Category: CORAL REEF


3-2-16 Tomini Tang aka Orangetip Bristletooth Tang from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
March 2, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

Genus/species: Ctenochaetus tominiensis

Acanthurus pyroferus (Acanthuridae)

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Brown with pale lower head. The only species of Ctenochaetus (bristletooths) with angular dorsal and anal fins; outer portion of these fins is a bright orange. Caudal fin white.

Max length: 15 cm. (6 inches).

Acanthurus pyroferus (Acanthuridae) IMG_0497

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Western Central Pacific, including Indonesia, Philippines, to northern Great Barrier Reef. Found on steep coral drop-offs of sheltered coasts.

DIET IN THE WILD: The Orangetip Bristletooth Tang feeds on detritus using its comb-like teeth

TominiTang8749715662_50d2f33b0e_k

REPRODUCTION: Pelagic spawner.

CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least concern

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1aJ

Ron’s flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3708499036/in/set-72157608332652056/
EOL eol.org/pages/212379/details

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.org/summary/6016

IUCN Chttp://www.iucnredlist.org/details/177986

 

Tags: , , , ,
Comment

3-1-16 Lined Surgeonfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
March 1, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

Genus/species: Acanthurus lineatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Lined Surgeonfish has a compressed and disc-like body with a large venomous, scalpel-like caudal spine on each side of the caudal peduncle. The body is yellowish-green, with bright blue stripes edged with black most pronounced on the flank. The stripes on the belly are lavender blue to bluish-white on the belly. The pelvic fins are bright orange.
Length to 38 cm (15 in)

Lined Surgeonfish Acanthurus lineatus 8624034686_90d26c8326_o

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific from East Africa north to southern Japan and south to New South Wales, Australia found on exposed outer reef areas at depths of 3-9 ft.

DIET IN THE WILD: Herbivorous, browses on algae but also feeds on crustaceans.

Lined Surgeonfish Acanthurus lineatus

REPRODUCTION: Large males patrol defined feeding areas and maintain harems of females. Migrates to and spawns in aggregations at specific sites, although they sometimes spawn in pairs. Spawning occurs year-round at lower latitudes but may be seasonal at higher latitudes. The eggs and larvae are pelagic.

MORTALITY: It is estimated that this species can live 30 to 45 years.

CONSERVATION: Least concern.

REMARKS: The venomous caudal spines are very effective defense mechanisms for surgeonfish. They are razor-sharp and useful weapons against attack. The lined surgeonfish was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus.

References:

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3142856255/in/album-72157625992053826/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1b7

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.org/country/CountrySpeciesSummary.php?c_code=144&id=1258

EOL http://eol.org/pages/208629/details

Australia Museum    http://australianmuseum.net.au/Striped-Surgeonfish-Acanthurus-lineatus-Linnaeus-1758

 

Tags: , ,
Comment

2-26-16 Powder Brown Tang from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
February 26, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

Genus/species: Acanthurus japonicus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Like all surgeonfish, A. japonicus are colorful, thin-bodied, oval-shaped. They typically have long continuous dorsal and anal fins and crescent caudal fins. The body is brownish with a white patch on cheek between eyes and mouth; pectoral, anal, and dorsal fins brown with blue highlight at tip. An orange band is found on last third of dorsal fin. Yellow stripes are along base of dorsal and anal fins with a blue tail with yellow bar.  In addition like other surgeonfishes it has a (5)razor-sharp caudal spine located at the base of their caudal fin. 

Length up to 8.3 in.

powder brown tang8748590549_6ab4610498_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found in Asian-Pacific: Sulawesi to Philippines, SW Japan in clear lagoons and shallow (6–36 ft) seaward reefs.

Power Brown Tang

DIET IN THE WILD: Algae.

REPRODUCTION: Group spawner.

CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least concern

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2779042635/in/set-72157608332652056/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1aA

fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/23375

IUCN  www.iucnredlist.org/details/177977/0

EOL eol.org/pages/225053/overview

Tags: , , , ,
Comment

2-19-16 Flagtail Surgeonfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
February 19, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii   (ray-finned fishes)
Order:  Perciformes      (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae  (Surgeonfishes, Tangs, and Unicornfishes)

Genus/species:   Paracanthurus hepatus

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The color of their oval-shaped bodies is sky blue enhanced by reflective pigment cells called iridophores. The tail fin is yellow extending into a “V” shape from the caudal fin to a point just beyond the caudal spine. A black oval extends under dorsal fin to caudal peduncle. Color changes as they mature; juveniles are bright yellow with blue spots near their eyes, and their dorsal and anal fins are tipped in light blue. Their body becomes blue as they mature.

Length up to 31 cm (12 in)
Weigh on average 600 g. (1.3 pounds)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific in clear, current-swept terraces of seaward reefs, 2–40 m (6-120ft). Typically in loose groups 1–3 m (3-9 ft) above substrate.  Shelters among branches of Procillopora corals or in crevices of rocks.  

DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton. 

REPRODUCTION: P. hepatus is oviparous with external fertilization.  They are open water egg scatterers on substrate and are nonguarders.        

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least concern         

REMARKS: P. hepatus like other surgeonfishes has a razor-sharp caudal spine located at the base of their caudal fin. This spine contains toxins that can cause a debilitating pain to small predators and uncomfortable irritation and pain in humans. This spine is in a groove below the surface of the skin and can be extended from the body for defensive purposes.

Dory, the co-star of Finding Nemo, with the voice of Ellen DeGeneres’ “spaced-out” fish, is a hepatus tang. Most kids now recognize this fish as Dory.  

 

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral reef 2016

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  wp.me/p1DZ4b-Ab

Ron’s flickr   http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608332652056/

Encyclopedia of Life   http://eol.org/pages/222042/details

Animal Diversity Web: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paracanthurus_hepatus/

fishbase: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/6017

Tags: , , ,
Comment

2-3-16 Blacktip Reef Shark from Ron’s Shark Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, INDO-PACIFIC, SHARKS AND RAYS, SHARKS, SKATES and RAYS, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
February 3, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class:Class: Chondrichthyes (sharks and rays)
Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Family: Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks eg migratory, live-bearing sharks of warm seas)

Genus/species: Carcharhinus melanopterus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:
All fins tipped with black, the large dorsal fin with a white band beneath the black tip, conspicuous white bands along flanks, sometimes edged with black. Otherwise, yellowish-tan above, white below.
Length up to 2 m (6.5 ft) long and weight up to 13.6 kg (30 lbs)

Carcharhinus melanopterus2979831615_73451da081_b

DISTRIBUTION: Subtropical from Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and the Tuamoto Archipelago. Also enters the Mediterranean from the Red Sea (via the Suez Canal). Prefers inshore coral reefs and the intertidal zone. Has been observed in mangrove areas and fresh water, traveling in and out with the tide.

DIET IN THE WILD: Teleost fishes sea snakes. Predation upon other elasmobranchs was rare.

REPRODUCTION: C. melanopterus is viviparous, incubating young for up to 16 months, producing 2–4 pups per litter. In a fashion not uncommon in sharks, the male takes the female’s pectoral fin in his teeth and the two mate belly to belly.

3267104972_6214b0cc45_b

PREDATORS: Preyed upon by other sharks as well as large groupers. Average lifespan c. 12 years

CONSERVATION: IUCN Near threatened (NT) 2015-4
The Blacktip Reef Shark is not a target of major fisheries, but is regularly caught by inshore fisheries in India and Thailand. It is caught for human consumption, fishmeal, and their fins enter the oriental sharkfin trade, for sharkfin soup. Their livers are also sought as a rich source of oil.

REMARKS: Often hunt in packs, driving prey into a tight ball and then attacking the ball in a feeding frenzy, even leaping out of the water. Its distinctive appearance and active swimming habit make it a favorite specimen for aquariums. It has been known to bite people wading in shallow water and is aggressive towards spear fishers.

References

Californiua Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Reef Lagoon 2-2-16

References

Californiua Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Reef Lagoon 2-2-16

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2979831615/in/album-72157627919810858/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1DM

arkive  www.arkive.org/blacktip-reef-shark/carcharhinus-melanopte…

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?&genusnam…

IUCN: www.iucnredlist.org/details/39375/0

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?&genusnam…

Tags: , ,
Comment

1-29-16 Striped Parrotfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
January 29, 2016

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

Genus/species: Scarus iseri

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Parrotfish owe their name to the shape of their mouth. Instead of teeth they have two beak-like plates, like parrots. They have even rows of large, noticeable scales on their bodies. 

Terminal phase: Body blue to green, with a gold to yellow spot or stripe above and behind the pectoral fin. Dorsal fin with a distinct pink, yellow or orange stripe down the middle that is broken by blue to green linear markings. Tail dark blue or green, with yellow or orangish linear markings between the borders.
Initial and juvenile phases: Body with three black stripes, two white stripes and a white belly, often with thin, broken silver, yellow or dark stripes. Usually yellow smudge on the nose, occasionally with yellow on the ventral fins, belly or tail. Tail without dark borders.
Size up to 35 cm.

Striped Parrottfish19431680162_8165aba44c_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Common Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean. Epibenthic, found over shallow, clear waters, generally over Thalassia beds and rocky or coral areas

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds on plants.

REPRODUCTION: A protogynous hermaphrodite . Super males spawn individually with striped females, while sexually mature males in the striped phase spawn in aggregation.

8203807035_27300b9689_b

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern (LC)

References

California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, Caribbean Reef 2015

Ron’s www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157625866509117/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-Lc

IUCN  www.iucnredlist.org/details/190732/25

Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/217720/details

Tags: , ,
Comment

1-18-16 Caribbean Longsnout Butterflyfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
January 18, 2016

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

Genus/species: Prognathodes aculeatus

Caribbean Longnose Butterflyfish 8374253723_e84e62082c_o

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Upper half of body yellow-orange, shading into blackish basally in dorsal fin; lower half of body white; orange bands on head and a narrow orange bar on caudal peduncle. Average of 2 to 3 inches long.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found on natural and artificial reefs, usually 30 to 200 ft in-depth, off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea, and off the coast of Venezuela.

DIET IN THE WILD: Bristleworms, crustaceans, black coral polyps, sea urchin pedicellaria. Also known to eat the tube feet of sea urchins and tube worm tentacles.

REPRODUCTION: Oviparous

CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least Concern (LC)

REMARKS: When threatened, this butterflyfish erects its dorsal spines and points them at the threat.

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium, Caribbean Reef 2016

Ron’s flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157625119200613/…

Ron’s WordPress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-No

fishbase fishbase.us/summary/Prognathodes-aculeatus.html

reefguide.org/carib/longsnoutbutter.html

Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Volume 2: Scorpaeniformes to Tetraodontiformes
By John D. McEachran, Janice D. Fechhelm

Caribbean Reef PR36

Tags: , , ,
Comment

1-11-16 Jack-knifefish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
January 11, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Sciaenidae (Drums or Croakers)

Genus/species: Equetus lanceolatus

IMG_3672

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: E. lanceolatus  has a very high first dorsal fin with a short base. Gray with three white-edged dark brown to black bands, the first running vertically through eye, the second from nape across operculum and chest to front of pelvic fins, and the last beginning on first dorsal fin and running to end of caudal fin Third and widest band from tip of high dorsal fin, curving along length of body to tip of tail
Max length : 25.0 cm (10 inches), common length : 15.0 cm (6 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Western Atlantic: Bermuda and North Carolina, USA to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Inhabits bays and sounds; also deep coral reefs.                                                                                                                                   Depth range 10 – 60 m (33-200 ft)

DIET IN THE WILD: Bottom dwelling carnivores, eating small shrimps and crabs, polychaete worms and gastropod mollusks.

IMG_3684

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern

REMARKS: Reports of ciguatera poisoning

References

California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, Caribbean Reef 2015 

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/19431680992/in/album-72157625866509117/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-L3

fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/Equetus-lanceolatus.html

Encyclopedia of life eol.org/pages/213448/details

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/46104959/0

Tags: ,
Comment

1-6-16 Cherub Fish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: ANGELFISHES, CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
January 6, 2016

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Pectiformes (Perch-likes)
Family : Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)

Genus/species: Centropyge argi

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Like their close relatives the butterflyfishes, they have a deep, laterally compressed body, a single, unnotched dorsal fin, and a small mouth with brushlike teeth. The most observable difference between the two families is the long spine at the corner of the preopercle common to angelfishes.

C. argi is a small, oval angelfish. The body is dark blue with a yellow-orange face and blue ring around the eye. Pectoral fins are pale yellowish; other fins deep blue with pale blue margins.
Length up to 8 cm (3.1 in)

 

Cherubfish7086483839_ef280bfe0f_k

DISTRIBUTION/ HABITAT: Bermuda, Florida, Bahamas, Yucatan and Central American coast to Guianas. Nocturnally active in pairs or small groups in rubble areas near rocky or coral reefs, occasionally walls. 

Depth 9–105 m (30-345 ft), commonly deeper than 30 m (100 ft)

DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous, feeds on algae, benthic inverts and detritus.

REPRODUCTION/DEVELOPMENT: Broadcast spawners. All Centropyge are born female. As they grow, the larger and more dominant fish will become male and the others will remain female. If the male dies, the next in command in the hierarchy will turn to male.

PREDATORS: Preyed on by other fish such as yellow-finned tunafish. This small angelfsh darts into crevices when frightened or pursued by predators.

Lifespan: Have been reported to live up to 5 years in captivity.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least concern.

CaribbeanReef 

References

California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, Caribbean reef fishes 2015

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157606840726733/

Ron’s W0rdpress shortlink   http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-uJ

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.org/summary/3607

Book  Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.

ADW  http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Centropyge_argi/

 


Tags: , , ,
Comment

10-28-15 Alligator Pipefish fron Ron’s Tropical Marine series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, INDO-PACIFIC, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
October 28, 2015

Color of Life, Color Conceals. Shape and color provide excellent camouflage. It also is an inefficient swimmer, moving by an undulating motion of its pectoral and dorsal fins blending into the grass.

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses)
Family: Syngnathidae (Pipefishes Seadragons and seahorses)

Genus/species: Syngnathoides biaculeatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Slender tetrahedral body; variably colored green to brown or grey, reportedly depending on habitat. Bony plates on skin form a series of protective rings. Distinct tubular snout with no jaw.
Length up to 29.0 cm

22510763066_31ff260215_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Red Sea; South Africa to Samoa,
north to southern Japan, south to eastern Australia.
Found in protected coastal shallows over or among algae, seagrasses, or floating weeds. Juveniles occasionally found near the surface.

DIET IN THE WILD: Minute invertebrates and fish larvae.

Alligator pipefish3888361153_13247050f2_b-2

REPRODUCTION: Ovoviviparous. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch protectively located under his prehensile tail.

IUCN Red list Data deficient

3889153622_43d96aff7f_b

REMARKS: The prehensile tail is long and tapering and lacks a tail fin. It is used to anchor the fish to vegetation.

Used in Chinese medicine to extract Hailong.

References

California Academy of Sciences Color on the Reef Exhibit 2015

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/22510763066/in/album-72157608441047857/

fishbase fishbase.org/summary/Syngnathoides-biaculeatus.html

IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/40715/0

EOL eol.org/pages/995073/details

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1Bu

Tags: , , ,
Comment