Category: Uncategorized


6-23-14 Greenstriped Rockfish from Ron’s Temperate Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
June 23, 2014

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia, animals
Phylum: Chordata, chordates
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Family: Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads)

Genus/species: Sebastes elongatus

SebastesElongatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Underwater they are white to reddish with four very distinct horizontal green stripes and light ventrally; green streaks on caudal fin membranes. After capture the entire body often becomes red or orange. Max. length 39.0 cm (15 inches). max. published weight: 630 g (1.3 pounds); max. reported age: 46 years.

GreenstripedRockfish14475489192_5dbe5d96ff_b

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Eastern Pacific from Puget sound to Baja California. This is a solitary species that is often found resting on the bottom on rocky as well as soft bottoms. Temperate Marine demersal 25-425 meters (80-1400 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Small fishes, octopuses, shrimps.

REPRODUCTION: Viviparous

CONSERVATION: IUCN 2006 red list of threatened species.

REMARKS: Good eating fish but rarely caught by sports anglers.

LOCATION: California Coast

References:

WordPress Shortlink: http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1hF

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/3965

 eol eol.org/pages/209601/details

 Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/bottomfish/identification/rockfish/s_…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/3965

 

eol eol.org/pages/209601/details

 

Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/bottomfish/identification/rockfish/s_…

Tags: , ,
Comment

5-21-14 Maiden Goby from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
May 21, 2014

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

Genus/species: Valenciennea puellaris

Maiden GobyIMG_8532

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Pale grey body color for Pacific fish with row of large orange spots on side, a series of dash-like markings below, oblong pale blue spots on cheek and opercle.  Length : 20.0 cm (7.8 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical marine Indo-Pacific: red Sea to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Inhabits sandy areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs.

DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivore feedings off the bottom sifting through the sand. Once the fish has a mouthful of sand, it begins to slowly expel the sand out the gills for any small invertebrates.

REPRODUCTION: Monogamous

CONSERVATION: IUCN; Not evaluated

REMARKS: Occurs in pairs and use burrows as refuge.

References

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1hc

flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/14047101767/

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Valenciennea-puellaris.html

eol eol.org/pages/207103/details

 

Tags: , ,
Comment

5-20-14 Threadfin cardinal fish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
May 20, 2014

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

Genus/species: Zoramia leptacantha

ThreadfinCardinalfish4335618020_27ea998a8d_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Elongate first dorsal fin. Whitish, semi-transparent with frosty iridescence on back; iris is luminous blue. Yellow-edged blue bands and bars on rear of head and front of body. Long first dorsal fin tip. Length to 6 cm (2.4 inches).

ThreadfinCardinalfish2990748320_4b0c6286dc_b

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical marine Indo-Pacific. Found in huge groups at 1–20 m (3.2 feet – 65 feet) depth in sheltered lagoons and protected reefs.

DIET IN THE WILD: Nocturnally feeds on benthic crustaceans.

REPRODUCTION: Mouth brooders; pair for courtship and spawning.

CONSERVATION: Not evaluated.

Philippine coral reef PR04

References

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/5773

eol eol.org/pages/211570/details

flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2990748320/in/set-72157…

WordPress shortlik http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1h5

Tags: , ,
Comment

5-14-14 Yellowstriped Cardinalfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
May 14, 2014

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

Genus/species: Apogon cyanosoma

YellowstripedCardinalfish4184514661_35a0a5c254_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS : Silver body highlighted with 6 orange-gold horizontal stripes including a short post ocular stripe.. Pinkish to orange spot on base of caudal fin. Max. length: 8 cm.

YellowstripedCardinalfishApogon cyanosoma, PR24

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-west Pacific. Common from Australia to the Red Sea Inhabiting sheltered clear water areas of lagoon and seaward reefs. Associates in small to large aggregations under ledges, in holes, or even among long spines of sea urchins.

DIET IN THE WILD: Planktonic crustaceans and small invertebrates.

REPRODUCTION: Like all cardinalfishes, a paternal mouthbrooder.

CONSERVATION: IUCN; Not Evaluated.

REMARKS: Like all cardinalfishes, active at night, with large eyes adapted to gathering low light.

 

References:

fishbase http://www.fishbase.org/summary/4600

flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/4184514661/in/set-72157…

eol eol.org/pages/985736/details

Tags: , , ,
Comment

5-11-14 Ochre-striped Cardinalfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
May 12, 2014

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

Genus/species: Apogon compressus

Ostorhinchus compressus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: White or pinkish with about six red-brown stripes on side; 3-4 dark spots at the base of the caudal fin. Eyes iridescent blue. Length ave. 8.5 cm (3.3 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-West Pacific found among near branching corals.

CONSERVATION: Least concern.

References

flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/organize

eol http://eol.org/pages/204398/hierarchy_entries/44696143/details

fishbase http://www.fishbase.org/summary/5769

WordPress shortlink: http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1gE

Comment

5-7-14 Ring-tailed Cardinal Fish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
May 7, 2014

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)

Genus/species: Ostorhinchus aureus (Apogon aureus)

Ring-Tail Cardinalfish Ostorhinchus aureus13924803567_e8eb47a0af_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Coppery with iridescence, paler posteriorly; a blackish stripe, bordered by a blue line, running from front of snout through eye and beyond; a narrow blue streak on maxilla. Black bar encircling caudal peduncle present in both young and adult phases.Length 4.4-14.7 cm (1.75-5.8 inches).

IMG_5514

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical Indo-West Pacific. Inhabits holes in rocks or under ledges in shallow waters. Depth range 1 – 40 m (3.2 to 130 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Benth crustaceans, zoobenthos, mobile invertebrates and small fishes.

REPRODUCTION: External fertilization, mouthbrooders.

CONSERVATION: IUCN; not evaluated.

References:

eol eol.org/pages/224893/details

flickr  www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/13924803567/in/set-7215…

fishbase.kaust.edu.sa/summary/Ostorhinchus-aureus.html

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1gu

Tags: , , ,
Comment

5-1-14 Dragon Goby aka Banded Goby from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
May 1, 2014

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Gobioidei
Family: Gobiidae

Genus/species: Amblygobius phalaena

3632254969_6c5fc1fee8_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Overall greenish brown body with five dark brown to blackish vertical bars. Has pale edged dark stripe through eye and another across cheek; head with white streaks; small white spots in 3-4 horizontal rows on body.

4540473291_f2ecc7c3a8_b

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific region and has been recorded from the Cocos-Keeling Islands, Marquesas and French Polynesia across to Australia and southern Japan. Found on reef flats and sheltered coral reefs to depths of 20 metres.

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds by sifting mouthfuls of sand and expelling it through the gills, to capture small invertebrates, organic matter, and large quantities of algae.

CONSERVATION: IUCN; not evaluated.

REMARKS: Unlike other gobies, it spends most of its time, swimming along with other fish in water column. Will grow up to 6 inches long.

Upside-down Jellyfish tank PR35 in past, Philippine coral reef tank PR04 and shallows PR03a

References

flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3632254969/in/photolist…

WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1gi

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/AMBLYGOBIUS-PHALAENA.html

Comment

4-14-14 Zebra Goby from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
April 14, 2014

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

Genus/species: Ptereleotris zebra

Zebra Gobie2985357026_450274646b_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Elongated and compressed body with a Yellowish to greenish gray color and a series of narrow orange to pinkish bars edged with blue or purple along the sides A broad blue-edged dark reddish to purple area is below the eye. A chin barbel is
followed by a median longitudinal fold. Max length: 4.7 inches.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and islands in the western Indian Ocean to the Line and Marquesan Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Found over exposed seaward reefs in relatively shallow water. Depth range 2 – 31 m (6-100 feet).

DIET: Zooplankton. Small schools hover several feet above the substrate capturing morsels the current carries to them.

CONSERVATION: Not evaluated

REMARKS: The common name of the genus is “dartfish,” derived from the group’s habit of darting between rocks or into rubble when frightened.

Philippine Coral Reef PR04

References

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.org/summary/4384

WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1fF

flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2985357026/in/set-72157625992053826/

Tags: , , ,
Comment

4-1-14 Six-Line Wrasse from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
April 1, 2014

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

Genus/species: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

Six-line Wrasse3237047032_23cc672a39_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: To 7.5 cm (3 inches). Violet with six horizontal orange stripes on side. Small black dot on upper tail base.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific among seaward reefs in coral branches. Depth 20 meters (65 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Primarily small crustaceans, snails, and flatworms.

PREDATORS: Preyed upon by grouper and other finfish.

Philippine Coral reef PR04

References

flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3237047032/

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1f9

fishbasewww.fishbase.de/summary/Pseudocheilinus-hexataenia.html

EOLwww.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3237047032/edit-details/

 

Tags: , ,
Comment

3-27-14 Exquisite Fairy Wrasse from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leave a comment
March 27, 2014

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

Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species: Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

Specimen below is a male

ExquisitefairywrasseCirrhilabrusexquisitusIMG_0091

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Body shape is fusiform. Mouth is terminal.  Post-juvenile initial phase to 7 cm and colored shades of brown; large black spot on base of upper tail. Terminal phase individuals colored shades of green, bright red margins on dorsal and anal fins, narrow blue stripe from mid-body to tail, large black spot on base of upper tail, two or three blue line marks on head.  Maximum length 12cm (4.75 inches)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: East Africa to Tuamotus, north to Izus, southern Japan and south to Great BarrierReef, Australia over rubble or low patch reefs in areas of current, also on reef edges and near rubble zones in 5–35 m. (16-115 feet)

DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton in the water column, well above the substrate.

CONSERVATION: Data deficient (DD) Philippine Coral Reef PR04

References

WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1eS

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/4563757962/in/set-72157608208133134/

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.de/summary/Cirrhilabrus-exquistius.html

EOL  http://eol.org/pages/357163/details

Taken on January 8, 2009, 3-20-14

Comment