Results tagged “fish” from Iguana Research in the Bahamas

Squirrelfish are found from North Carolina to East and West Florida. They are also found in Bermuda, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, West Indies and the Caribbean south to Brazil. They are dull red or pinkish in color and are sometimes blotched. They are spiny and most have a clear dorsal fin with yellow. They can reach up to about 12 inches in length. These fish are nocturnal and hide in coral during the day. At night, they swim over sand and grass beds looking for food. Their diet consists of mostly crabs but they also eat other crustaceans. This species is capable of producing sounds.

• MarineBio.org. "Species: Holocentrus adscensionis Squirrelfish."
• http://www.marinebio.com/species.asp?id=42
• FishBase.org. "Species Summary: Holocentrus adscensionis Squirrelfish."
• http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=1061

With a long, narrow jaw and an elongated body, the common name "Needlefish" fits very well. They also have an abundance of very sharp teeth. They tend to inhabit marine environments in the tropics, but also can be found in temperate waters and have even adapted to freshwater and brackish environments.

For the most part, needlefish stay in shallow waters; otherwise they stay near the surface. Getting up to 40cm in length, they feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and plankton. When hunting, they catch their prey using a sideways sweep of their head. Freshwater needlefish may also find insects, tadpoles and frogs as their popular prey.

• Andrews University. "Organisms / Vertebrates / Atlantic Needlefish."
• http://www.biol.andrews.edu/everglades/organisms/Vertebrates/Fish/Atlantic%20Needlefish/atlantic_needlefish_index.html
• FishBase. "Species Summary: Strongylura marina Atlantic needlefish.
• http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=974
  

The Balistes vetula is distinguished by its two blue face lines, dorsal and tail fin streamers, and eyelash coloring around the eyes. It ranges in size from 8 to 24 inches. The Queen triggerfish navigates reef tops, coral rubble, and grass beds by swimming with its dorsal and anal fins. It is mainly found in tropical climates in the Eastern and Western Atlantic.
The Queen triggerfish can also be recognized by the behavior common to its family of extending out and locking its spine. It is a shy fish and when frightened or hiding from predators the fish can hide in rocks and lock its stout head spine upright against the rock. The Queen triggerfish feeds on a variety of invertebrates, mainly benthic, like sea urchins, clams, and crabs. It can puff water at sea urchins to flip them over and make the unprotected underbelly vulnerable. The eyes of the Queen triggerfish are also set farther back so as to protect it while finding food, like the sea urchin.

• California State University, Long Beach. "Species: Queen Triggerfish."
• http://www.csulb.edu/
  
• Fishbase. "Balistes vetula: Queen Triggerfish."
• http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=19
  
• Pamper, Keith. 2008. Personal Interaction. HSMB Pre-trip Classes.

The Spanish Hogfish, or Bodianus Rufus, can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Brazil. They belong to the Wrasse family. They grow to a maximum of 10 inches. The fish has a vibrant yellow color with purple coloring at the top. They live in rocky or coral reefs. They are known to swim in pacts. The juvenile Hogfish helps to rid other fish of parasites by eating them. Over, as they become adults the Spanish Hogfish begin to eat crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins and other invertebrates. The Hogfish is able to hyperextend its jaw in order to open its mouth much larger than normal. It can grow to a maximum of 8-10 inches.

• Fishbase. "Bodianus rufus: Spanish hogfish" Fishbase.org.
• http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=1067
  
• Sea World. "Animal Bytes: Spanish Hogfish."
• http://www.seaworld.org/wild-world/safari/virtual-aquarium/spanish-hogfish.htm

The Nurse Shark is a sea creature found most common in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans. The nurse shark is nocturnal, which means it comes out at night and sleeps in caves in shallow waters during the day. Nurse sharks travel in packs of 40 very close together. The nurse shark typically feeds on fish, stingrays, and molluscs. There are no species that prey on the Nurse shark. Nurse Sharks are mainly non aggressive.

• Guarracino, Mario. "Biological Profile: Nurse Shark." Florida Museum of Natural History.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/nurseshark/nurseshark.htm

The Foureye Butterflyfish gets its name from its unique false eyespots, dark black spots towards the rear end of the fish. These spots help to confuse predators into thinking that the rear of the fish is actually the front. The butterflyfish's real eyes are concealed by a dark, vertical bar, which can further mislead a predator. This fish can range from at least three inches up to about six inches in size, and its thin and oval shape helps it to move easily in the water through the flitting and beating of its delicate fins.

The foureye butterflyfish is almost always grazing on small invertebrates in small crevices and cracks in the reef using its small, specialized mouth. It is active during the day, and, at night, it shelters itself in the reef to keep out of the reach of predators.

The foureye butterflyfish is found primarily in the western areas of the Atlantic Ocean. It typically lives in shallower waters of these subtropical regions

• Patton, Casey. "Biological Profiles: Four-eye Butterflyfish." Florida Museum of Natural History.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/ButterflyFour/ButterflyFour.htm
  
• Wu, Qing Quig. "Species: Chaetodon capistratus foureye butterflyfish." University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web.
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chaetodon_capistratus.html

Vibrantly colored, these beautiful creatures in their adult stage are blue with yellow and green and live around coral reefs in the ocean. They tend to sleep in open spaces among the reefs to more easily escape from predators. In their initial state their colors are black with a full red underside. As juveniles have three bars of white scales along their black bodies. As adults they can reach up to 22 inches in length. They feed on coral and algae since they have beaks so if one hears a chomping noise while snorkeling, it is most likely some sort of parrotfish chewing on the corals.. As for reproduction these creatures can go through sex changes throughout their lives.

• Bester, Cathleen. "Biological Profiles: Stoplight Parrotfish." Florida Museum of Natural History.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/Sparrotfish/SParrotfish.html
  
• Leonard, Jared. "Marine Ecology Articles: Stoplight Parrotfish." Miami University (Ohio): Hays Cumins' Home Page.
• http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses03/PapersMarineEcologyArticles/StoplightParrotfish.html

Most Blennies reach the size of around 7 inches. These fish are closely related to the Gobi's. Blennies are usually recognized by the eye lashes that go over their eyes and nostrils. They are bottom dwellers and are usually near coral reefs and rocky areas. They are found in tropical and temperate waters around the world. Blennies spend most of their time grazing on micro algae and small crustaceans. There are no distinguishing facts present to help identify males from females, although the females are usually bigger than the males.

• Animal Planet. 2008. "Fish Guide: Blennies."
• http://animal.discovery.com/guides/fish/marine/blennintro.html

The yellow stingray is a member of the Urolophidea. This ray can be found in Atlantic coastal waters from North Carolina to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. It is typically found in shallow water in sandy and muddy habitats, often buried in the bottom. The yellow stingray is characterized by a round body. It has a well developed caudal fin that extends around the tip of its tail. The tail spine is located just anterior or underneath the caudal fin.

• Florida Museum of natural History. "Biological Profiles: Yellow Stingray."
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/YellowStingray/YellowStingray.html

The Sphyraena Barracuda also known as the Great Barracuda is found in nearly all the warm seas. Most barracudas are found in the tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans in and around coral reefs. The larval stages live in the reef margins and in the estuaries where they are protected. Great Barracudas are usually found in water temperatures between 74F and 82F, but have been found in much cooler water. Barracudas are characterized by their long silvery body with two wide dorsal fins. The Great Barracuda is a solitary animal which will sometimes school. When they school it is typically for hunting or protection. Barracudas are known to be vicious fish.

• Fuller, Brianne. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web. "Species: Sphyraena barracuda great barracuda."
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sphyraena_barracuda.html

Porcupine Puffers, also known as globefish, blowfish, balloon fish, and toadfish, are classified under the Family Diodontidae and the Genus Diodon. Its full scientific name is Diodon Holacanthus. Porcupine Puffers live mainly among coral reefs in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Puffers are nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them out at night searching for food. The eat mostly clams, small squids, and sea-urchins.
They eat mostly clams, small squids, and sea-urchins. Porcupine Puffers are mostly brownish in color and grow up to 12 inches. It has a fan-like dorsal fin, and also scattered black or brown spots. They use inflating as a defense mechanism. When scared or harmed, puffers with inflate their body by gulping water. Another characteristic of Porcupine puffers is that their skin, intestines, gonads, and liver contain a deadly poison called detradotoxin. Despite being poison, they are still eaten in many Asian cultures, but must be prepared by highly skilled chefs so there is no poison in your food.

• http://www1.broward.edu/~ssimpson/Pearce..htm

At 10 to 24 inches long, the Grey Angelfish is a large and beautiful fish to see. Its color ranges from silver grey to charcoal grey. It has yellow pectoral fins and has faint, neon-blue tips to its tail and dorsal fin. Grey Angelfish reside in reef habitats, feeding on the sponges and algae that make their home there. The Grey Angels like the cover that the reefs provide them from predators and the reef habitat provides plenty of space and shelter for their young to grow up protected. Among the other colorful reef fish, it is a Grey beauty. The Grey Angelfish is often found in pairs, but not in schools.

• Bester, Cathleen. Florida Museum of Natural History.
• Biological Profiles: Gray Angelfish.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/GrayAngelfish/GrayAngelfish.html
  
• California State University, Long Beach. "Marine Species: Gray Angelfish.
• http://www.csulb.edu/depts/biology/marine/species/Gray_Angelfish.html_f/Gray_Angelfish.html

BLUEHEAD WRASSE
Order - Perciformes
Family - Labridae
Genus - Thalassoma
Species - bifasciatum

Bluehead Wrasses typically are found in tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. Living in coral and offshore reefs. They are found 100ft below the water surface. Blue heads swim in large schools. They are found in a variety of colors. They have a bright blue head with two dark vertical stripes separated with a white bar. The rest of the body is green. They have a pointed snout and a mouth with teeth. They swim with only there fins. Flapping of the pectoral fins helps them move among coral reefs. They can be a length of 25cm and have a maximum age of about three years. They eat zooplankton, worms, mollusks and other small crustaceans.

• Bester, Cathleen. Florida Museum of Natural History.Biological Profiles: Bluehead Wrasse.
  
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/Bluehead/Bluehead.html
• Estoff, Liz. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web.
  
• Thalassoma bifasciatum; bluehead.
  
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/
  

The lionfish-also known as the turkey fish, the dragon fish, and the scorpion fish is a venomous fish native to the Indo-Pacific waters. It lives in reefs and rocky crevices.
The fish usually grows to 1 ft (.3 m) in length, but has been recorded to grow up to 15 in (.4 m) in some cases. It has white and brown-red stripes across the body, as well as large pectoral fins, which can almost be as big as the fish's body in some cases. They deliver venom from their needle-like dorsal fins, though it is a defensive mechanism only, as they rely on camouflage and speed to catch shrimp and small fish.

They have recently found their way into Caribbean waters and have become an invasive species there.

• National Geographic. "Animals: Lionfish Pterois volitans (Red Lionfish).
  http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/lionfish.html

The Southern Stingray is a ray commonly found in the waters of the Atlantic ocean, ranging from as far north as New Jersey and as far south as Brazil. It grows up to 6 ft (2 m) from wingtip to wingtip, and can weigh as much as 300 lbs (136 kg).
They have a "typical" ray shape, consisting of a flattened disc-shaped body. They are a brown-gray on the top of the body, and are white on the underbelly. Their eyes and gill slits (called spiracles) are dorsal, while the mouth is ventral. They also have a whip-like tail armed with a barb, though this is only used in self defense

• In the wild, they have few natural predators, except fro the occasional large shark. They feed of a diet of small crustaceans, small fish, and clams.
  Dasyatis americana, Southern Stingray - MarineBio.org. Retrieved Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=521.
  
• National Aquarium in Baltimore. "Animal Index: Southern stingray
  Dasyatis Americana." http://www.aqua.org/animals_southernstingray.html

The Doctorfish, Acanthurus chirurgus, gets its name from a small, sharp spine-like structure that lies along each side of the caudal peduncle. This is referred to as a "scalpel", and is as sharp as its name suggests. It is used during fights with other fish for dominance and for defense against predators. The Doctorfish reaches lengths of 12 inches and can vary slightly in its overall color. It can change from blue-gray to dark brown. It has from 10-12 thin, dark, vertical bars visible on the sides. There is a faint blue ring that circles the scalpel on each side. The edges of the anal, dorsal, and caudal fins are blue, regardless of the body color. The Doctor fish lives in shallow areas of reef or rocky habitats. The Doctorfish is a daytime grazer, feeding on mostly algae and organic detritus. Its teeth, specialized for scraping algae, are spatula-like in shape, close together, and notched on the edges.

• Acanthurus chirurgus, Doctorfish - MarineBio.org. Retrieved Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=27.

The yellow tail snapper, or Ocyurus chrysurus, are part of the Lutjanidae family. Their bodies are silver with a prominent yellow mid-lateral stripe which begins at the mouth and runs to their tail. Their back and upper sides have yellow spots while it's lower sides and belly have narrow, long pink and yellow stripes. They're found inshore on grass beds and back reefs as juveniles and near shore or offshore as adults. Their common size is about 3 pounds but the Florida State record is 7 pounds and 5 ounces. They're most commonly found in tropical waters and feed on small fish and invertebrates.

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 199-2008. Fishing Lines.
• http://www.floridaconservation.org/marine/FishID/snapyt.html