The reef butterflyfish prefers a
slightly deeper habitat than the other two species, swimming down to depths over 100 feet.
The reef butterflyfish is most at home swimming
about the coral reef structure. Its compact body
structure makes it highly maneuverable. Like other
butterflyfish, they eat tubeworms and small crustaceans.
Range: south Florida, Bahamas, eastern and southern Caribbean,
northern Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda south to Brazil.
Banded Butterflyfish
Chaetodon striatus
Size: 3-6 inches
The banded butterflyfish is aptly named
for its large, black body bars against a white
background. They also have a black stripe that
runs across their face through their eye. Juveniles have a black spot outlined with white on
their rear dorsal fin. Their scientific name also
gives an indication about their physical features. The Latin
word “chaeto” means bristle and “donte” refers to teeth. The word “striatus” describes
their banding pattern. Banded butterflyfish feed on marine worms and sea anemones
found on shallow reefs. They are also known to flock around corals during the annual
spawning event to feed on the released gametes. Like other members of their family,
these fish are often seen swimming in pairs during the day. At night, they find concealed areas within the reef to spend the night. Banded butterflyfish occasionally find
themselves specimens in the pet trade industry; however, keeping them is difficult due
to their specialized diets.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico north to New Jersey, Bermuda
south to Brazil.
Foureye Butterflyfish
Chaetodon capistratus
Size: 3-6 inches
As its name implies, the foureye butterflyfish has a
dramatic eyespot that resembles an additional eye. This
large spot, ringed with white is located on the rear of the body
near the tail fin. This fish is silver-gray in color with tiny dark lines
radiating diagonally from the middle of its body. Helping to camouflage the eye, is a
dark band running across its face. As with many other butterflyfish, the foureye is
often seen in pairs swimming busily along the reef.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and north to Massachusetts.
Longsnout Butterflyfish
Chaetodon aculeatus
Size: 2-3 inches
This tiny butterflyfish has a long, pointed snout and a yellowish body. This shy species is generally solitary and inhabits the
deeper reef areas.
Range: South Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and
Bermuda.
Leatherjackets - Family Balistidae
Triggerfish and filefish were once grouped into the same family and are often
referred together as the “leatherjackets.” This common name is given due to the texture of their skin. They have very small scales and tough skin. Triggerfish are laterally compressed with deep bodies. They have large eyes set high on their head. They
have two dorsal fins and the front fin has three large spines associated with it. The
spines are not always visible as they can be folded back along a groove in the body.
The first dorsal spine can be locked into place using a second spine called the trigger.
When the trigger spine is depressed, the larger spine is released. This trigger mechanism allows the fish to lock itself into place in a rock crevice for protection against
predators.
Several members of this family produce sound by grinding their teeth or vibrating their swim bladders. Triggerfish and filefish can also rotate their eyes independently, similar to a seahorse. Their teeth are few in number but strong enough to
crush hard-shelled food items. Some triggerfish practice an interesting method of
finding food, they blow jets of water out of their mouths to help uncover buried prey.
Their preferred food items consist of bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks, worms and sponges that they crush with their strong jaws but some
species feed on plankton or algae.
Triggerfish prepare nests on the bottom by blowing jets of water to create a
depression. The eggs are then laid in the nest and often both adults patrol the area
keeping watch over the nest.
Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
Size: 5 -12 inches
The gray triggerfish varies in
color from light gray to yellowish
brown. They often have white spots
on the body and fins. Their distinguishing feature is the presence of
blue spots and line markings on the
upper body and the dorsal and caudal fins.
They tend to be somewhat solitary but are occasionally seen in small groups. Swimming slightly offshore, they feed on
plankton in the water column.
Range: Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda north to Nova Scotia and south to Argentina.
Queen Triggerfish
Balistes vetula
Size: 8-24 inches
The queen triggerfish is easy to
identify by its bold blue marking on the
face and small dark lines that radiate
outward from the eye. The tips of their
dorsal and anal fins are long and thin.
Their overall color varies from purple and
blue to olive green or yellowish. Juvenile
queen triggerfish are silver gray on their upper body
and yellow below. This species seems to be especially fond of sea
urchins and will blow jets of water at them to turn them upside down. They then feed
on the soft underside away from the sharp spines.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico north to Massachusetts, Bermuda
south to Brazil and the eastern Atlantic.
Ocean Triggerfish
Canthidermis sufflamen
Size: 10-24 inches
The ocean triggerfish is a rather pale individual compared to other triggerfish
species. Its distinguishing feature is a dark spot at the base of their pectoral fin. This
species of triggerfish is often found in open water areas. It feeds on plankton that it
collects in the water column. Ocean triggerfish lay their eggs in a depressed sand
patch and remain in the area to protect their nest.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico north to Massachusetts, Bermuda
south to Brazil.
Black Durgon
Melichthys niger
Size: 6-16 inches
Black durgons are striking fish with a
dark black body and light blue lines along the
base of their dorsal and anal fins. They can pale
or darken their color depending upon their surroundings. Black durgons swim in small groups in
the open water above coral reefs. They also have a
large spine that can be locked into place. The spine often
makes it quite difficult for a predator to make a meal of this fish.
Black durgons are omnivores and feed on plankton, fish eggs, invertebrates and algae.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, northwestern Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda south to
Brazil.
Family Monacanthidae
Filefish also have two dorsal fins with spines on the first fin. However, filefish
lack the trigger spine and cannot lock their first spine into place. Filefish teeth are
smaller than those of triggerfish and are more adapted to eating algae and small
invertebrates. Filefish lay eggs on the bottom, often deposited on a bed of algae.
Unlike many other fish species, some species of female filefish tend to the nest and
protect it from predators. Other species simply deposit their eggs and leave them to
hatch unattended.
Scrawled Filefish
Aluterus scriptus
Size: 1-3 feet
The scrawled filefish is
named for the irregular bluegreen lines and green and black
spots along its body. Their background
color is typically olive to pale gray and they can darken their
colors dramatically. Their tail has been described as broom-like referring to its
elongated appearance. Filefish skin is very rough in texture. They feed on sponges,
sea whips and soft bodied invertebrates. The scrawled filefish can occasionally be seen
drifting with its head down to confuse both predators and prey.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts,
Bermuda south to Brazil.
Whitespotted Filefish
Cantherhines macrocerus
Size: 10-18 inches
The whitespotted filefish has two color phases.
One displays a large number of large white spots
and the other only a large blotch of white. They
are typically gray to olive or orange in color. A
key feature to look for when trying to identify
this species is its extended belly area and two
orange spines at the base of the tail fin. Males tend
to have larger spines than females. The whitespotted
filefish is often seen in pairs swimming about the reef
tops. There are opposing thoughts as to the reason for the
name filefish. Some argue that it is due to their skin texture
while others argue that the name refers to the file-like dorsal fin. Whitespotted filefish
feed on sponges, algae and soft bodied invertebrates.
Range: South Florida, northwestern and eastern Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda
south to Brazil.
Orangespotted Filefish
Cantherhines pullus
Size: 4-8 inches
The orangespotted filefish is
dark brown with small yellow stripes
on the sides of the body running
toward the tail. They have a white
spot on the upper area of the tail.
Orangespotted filefish may also have
small orange spots scattered over their
body. This species of filefish tends to stay
close to cover and will duck into holes or crevices if approached. Juvenile filefish along with many
other juvenile fish make up a large part of the diet of larger predatory fish such as
tuna. Orangespotted filefish feed mainly on sponges and algae.
Range: Caribbean, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda south
to Brazil.
Jacks – Family Carangidae
There are approximately 140 species in the jack family including the moonfish,
amberjacks, pompanos, runners and jacks. Many species exhibit a fusiform or streamlined body structure and are strong swimmers capable of fast speeds. Their propulsion
comes from flexing only the rear portion of the body and the stiff tail. This type of
swimming is called carangiform locomotion. Other members are highly compressed
and highly maneuverable. Their caudal fin is highly forked and the caudal peduncle
(area just prior to the caudal fin) is narrow.
Most jacks live in the marine environment but some may venture into brackish
waters. These fish are typically silvery with darker backs and large eyes. Jacks have
two dorsal fins with the latter extending toward the tail. The larger jacks such as the
crevalle, horse-eye and bar jacks live a pelagic existence while smaller ones such as
permits and lookdowns are found closer to shore or reef areas. Large schools of jacks
could be considered to be the bullies of the reef. They cause widespread panic and
chaos when they speed in to feed on smaller schools of fish. Not all jacks are fish
eaters; some are plankton eaters and others feed on bottom-dwelling mollusks and
crustaceans. The juveniles of most species feed on zooplankton.
Blue Runner
Caranx crysos
Size: 1-2 ½ feet
The blue runner is nearly entirely
silver with two small dark areas on the
tips of its caudal fin. Males may become
darker during the spawning season. Blue runners often travel in large schools in
offshore waters. They are plankton feeders that pass over the reef in search of the tiny
organisms that live in the water column. The blue runner is also known as the hardtailed jack.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, coastal Venezuela, Gulf of Mexico, north to Nova Scotia,
Bermuda, south to Brazil and eastern Atlantic.
Crevalle Jack
Caranx hippos
1-3 ½ feet
The crevalle jack is a large
robust fish with a blunt head. Its
body is silver and there is a black
spot on the pectoral fin that helps to
distinguish it from the horse-eye jack.
Crevalle jack feed mainly at night
although they may associate with their
preferred prey during the day. As the
evening approaches, jacks begin to hunt
grunts, scads and other fish. Some use stealth to ambush their prey, utilizing the
cover of corals or other structure to hide behind before attacking.
Range: Florida, rare Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Nova Scotia and
south to Uruguay.
Horse-eye Jack
Caranx latus
Size: 1-2 ½ feet
The horse-eye jack is very
similar in appearance to the
crevalle jack but can be distinguished on close inspection by
its yellow caudal fin and by the
lack of a dark spot on its pectoral fin. The tips of the dorsal
fins may be dark. They swim in large schools often mixing with crevalle jack. Due to
its large size eye, the horse-eye jack is also known as the big-eye jack.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to New Jersey, Bermuda,
south to Brazil.
Bar Jack
Caranx ruber
Size: 8-24 inches
The bar jack can be identified by
a bright blue and black stripe that
extends along its back just below the
dorsal fin to the lower tail fin. Their
body color is silver but they have the
ability to darken nearly to black. Bar jacks are opportunistic predators that feed on
smaller fish and crustaceans. They are occasionally seen shadow feeding with goatfish
or stingrays. Large hunting parties of jacks have been known to cause pandemonium
when swimming in to feed on other smaller schools of fish. The bar jack is also known
as the skip jack.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to New Jersey, Bermuda,
south to Brazil.
Lookdown
Selene vomer
Size: 6-12 inches
The lookdown gets its name from its
facial appearance. Its head is steeply sloped,
giving it the appearance of looking down. It is
also highly compressed and its body is so thin
that it virtually disappears when looking at the
fish head-on.
Range: Florida, rare Bahamas, Caribbean, north to Maine,
south to Uruguay and eastern Atlantic.
Florida Pompano
Trachinotus carolinus
Size: 1-2 feet
The pompano is silvery to greenish gray in color. Its mouth is quite small and
the slope of its head is not quite as steep as the permit. They also tend to be much
smaller than permits, rarely growing over 6 pounds. Pompano feed on mollusks and
other invertebrates.
Range: western Atlantic from Massachusetts, Gulf of Mexico, Central and South
American coasts, scattered localities in West Indies, south to Brazil, rare Bahamas.
Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
Size 1-3 ½ feet
The permit is a bright silver fish
with a high, rounded back. They also
have a slightly orange colored spot at the
base of the anal fin. They are difficult to
distinguish from the Florida pompano
although their body profile is higher.
Permits are often seen over sandy areas
where they find snails, conches, whelks
and sea slugs to eat. They may also feed on sea urchins or crustaceans. Permits have
large lips and strong jaws that indicate their preference for mollusks. Their jaws crush
the shells; they then expel some of the shell through the gills and the rest is ingested.
Unlike other members of its family, the permit is more solitary.
Range: uncommon Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda, south to Brazil.
Grunts- Family Haemulidae
The grunt family comprises approximately 150 species of fish. Their common
name is reflective of the unusual “grunting” sound they produce by grinding their
throat teeth. The sound is amplified by their swim bladder. All grunts have a continuous dorsal fin across their back and generally medium to small mouths. Grunts appear
similar to snappers, but they lack the canine teeth found in snappers. Most grunts are
nocturnal scavengers that cruise the sand flats, grass beds or reefs for crustaceans.
Most grunts average between 12 and 18 inches in length although the margates grow a
bit larger. Grunts are pelagic spawners that release their gametes into the water
column. Adult grunts can be identified by careful study of their color, stripes and tail
markings although identification of the juveniles is quite difficult. There are no key
features to identify males and females.
Black Margate
Anisotremus surinamensis
Size: 1-2 feet
The black margate has a dark black patch on the side of its body just behind its
pectoral fin. Their overall color is silvery gray and their scales have dark centers.
Their fins are dark. The black margate feeds at night on crustaceans, mollusks,
smaller fish and the long-spined urchin. They can often be seen hanging out under
ledges or in crevices.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, south to Brazil.
Tomtate
Haemulon aurolineatum
Size: 5-10 inches
The tomtate has two yellow stripes
along its body running from its snout to the
tail. It also typically has a dark black spot
at the base of its tail, although this spot
may not always be present. Their body
color is silvery white or tan. Tomtates may form schools containing hundreds of specimens and will often school with other grunt species. The tomtate feeds mainly on
shrimps, shrimp larvae, hermit crabs, snails and mollusks.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda, south to Brazil.
Spanish Grunt
Haemulon mocrostomum
Size: 10-17 inches
The Spanish grunt has several bold
black stripes that run across its body from
its snout to tail. The area just below the
dorsal fin is often yellowish-green and there
is a yellow blotch on the upper caudal
peduncle. The pectoral fin is also yellow.
Spanish grunts feed mainly on sea urchins
although they will eat snails, crabs, sea stars
and small fish. They are nocturnal predators and spend the day hiding in reefs, wrecks
or other structures.
Range: Florida Keys, Bahamas, occasional Caribbean.
Cottonwick
Haemulon melanurum
Size: 7-13 inches
The cottonwick can be identified by a
bold black stripe on its dorsal fin that
continues down to the tail to form a “V”
shape. They also have a black stripe on
the snout that runs across the eye. Their
body is silvery white with several pale
yellow stripes. Cottonwicks feed mainly
on crustaceans.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean,
northwestern Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, south to Brazil
Squirrelfish and Soldierfish- Family Holocentridae
About the time many reef fish are seeking shelter for the night, the squirrelfish
begin to move about the reef. These members of the night shift are mainly red, a color
that provides them with camouflage in the water. At relatively shallow depths, the
red color is filtered out, making them appear gray. There are approximately 30 members of this fish family.
Squirrelfish get their name from their large eyes and the high rear dorsal fin
that sticks up resembling a squirrel’s tail. One of the most interesting characteristics
of this family is their ability to produce sound. They make clicking and grunting
noises when interacting with other fish. The sounds are produced by the swim bladder
and associated muscles. Fish produce sound for a variety of reasons. Sound is
produced in response to threats by predators, mate attraction or coordination of mating or threats to competitors.
Most squirrelfish spend their days hiding out in holes, caves or crevices in the
coral reef. As night falls, they leave their homes in search of food. Squirrelfish feed
mainly on small crustaceans and other invertebrates, but some eat smaller fish.
Soldierfish are easily distinguished from their familial counterparts by their
larger eyes, blunt snout, and upturned mouth. These fish feed mainly on nocturnal
zooplankton including the larvae of crabs. Their eyes are sensitive and function in dim
lighting. Their short snout aids them in focusing both eyes in front of them, increasing
their depth perception and aiding in prey capture. Soldierfish may also change color
slightly at night when their belly and sides become silvery.
Squirrelfish
Holocentrus adscensionis
Size: 6-16 inches
This large eyed fish has a yellowish
front dorsal fin and light silvery stripes or
white patches on its reddish body. It is the
largest of the squirrelfish species and can be
found hanging out in shaded areas of the reef by day and
hunting by night. This species feeds mainly on crabs and some shrimps. It inhabits
shallow, patchy reefs and reef flats often in groups
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, northwestern Gulf of Mexico, north to North
Carolina, Bermuda south to Brazil.
Longspine Squirrelfish
Holocentrus rufus
Size: 5-12 inches
The longspine squirrelfish is named for the white tips of its dorsal fin spines. It
has a very elongated rear dorsal fin and upper tail lobe. Like the squirrelfish, this
species eats crabs and shrimps. The peak times for sound production for this species is
at dawn and dusk. It is more solitary than other species.
It also inhabits shallow reefs occasionally in groups
Range: South Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, northwestern Gulf of Mexico and
Bermuda
Blackbar Soldierfish
Myripristis jacobus
Size: 3-8 inches
The blackbar soldierfish is easily
identified by its black bar behind the head
along the area of the pectoral fin. It is bright
red and the dorsal fin is red with white tips.
The other fins have a small white edge along
their length. These fish are most active between
5:30 PM and 7:00 AM. It is a common fish in the pet trade industry. The blackbar
soldierfish is the only member of its genus to inhabit the Atlantic Ocean.
The soldierfish is quite secretive during the day and hides in dark crevices, under piers
or other structures.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to North Carolina, Bermuda south to Brazil and eastern Atlantic.
Wrasses - Family: Labridae
The family Labridae contains at least 500 species of fish including wrasses,
hogfish and razorfish. All are brightly colored fishes that typically inhabit tropical and
temperate reefs. Wrasses vary in size from the 3 inch dwarf wrasse to the giant Napoleon wrasse that can grow to 6 feet. Within the wrasse community, size means everything. Most can be described as cigar shape; however, the hogfish are larger and get
their name from their long snout used to root for food. Many are known for their
“cleaning” behavior, or their ability to pick parasites off of other species of
fish. Wrasses also feed by eating plankton out of the water column or
capturing prey with their stout teeth. Some large wrasses grab prey such
as crabs or sea urchins and bang them against rocks to remove body parts
they can eat. Wrasses are often the most energetic fish on the reef, constantly darting about in search of food or mates. They use their pectoral
fins as their means of propulsion. They feed on invertebrates such as crabs,
shrimps, brittle starfish and other planktonic organisms. Wrasses tend to
have prominent canine teeth that often give them a “buck-toothed” appearance. Most wrasses are active during the day and rest at night tucked into
reef crevices. These fish typically have large scales and swim with their
pectoral fins.
Wrasses can also go through several color phases throughout their
lives that reflect changes in gender, status in the reef community and
maturity. The color phases are called juvenile, initial and terminal.
Some species even add an intermediate phase. Initial phase fish are
either sexually mature females or immature and mature males. Terminal phase fish are sexually mature males. These terminal phase males
are often the most dramatically colored fish in the group. Not only do their
bright colors attract females but predators as well. For this reason, terminal males
utilize the many hiding places found within the coral reef.
While the majority of fish are either male or female as juveniles and remain
fixed throughout life, some fish have the ability to change gender. Some of the gender
changing species include wrasses, parrotfish, gobies, angelfish and some damselfish.
The fish who adjust their gender do it in one of two ways: they are either simultaneous
hermaphrodites functioning as male and female at the same time or sequential hermaphrodites, functioning as first one gender then the other. If they begin life as a
male then change to a female they are called protandrous fish. The alternative cycle of
female first then changing to male means they are protogynous. Several variations of
gender switching occur but the most common form of hermaphrodites are those that
are protogynous If there are environmental or social changes, some wrasses, most
notably the bluehead wrasse, have the ability to change from females to males. These
fish begin life as yellow females or similarly colored males. This coloration is called
initial phase coloration. These fish can then change to large, mature males. At this
stage they are said to be in terminal coloration.
These sex-changed males are known as secondary males. Primary males are the few fish
actually born male, but they too may develop
into terminal phase males. Some species of
wrasse, such as the Spanish hogfish, remain
one color throughout their life.
Why fish change gender and when is a
topic studied by many scientists. Many believe
that gender changing is influenced by the
reproductive success of males versus females in
certain populations or by environmental
stimuli. There is a hormone secreted from the
brain that allows these fish to develop male sex organs and become what are known as
“supermales.” Occasionally, the social situation of the group will lead to a gender
change. Should the resident terminal male meet an untimely demise on the reef, the
largest female will change sex to take the place of the terminal male.
Wrasses are broadcast spawners, meaning their eggs and sperm are secreted
into the water where fertilization takes place. Terminal males are kept busy not only
by the act of spawning but also by having to defend their harem against young males.
These young “sneaker” males wait until the terminal male is occupied then sneak in to
mate with available females. These young males are considered initial phase males as
they have the same coloration as females. Other young males are called “streakers” as
they wait until the terminal male is engaged in a spawning rise with a female then
streak in and deposit their own sperm in the midst of the spawning act. Should the
terminal male detect the imposters, he will aggressively chase them from the area.
Once the eggs are fertilized, the larvae remain adrift in the ocean for up to one
month. Upon settling in on a reef, the larvae may burrow into the sand as they grow
into juveniles. As juveniles, many wrasses and hogfish set up stations for other reef
fish to visit and get rid of their bothersome parasites. While parasites aren’t the only
food these fish will eat, they do make a significant impact on the reef community. This
symbiotic behavior allows them to live in harmony with much larger, potentially dangerous fish such as eels and groupers.
Other wrasses, such as puddingwife and slippery dicks will burrow in the substrate to hide from predators. This often makes it difficult for aquarists that keep
wrasses in fish tanks to find their fish each day.
Spotfin Hogfish
Bodianus pulchellus
Size: 4 ½ – 9 inches
The spotfin hogfish has three distinct
color phases. As a juvenile it is bright yellow
with a black blotch on the front of the dorsal fin. In
its intermediate color phase it has a bright yellow tail but the front part of the body
changes to a dark maroon or black with a white stripe running along the body across
the pectoral fin. The adult color is similar to the intermediate but the dark maroon
changes to a lighter red. Like other juveniles in the wrasse family, the spotfin hogfish
juvenile serves as a cleaner fish and may often be seen swimming with bluehead
wrasses.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, northwestern Gulf of Mexico, Brazil but are rare in the
Caribbean.
Spanish Hogfish
Bodianus rufus
Size: 8 inches – 2 feet
Unlike some of its wrasse family relatives,
the Spanish hogfish can be identified by the purple
coloration of the upper body area and the yellow
belly and tail seen throughout all life stages.
Larger adults may become mottled purple and
yellow. These fish are diurnal and can often be seen
swimming about the reef. Juveniles function as cleaner
fish and remove parasites and debris from larger specimens.
When the fish becomes sexually mature, they switch to a diet of invertebrates including starfish, sea urchins and snails. Spanish hogfish have large incisors used to capture and crush their prey.
Range: South Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda south to Brazil.
Hogfish
Lachnolaimus maximus
Size: 1-3 feet
Hogfish are the largest wrasses
found in the Gulf of Mexico region. All
hogfish begin life as females with some fish
changing to mature males. The hogfish is easily distinguishable by its sloped forehead and long
snout. The dorsal fin has three long spines that the fish
extends toward females during courtship. Hogfish vary in color from white to mottled
reddish brown while some have a dark snout and a dark bar across the tail fin. A dark
blotch can be seen at the rear base of the dorsal fin although in large adults, this blotch
may be quite faded. Hogfish search for food along the bottom and use their long snout
to dig through the bottom material. They have powerful jaws to crush snails, clams and
crabs.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and north to North
Carolina
Slippery Dick
Halichoeres bivittatus
Size: 5 ½ -9 inches
Slippery dicks are opportunistic
hunters and patrol the bottom in search of
brittle stars, crabs or shrimps. The
slippery dick progresses through a variety
of color changes as it matures; however, the
distinctive feature seen in each phase is a
small green and yellow spot just above the pectoral
fin and a darkish mid-body stripe. The juvenile is typically white and the mid-body
stripe is quite evident. The intermediate juvenile phase shows a darkening of the body
and a dark blotch on the mid-dorsal fin. As the fish progresses into its initial phase the
colors and markings may vary greatly from greenish-yellow to shade of brown. The
terminal phase is quite colorful with many shades of green and colored triangular
markings on the corners of the tail fin. The terminal colors are brightest only during
courtship and spawning; otherwise, the color is faded and can be difficult to distinguish
from a female. Not only does their color change as they mature, it also changes with
regard to their habitat. These fish are very active and seem to prefer sandy or grassy
areas along the reef.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda south to Brazil and
north to North Carolina
Puddingwife
Halichoeres radiatus
Size 12-18 inches
The puddingwife display
three distinct color phases. As a
juvenile it has two yellow stripes
down the mid-body with a white
stripe separating the two. A
dark spot may be seen on the mid-back and dorsal fin. The initial phase color is bluish-green with five white bars across the upper back. Upon reaching the terminal
phase, the body is nearly bluish-green throughout with a white bar through the midbody just past the pectoral fin and a yellow margin on the tail. The puddingwife tends
to be more wary of intruders than other wrasse species such as the hogfish. Its preferred habitats are reefs and rock structures to depths over 100 feet. The puddingwife
feeds on mollusks, sea urchins, crabs and brittle starfish.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda south to Brazil and
north to North Carolina
Bluehead Wrasse
Thalassoma bifasciatum
Size: 4-6 inches
Bluehead wrasses are quite commonly seen around reefs. Large schools of initial
phase fish actively hunt over the substrate for the eggs of other species. They also feed
on plankton in the currents. Blueheads are protogynous hermaphrodites and change
sex from female to male. A fish may begin life as an egg-producing female or ordinary
male, for instance, but when exposed to the right stimuli it can rapidly transform itself
into a sperm-producing, sexually aggressive supermale. Distinguishing between the
juvenile and the initial phase bluehead wrasse can be quite difficult as the colors vary
greatly. One feature to look for that can be seen throughout is a dark blotch on the
front of the dorsal fin that begins just behind the first dorsal fin ray. The terminal
phase of this species is easy to spot by its blue head and two dark bands separated by a
white bar. The rear section of the body is greenish blue. If the large terminal phase
male should disappear from the school, the largest initial phase fish begins to change
color to take up its position as the new terminal phase male. Recently sex-changed fish
tend to grow up to 50% faster than other fish in the group. This helps them quickly
take up the position of terminal male. The larger the size of the school, the more initial phase males participate in spawning simply because there are too many fish for
the terminal phase male to maintain breeding control over.
Initial female
Terminal
male
Surprisingly, female bluehead wrasses seem to prefer spawning site over spawning partner and will return to the same spawning site over and over. These busy little
fish lead an interesting life even if for a short time. Their average lifespan is only
three years. Range: Caribbean, south Florida, Bahamas, southern Gulf of Mexico and
Bermuda.
Snappers- Family Lutjanidae
Snappers are named for their snapping jaw behavior when this fish is hooked.
They are typically one to two feet in length with elongated bodies. They have one
dorsal fin and a slightly upturned mouth with large teeth. Snappers tend to be nocturnal predators and they feed on crustaceans and small fish. Snappers are also known to
hang around spawning sites and feast on gametes released from several fish species.
Both yellowtail snappers and schoolmasters swim in schools. Identification of all
snapper species may be difficult as many are quite similar and some species may
spawn with other species, forming hybrids. Snappers are popular food fish for humans
and several species are raised in aquaculture facilities.
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus
Size: 1-2 ½ feet
The yellowtail snapper is easily distinguishable from other snappers by the
presence of its bright yellow body stripe and tail. It is quite similar in appearance to
the yellow goatfish however it does not have chin barbels. Yellowtail snapper are
known to feed in groups with bar jacks and porgies and will often follow goatfish in
order to capture the escapees the goatfish have stirred up. Their typical diets include
small fish, crustaceans, worms and squid. Yellowtail snappers reach sexual maturity at
a length of 10-12 inches and typically live between 6 and 14 years. Spawning of this
snapper species occurs year round and its eggs are released into the water where they
hatch within 24 hours.
Range: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda south to Brazil.
Schoolmaster
Lutjanus apodus
Size: 10-24 inches
The schoolmaster has a steeply sloping
forehead with two large nostrils on each side
of its face. All of its fins are yellow and its
body is silver or copper colored. Schoolmasters
reside in a variety of habitats including tidal
areas, mangrove creeks, sea grass beds and coral
reefs. They feed at night on a variety of fishes including wrasses, trumpetfish, damselfish and small invertebrates.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, abundant in Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda and south to Brazil and eastern Atlantic.
Goatfishes – Family Mullidae
The goatfish have an elongated body, two separate dorsal fins and a forked tail.
The goatfish can be easily distinguished from other reef fish by the presence of two
barbels located just under the chin of these fish. These barbels contain many taste
cells and are used to scour around in the sand for hidden invertebrates. Goatfish are
also known to just shove their snout into the sediment and rummage around for food.
Their mouths are small and they do not have teeth to chew their food so most of it is
swallowed whole. Goatfish feed along the edge of the coral reef in the soft bottom
substrate. As they dig through the substrate, they stir up a cloud of particles that
attracts many other predators looking for an easy meal. Several species of fish such as
wrasses, porgies and snappers swim along with these aquatic excavators waiting to see
what they dig up. Goatfish ingest mouthfuls of sand along with their prey and are
able to sort out the inedible material and eject
it through their gills.
Yellow Goatfish
Mulloidichthys martinicus
Size: 6-15 ½ inches
The yellow goatfish could be thought of as a
mimic of the yellowtail snapper as it sports the
bright yellow stripe and yellow tail seen on the
snapper. The goatfish however, is distinguishable
by its two chin barbels used to excavate food. Yellow
goatfish may be seen in schools or in groups of mixed species.
When these fish are not feeding, they tend to be seen hovering near the reef structure.
Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and south to Brazil.
Spotted Goatfish
Pseudupeneus maculates
Size: 5-11 inches
The spotted goatfish is named for the row
of three dark spots on the side of its body. These
spots are not always apparent however, as the
fish changes to a mottled reddish brown when at
rest. This change in body color occurs rapidly
when the fish settles down to rest. They also
have two barbels located just under the tip of
their chin that are used to dig in sand or other
substrate in search of food. Range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico,
north to Massachusetts, Bermuda and south to Brazil.