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5-24-13 Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (female) from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: INDO-PACIFIC, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
May 24, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Subfamily: Anthiinae (Anthias)

Genus/species: Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (female) IMG_7270

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Males can get at least 5”. Females slightly smaller. Color patterns vary from one locality to another. Marked sexual dimorphism; Males often fuchsia in color with elongated 3rd ray of the dorsal fin, a red patch on the pectoral fin and elongated margins of the tail. Females orange/gold color with violet streak below the eye.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Natal, South Africa to Niue, north to Japan, south to Australia. Found above coral outcrops or patch reefs of clear lagoons, channels, or outer reef slopes. depth range 0 – 55 m (170 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton.

Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (female) IMG_6734

REPRODUCTION: A protogynous hermaphrodite. All start life as females. The dominant fish will turn into a male, changing sex, and color and pattern. The male keeps a harem of several females.

Philippine Coral Reef PR04

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5-23-13 Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (male) from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: INDO-PACIFIC, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
May 23, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Subfamily: Anthiinae (Anthias)

Genus/species: Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (male) IMG_0111

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Males can get at least 5”. Females slightly smaller. Color patterns vary from one locality to another. Marked sexual dimorphism; Males often fuchsia in color with elongated third ray of the dorsal fin, a red patch on the pectoral fin and elongated margins of the tail. Females orange/gold color with violet streak below the eye.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Natal, South Africa to Niue, north to Japan, south to Australia. Found above coral outcrops or patch reefs of clear lagoons, channels, or outer reef slopes. depth range 0 – 55 m (170 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton

REPRODUCTION: A protogynous hermaphrodite. All start life as females. The dominant fish will turn into a male, changing sex, and color and pattern. The male keeps a harem of several females

Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (male) IMG_0542.JPG

Philippine Coral Reef PR04

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5-21-13 Purple Anthias (male) from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
May 21, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)

Subfamily: Anthiinae (Anthias)

Genus/species: Pseudanthias tuka

Male below

Purple AnthiasI MG_2808

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Sexes bichromatic. Both sexes are a deep pink to purple; however, females have a bright yellow stripe on the back extending onto the caudal fin. Males have a purple blotch on the base of the dorsal fin, elongated fin rays, and a pointed snout Max. size: 12 cm.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific: Philippines, Bali, Solomon Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Japan. Habitat: Favor strong currents along the edge of drop-offs and steep outer reef slopes at depths of 30 m or more.

Female below

Purple Anthias (female) IMG_7268
DIET IN THE WILDt: Planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs.

REPRODUCTION: As in all Anthias species, if a dominant male dies, the largest female will usually change into a male and take his place.

REMARKS: Usually found in large aggregations with many more females than males.

Animal Attractions SP14, Philippine Coral Reef PR04

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5-20-13 Richmond’s Wrasse from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
May 20, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae

Genus/species: Halichoeres richmondi

IMG_7303

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Length to 17 cm (6.7 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found from Java to the Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, Moluccas, Palau, Solomons, Truk, with its southeastern range extending to Tonga. Inhabits shallow lagoon and coral reefs, up to a depth of at least 20 m (65.5 feet). 

CONSERVATION: IUCN least concern.

IMG_7296

Animal Attractions

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5-16-15 Bluespotted Stingray From Ron’s Shark and Ray Series

Filed under: SHARKS AND RAYS — Leave a comment
May 16, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family:Dasyatidae Whiptail Stingrays (whip-like tails, which are much longer than the disc and lack dorsaland caudal fins. Also have one or more venomous spines near the base of the tail.

Genus/species: Dasyatis kuhlii

IMG_7263

GENERAL/CHARACTERISTICS: Angular disc. Dorsal color reddish-brown to olive drab with blue spots and smaller black spots, ventral side white. Tail with black and white bands is about as long as the body and usually has one stinging spine. Maximum disc width: 50 cm (20 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/ HABITAT: Tropical Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea east to the Philippines, Japan, and south to Australia. Found on sandy bottoms near coral and rocky reefs, from intertidal zone to 50 m (160 feet). Moves onto reef flats and into shallow lagoon waters at high tide.

IMG_7261

DIET IN THE WILD: Crabs and shrimp, also small fishes.

REPRODUCTION: Ovoviviparous; eggs retained in the female’s body; embryos receive nourishment from a yolk sac.

REMARKS: Venomous tail can deliver a painful wound. Like many other rays that wound humans, it most often stings only when inadvertently stepped on: it is difficult to see in turbid waters, especially when covered by sand with only the eyes visible.

Reef Lagoon PR02

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5-15-13 Leopard Shark from Ron’s Shark and Ray Series

Filed under: SHARKS AND RAYS, TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
May 15, 2013

TAXONOMY

Class: Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)

Subclass: elasmobranchii (No swim bladders, five to seven pairs of gill clefts opening individually to the exterior, rigid dorsal fins, and small placid scales).

Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)

Family: Triakidae (Houndsharks are distinguished by possessing two large spineless dorsal fins, an anal fin, and oval eyes with nictitating eyelids. They are small to medium in size, ranging from 37 centimetres (15 in) to 220 centimetres (7.2 ft).

Genus/species: Triakis semifasciata,

Leopard Shark 2959038532_163d96da28_o

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Short, broadly rounded snout. First dorsal fin is moderately large and its origin is over the pectoral fins inner margins. Second dorsal fin is nearly as large as the first one. Anal fin much smaller than the second dorsal fin. Pectoral fins broadly triangular. Grey to bronze-grey upper body with dark saddles and dots and a light ventral (bottom) surface. Max length : 198 cm or 78 in.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Common from Oregon state to Baja California,Mexico. Prefers sandy and rock-strewn substrate near rocky reefs. Most commonly in enclosed muddy bays, including estuaries and lagoons, typically at less than 3.7 m or 13 ft depth, but ranges to 91m or 300 ft.

7588074504_9022c8b361_b

DIET IN WILD: Fishes (especially northern midshipman, sanddab, shiner perch, bat rays and smoothhounds), siphons of clams, crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. Feeds heavily on fish eggs (herring, jacksmelt and topsmelt) attached to rocks and plants.

REPRODUCTION: Ovoviviparous. Litters 4–29. Young average 21 cm or 8 in at birth.

PREDATORS: Can live to at least 30 years. Part of the commercial shark fishery and very popular as a sport “fish.”

Preyed upon by other sharks.

Leopard Shark 8415453774_b665c7a08e_o

REMARKS: In San Francisco Bay, leopard sharks tend to remain in the Bay throughout the year, with some emigration during fall and winter.
Fossils of leopard sharks have been discovered in deposits dated to more than 1,000,000 years old in southern California.

California Rocky Coast CC06

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3-13-13 Rock Wrasse from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series

Filed under: TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
May 13, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: (Labridae) Wrasses

Genus/speces: Halichoeres semicinctus

Rock Wrasse (male) below:

Rock Wrasse Male 3995256931_9e14b0f8ab_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Length to 38 cm (15 inches). Terminal phase males are characterized by a partial dark stripe behind yellow pectoral fins and pink eyes, while females and immature male rock wrasses are similar in appearance having ranging from brown to yellow to orange. 

Rock Wrasse (female or immature male) below:

Rock Wrasse (female or immature male) 3995255809_8f686dbab8_b

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Pt. Conception, California to Guadalupe Island off central Baja California, Mexico. Habitat: Close to rocks near patches of sand; tidepools and down to 24 m (79 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Small invertebrates, taken during the day.

REPRODUCTION: Each individual starts as female then changes to a male at length of about 30 cm. Pelagic spawners

CONSERVATION: IUCN: Least concern.

REMARKS : Sleeps at night buried in sand, with head protruding, and will dart to a sandy refuge during the day if startled.

Rock Wrasse (female or immature male) below:

Rock Wrasse (female or immature male) 2972940984_0ce80884d9_b

Southern California Kelp Tank CC14

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5-10-13 Senorita Wrasse from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series

Filed under: TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
May 10, 2013

TAXONOMY
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species: Oxyjulis californica

Senorita Wrasse 3995255581_88e76a0033_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Length to 10 inches (25 cm). Cigar-shaped fish with large scales and protruding teeth. Orange to brownish, a few are more pink or yellow. Large black marking at base of caudal fin.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Salt Point, northern California to south-central Baja California. Habitat: Found in kelp and other seaweeds and over rocky reefs, usually at shallow depths. Five to 240 feet (1.5 m-76 m) deep.

DIET IN THE WILD: Hydroids, bryozoans, amphipods, parasitic copepods, and isopods

REMARKS: Popular in the aquarium trade. At night, señoritas seek out a nearby sandy area and bury themselves with a headfirst dive into the sand, ultimately sleeping with head protruding.
Señoritas cleaner fish. picking external parasites and copepods from the skin of other fishes.

Senorita Wrasse 3996018576_6967b7abb5_b-1

Southern California Kelp Exhibit CC14

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5-8-13 Bamboo Shrimp from Ron’s Freshwater Series

Filed under: ARTHROPODS, INDO-PACIFIC, INVERTEBRATES — Leave a comment
May 8, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Atyidae

Genus/species: Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp IMG_0285

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Most species are a brown base color with a tan strip running from head to tail. They vary greatly in color however. Some a greenish-yellow or even red as the base color. Clawless and 4-5 inches in length. Male bamboo shrimp displays two larger forelegs, while the female’s legs are all the same size.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found on high islands from Sri Lanka to the Samoan Islands, and as far north as Okinawa, as well as on the Asian mainland from the Malay Peninsula in freshwater areas where their is high current..

DIET IN THE WILD: Filter feeder. using four fan-like appendages on the head to sweep food particles from the water.

Bamboo Shrimp 8724380835_382a2b1ec6_o

Water Planet

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5-7-13 Swell Shark from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series

Filed under: SHARKS AND RAYS, SHARKS, SKATES and RAYS, TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
May 7, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks; characterized by the presence of a nictitating membrane over the eye, two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits.)
Family: Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks; elongated cat-like eyes and a patterned appearance, ranging from stripes to patches to spots)

Genus/species: Cephaloscyllium ventriosum

3427744328_0ca913c173_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Maximum length 3¼ ft. Stout body with flat, broad head; snout short; mouth huge, proportionally larger that the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). C ventriosum has a rounded dorsal fin in the pelvic area another fin in the anal area The body is light brown with dark patches covered with black dots.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Central California to southern Mexico; also reported near central Chile.
Found in rocky reefs and kelp forests, from surface to 460 m (1500 ft), in temperate and subtropical waters.

DIET IN THE WILD: Nocturnal; feeds on crustaceans and fishes, often blacksmith. Lie-in-wait predator that sits on the bottom with wide-open mouth, ready to ambush unsuspecting prey.

REPRODUCTION: Oviparous; female lays amber-colored egg cases that hatch in 8–10 months. Young have enlarged toothlike denticles on the back that help them break through egg cases (see below).

Swell Shark egg Case IMG_0322

PREDATORS: If caught it is, usually it will be released because its flesh is of poor quality. Embryos may be eaten by snails that bore through egg cases.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List: least concern species

REMARKS: Hides in caves and crevices during normal aquarium hours. the day, and so is often not to be seen during aquarium hours. Common and specific (ventriosum = “largebelly”) names come from its ability to take in water that makes it appear up to twice as large as its normal size, a difficult meal for predators to bite or to remove from a crevice.

Swell Shark 3426936973_ee6379d9fb_b

Southern California Coast Kelp Exhibit CC14

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