Tag Archive: fish


11-11-18 French Angelfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: ANGELFISHES, CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
November 11, 2018

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

Genus/species: Pomacanthus paru

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: French Angelfish have tall, narrow bodies. and can turn quickly and maneuver down into narrow cracks between the corals to hunt prey and avoid predators.

The most observable difference between angelfishes and butterflyfishes is the preopercule spine on the gill cover common to angelfishes. Bodies are covered in black scales except those at front from nape to abdomen, which are rimmed with golden-yellow. Adults have a broad orange-yellow bar at the base of their pectoral fins and have a dorsal filament that is yellow.

Juveniles are jet black with circular bright yellow bands.
Max length : 41 cm (16 inches), common length : 25.0 cm (10 inches).

Adult below

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Bahamas to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Eastern Atlantic: off Ascension Island to the west coasts of Africa in shallow reefs. 

Depth range 3 – 100 m (10-90 feet)

Juvenile below

French Angelfish

 

DIET IN THE WILD: P. paru are omnivores feeding on  sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonians and tunicates.

REPRODUCTION: French Angelfish are oviparous and monogamous. Spawning pairs are strongly territorial, with usually both members vigorously defending their areas against neighboring pairs.

CONSERVATION: IUCN; Least concern.

REMARKS: The tall, narrow bodies can turn quickly and maneuver down into narrow cracks between the corals to hunt prey and avoid predators. They swim by rowing with their pectoral fins.

Juveniles tend cleaning stations where they service a broad range of clients, including jacks, snappers, morays, grunts, surgeonfishes, and wrasses. At the station the cleaner displays a fluttering swimming and when cleaning it touches the clients with its pelvic fins.

Ciguatera poisoning may rarely occur from eating French angelfishes.

Juvenile below

References

California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, Caribbean Reef 2018

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/1118

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

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/19974227304/in/album-72157625866509117/

ADW animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomacanthus_paru/

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11-3-15 Weedy Seadragon from Ron’s Marine series

Filed under: Subtropical Marine — Leave a comment
November 3, 2015


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

Genus/species: Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Orange-yellow to brownish-yellow, small pale dots on body with stripes, often brilliant blue, on neck. Leafy projections, purple with black edges, in varying numbers, along the body. Long, tubular snout. Dorsal fin near the tail, two tiny pectoral fins on neck.
Max length : 46.0 cm (18 inches).

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Endemic to waters off southern Australia in kelp-covered rocky reefs.

DIET IN THE WILD: Since all seadragons and seahorses lack teeth and moveable jaws they suck in their prey, similar to drinking through a straw.

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REPRODUCTION: Prior to mating the area of the male’s tail where he will keep the eggs becomes slightly swollen, soft and spongy. The female actually pushes the eggs onto this area of the male’s tail where they are fertilized. He carries the eggs for about 2 months. The young are born with a yolk sac still attached that sustains them for about two days, until their snout grows enough to feed.

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CONSERVATION: IUCN RED LIST Near Threatened (NT)
Major threat. Weedy Seadragons are weak swimmers; in conjunction with a lack of a dispersive egg phase, this potentially makes them vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation, which is the main threat to this species.
Asian herbalists can sell dried and powdered bodies for up to $200/gram.

REMARKS: The appendages of weedy seadragons are not as elaborate as those of leafy seadragons; however, their camouflage is also effective as they look like pieces of sea weed floating in the water. Weedy and leafy seadragons share the same range and habitat and have the same conservation status.

Color of Life; Cryptic coloration
Leaf-shaped appendages and cryptic colouration of this species provides protection from predators.

References

California Academy of Sciences Seadragon Exhibit 2015

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/5119453686/in/album-72157608441047857/

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

fishbase www.fishbase.se/summary/Phyllopteryx-taeniolatus.html

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/17177/0

Australian Museum  australianmuseum.net.au/weedy-seadragon-phyllopteryx-taen…

ADW animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phyllopteryx_taeniolatus/

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8-27-15 Mamfensis Killifish from Ron’s freshwater series

Filed under: FRESH WATER FISHES — Leave a comment
August 27, 2015

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers)
Family: Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)

Genus/species: Fundulopanchax gardneri mamfensis

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Max length : 6.0 cm (2.35 in).

Killifish20776631555_95cc874e24_kDISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Africa; Equatorial Western Guinea. Found in temporary freshwater marshes and pools.

DIET IN THE WILD: This killifish feeds on aquatic insect larvae, and other small invertebrates.

REPRODUCTION: Mate and lay eggs in the water. The eggs remain dormant until seasonal rains return. The dormant eggs can be mailed to different locations and will hatch upon the addition of water.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List: Endangered (EN) 8-26-15
Threats: deforestation of Habitat.

References

California Academy of Sciences, Water is life 2015

fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/56567

IUCN Red List  www.iucnredlist.org/details/183140/0

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/20776631555/in/photostream/

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

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8-26-15 Splendid Garden Eel from Ron’s tropical marine series

Filed under: TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
August 26, 2015

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Anguilliformes (Eels and morays)
Family: Congridae (Conger and garden eels)
Subfamily: Heterocongrinae

Genus/species: Gorgasia preclara

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Its yellow to orange with characteristic white bands body has a circular shape with a diameter of about 10 mm (0.4 in). Length up to 40 cm (15.75 in) maximum.
Typically, only its head and upper body protrudes from the sand where the garden eel lives in a buried tube in the sand either alone or in small groups.

Garden Eel20776620435_68e152af6d_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found in the Indo-West Pacific in sandy areas exposed to currents at depths between 18 and 75 m (60-245 ft), but is usually observed at an average depth of 30 m (100 ft).

DIET IN THE WILD: Plankton

CONSERVATION: Not Evaluated

References

fishbase  fishbase.org/summary/Gorgasia-preclara.html

California Academy of Sciences Water is life Exhibit 8-20-15

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/20776620435/in/dateposted/

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

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1-16-15 Cherry Barb from Ron’s Freshwater Series

Filed under: FRESH WATER FISHES, RAINFOREST BORNEO — Leave a comment
January 16, 2015

TAXONOMY:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or Carps)

Genus/species: Puntius titteya

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: An elongated fish with a compressed body, fawn-colored on top with a slight greenish sheen. Sides and belly have silver highlights with a horizontal stripe extending from the tip of the snout through the eye to the base of the caudal fin, with an iridescent, metallic line above it. Males are redder than females and attain a deeper red color at breeding time. Females are usually yellow and they are much lighter in color, usually just with some yellow and a light orange/black horizontal band. The female is also a lot plumper than the male. Cherry refers to the fish’s red color. Max. length: 5 cm (2 inches).

Male above and female below.

Cherry Barb (female) 3750942153_ca01fdd6c8_b

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Native to Sri Lanka with introduced populations established in Mexico
and Colombia. Found in heavily shaded streams and rivulets, preferring shallow, slow-moving water with silt substrate and leaf cover.

DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous, detritus, green algae, diatoms, dipterans and animal matter.

REPRODUCTION: Most small cyprinids Puntius spp. are egg-scattering free spawners exhibiting no parental care.

CONSERVATION IUCN: Least concern

BO09 Rainforest Borneo Southeast Asia Community

References

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Puntius-titteya.html

Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/212437/details

Ron’s flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3729700826/in/set-72157620567930293/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-17f

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1-12-15 Snakeskin Barb from Ron’s Freshwater Series

Filed under: FRESH WATER FISHES, RAINFOREST BORNEO — Leave a comment
January 12, 2015

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) 

Genus/species: Systomus rhomboocellatus

Snakeskin Barb IMG_7888

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Diamond-shaped markings on their body, giving them a snake-skin appearance. Length 5-8 cm (2-3 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: West and Central Kalimantan in Borneo, Indonesia in black water streams in forested areas.

DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous; eats insects and worms.

REPRODUCTION: Egg scatter within areas of dense plant growth.

CONSERVATION: IUCN and CITES Not Evaluated

References

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Puntius-rhomboocellatus.html

 Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/224467/details

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608614099673/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-16F

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1-5-15 Sarcastic Fringehead from Ron’s California Coastal Series

Filed under: TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
January 5, 2015

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

Genus/species: Neoclinus blanchardi

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Generally brownish-gray and typically mottled with either red or green patches with extremely large mouths. The dorsal spines possess two ocelli, one between the first and second spines, and the other between the fifth and ninth spines which are generally blue and outlined by a yellow ring. Largest of all fringeheads can growing up to 30.0 cm (11.8 inches) in length.

SarcasticFringhead

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Pacific Coast from San Francisco, California to central Baja California, Mexico.   Demersal, ( live and feed on or near the bottom of seas or lakes) marine environment. They occupy empty shells, abandoned holes and crevices In some areas they even take up residence in old cans and bottles. In fact, in the beer bottle field of Santa Monica Bay, nearly every bottle is a home to a fringehead. 

DIET IN THE WILD: omnivores. 

 Sarcastic FringheadLong

REPRODUCTION:he The female lays her eggs routinely in an abandoned burrow and the male to guards the nest.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List; No special status.

REMARKS: N. blanchardi are fiercely territorial at rest in their homes with only their heads protruding. However, upon the first sign of danger, they will employ their enormous mouths and needle like teeth for defense. Initially, they emit only a warning accomplished by the flexing and snapping of their jaws.

LOCATION: Sand dollar exhibit

Referencs

Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org/accounts/Neoclinus_blanchardi/

Eschmeyer, W., O. Herald, H. Hammann, J. Gnagy. 1983. A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Neoclinus-blanchardi.html

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/16123153465/in/set-72157608359804936/

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

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3-24-14 Sixbar Wrasse From Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
March 24, 2014

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

Genus/species: Thalassoma hardwicke

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Adult is pastel blue to pale green with six dark, vertical bars on their body, the last two saddling the tail. The head has a distinct ‘daisy’ print around the eyes made of a few different pastel colors (e.g., pink bands radiating from the eye) in larger adults.  Max length: 20 cm (7.9 in).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found in the tropical Indo-Pacific in shallow lagoons and seaward reefs. Depth to 15 m (50 ft.).

DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivore on benthic and planktonic crustaceans, invertebrates and small fishes.

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REPRODUCTION: Protogynous hermaphrodite; Hermaphroditism occurs when a given individual in a species possesses both male and female reproductive organs, or can alternate between possessing first one, and then the other. The most common pattern is for a female to change into a male (protogyny). This often happens when a large dominant male is removed by a predator. Within a few days, the largest female in the harem becomes a dominant male and takes over the missing male’s function. This pattern is common in coral reef fishes, such as parrotfishes, wrasses, and groupers.
T.hardwicke is a pelagic spawner meaning water currents widely disperse the young. The eggs, embryos and larvae of pelagic spawners contain oil globules or have a high water content. As a result, they are buoyant and are widely dispersed by currents. The downside is that mortality is high, because they can be eaten so easily by pelagic predators. Pelagic spawners who live in or around coral reefs can spawn a small number of eggs almost daily over a period of months.

CONSERVATION: IUCN; least concern

REMARKS. Occur in small, loose groups.

References

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/4390962019/in/set-72157608208133134/

WordPress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-nD

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Thalassoma-hardwicke.html

EOL eol.org/pages/220102/details

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9-23-19 Odessa barb from Ron’s Freshwater Series

Filed under: FRESH WATER FISHES — Leave a comment
September 23, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae (carps, true minnows, and their relatives (as the barbs and barbels).

Genus/species: Pethia padamya

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The male has a beige to light brown background with a bright red stripe running the length of the body. The dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins of the male are yellowish-green in color with contrasting black spots.
The female is light beige with a silvery sheen on the scales. The fins are a light yellowish-green; however, only the dorsal fin contains the contrasting black spots, which are fainter than those of the male. Both sexes have a black and prominent spot in the dorsal area, as well as a smaller spot in the caudal area.
Average length is 4.5cm (about 2 inches).

Odessa Barb 9830830994_eb9d56b36b_h

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Central Myanmar in one pond and one river.

DIET IN THE WILD: Not well-studied, omnivores. Cyprinids are stomachless fish with toothless jaws. Even so, food can be effectively chewed by the pharyngeal teeth the gill rakers of the specialized last gill bow.

REMARKS: Named “Odessa barb” because it was said to have first appeared in pet enthusiast’s circles in Odessa, Ukraine in the early 1970s.

flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/9830830994/in/set-72157608614099673

WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-16w

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12-1-11 Leopard Sharpnose Puffer from Ron’s Coral Reef Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, INDO-PACIFIC — 1 Comment
November 30, 2011

TAXONOMY

Phylum Chordata

Class Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)

Order Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes)

Family Tetraodontidae (Puffers) 

Canthigaster leoparda  

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern Indian Ocean: Christmas Island. Western Pacific: Philippines, Ambon, and Guam. 

 HABITAT: Lives in deep water, usually along deep drop-offs in caves at more than 30 meters depth.

 APPEARANCE: size to 7 cm. (2.75 in).  Topside of face and body are yellow with blue lines; the sides and underside are white with blue spots; the sides with several clusters of brown blotches. Fins clear, except tail.  

 PR11  Color Cluster11-29-11

WORDPRESS SHORTLINK  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-iH

flickr LINK http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/5630165858/in/set-72157625020091079

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