Caribbean and Florida Reef Fish Examples of what you could typically expect to see when out...

Caribbean and Florida Reef FishCaribbean and Florida Reef Fish

Examples of what you could typically expect to see when out

snorkeling/diving.

Things to Look For When Identifying a Fish• Distinctive markings-• Fin shapes• Jaw shapes/structure• Spots, stripes, bars• Eye size• Shape• Location of fins• Make little slogans to

remember their names• *NOTE Some fish in the

juvenile stage do not look the same as the adult this gets tricky! Get yourself a good guide. (There’s one in the references)

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/marine/fish/graphics/fishanatomy.jpg

More Helpful Features

See References for Deloach and Humann Book Great Resource to have!

GREAT BARRACUDA Sphyraena barracuda

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Silver. Long, cylindrical body. 1. Large underslung jaw, pointed teeth often obvious. DESCRIPTION: Usually has scattered, dark blotches. Can darken showing side bands. Dorsal fins widely separated.

SIZE: 1 1/2 - 3 ft. max. 6 ft.

http://www.reef.org/fish/twa/7

BERMUDA CHUB/YELLOW CHUB Kyphosus sectatrix/incisor

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Gray to silver. "Football-shaped" body. (Note: Reliably distinguishing between these two species visually while underwater is considered impossible.)

• DESCRIPTION: Initially appear uniformly gray

to silver; occasionally display whitish blotches. A close look reveals thin yellow to bronze stripes on body and a stripe, bordered in white, under eye from mouth to gill cover.

SIZE: 1-2 ft. max. 2 1/2 ft.


FRENCH GRUNT Haemulon flavolineatum

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow stripes below lateral line set on diagonal.

• DESCRIPTION: • Yellow stripes on a

white to bluish or yellowish silver background. Stripes above lateral line are horizontal. Fins yellow.

SIZE: 6-10 in. max 1 ft.


BLUESTRIPED GRUNT Haemulon sciurus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark tail and rear dorsal fin. 2. Blue stripes.

• DESCRIPTION: Blue stripes over

yellow-gold. Dark tail and dorsal fins have light margins; other fins yellow.

SIZE: 8-14 in. max. 18 in.


YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER Ocyurus chrysurus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant yellow midbody stripe and tail.

• DESCRIPTION: Silvery to white, often

tinged with blue. May have yellow spots on upper body. Tail deeply forked.

SIZE: 1-2 ft. max. 2 1/2 ft.


BICOLOR DAMSELFISH Stegastes partitus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black and white. 1. Forebody is usually black.

• DESCRIPTION: Location of boundary between

dark and pale area varies greatly; dark area may cover only upper head or extend past midbody to base of tail; pale area often yellowish near boundary, especially toward belly. Pale fins may have bluish cast. On rare occasion, there is a reverse color phase.

SIZE: 2 - 3 1/2 in. max. 4 in.


YELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISH Microspathodon chrysurus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Dark body. 1. Yellow tail.

• DESCRIPTION: • Vary from brown to

bluish black. Bright blue speckles on head, back and dorsal fin.

SIZE: 4 - 6 1/2 in. max. 7 1/2 in.


SERGEANT MAJOR Abudefduf saxatilis

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Five black body bars. 2. Upper lip does not overhang lower.

• DESCRIPTION: Upper body usually yellow,

occasionally with shades of green to blue, and white to bluish silver or light gray below. Male becomes dark blue to purple during mating season when guarding reddish purple egg patches.

SIZE: 4 - 6 in. max. 7 in.

BLUE CHROMIS Chromis cyanea

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant blue. 1. Slender, deeply forked tail with dark borders.

• DESCRIPTION: Often dark on nape and

along back.

SIZE: 3 - 4 in. max. 5 in.

BROWN CHROMIS Chromis multilineata

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brown. 1. Border of dorsal fin and tips of tail fin yellow. 2. Dark spot around base of pectoral fin.

• DESCRIPTION: • Vary from brownish gray to

olive-brown. Usually a white or pale yellow spot located just below last dorsal fin ray; may have black borders on tail, primarily in southern Caribbean. Slender, deeply forked tail.

SIZE: 3 - 5 1/2 in. max 6 1/2 in.

FRENCH ANGELFISH Pomacanthus paru

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black with bright yellow rims on scales. 1. Tail rounded.

• DESCRIPTION: Bright yellow ring

around eye. All fins black except base of pectoral which is yellow.

SIZE: 0-14 in. max. 18 in

BANDED BUTTERFLYFISH Chaetodon striatus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Two wide, black midbody bands.

• DESCRIPTION: Silver to white. black

bar on head runs across eye; blackish border on rear of body, base of rear dorsal and anal fins.


FOUREYE BUTTERFLYFISH Chaetodon capistratus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black spot, ringed in white, on rear body near upper base of tail.

• DESCRIPTION: Silver-gray. Marked with

numerous dark, thin lines that radiate at a diagonal from midbody; black bar on hear runs across eye; yellowish submarginal band on rear dorsal, tail and anal fins.


SPOTFIN BUTTERFLYFISH Chaetodon ocellatus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Fins (except pectoral) bright yellow. 2. Black dot on outer edge of rear dorsal fin.

• DESCRIPTION: Silver-white. Black bar on

head runs across eye; may have darkish spot on rear dorsal fin below distinctive black dot noted above.


QUEEN ANGELFISH Holacanthus ciliaris

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark blue spot on forehead, speckled and ringed with brilliant blue, forms the "crown." 2. Tail yellow.

• DESCRIPTION: Blue to greenish blue,

with yellow rims on scales; yellow ventral and pectoral fins; deep blue lips and markings on gill cover; yellowish face.


GRAY ANGELFISH Pomacanthus arcuatus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Gray body. 1. Yellow inner face of pectoral fin. 2. Square-cut tail.

• DESCRIPTION: • Uniformly gray to

grayish brown with light-edged scales.


ROCK BEAUTY Holacanthus tricolor

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Blue overall. 1. White or yellow spine on base of tail.

• DESCRIPTION: Can change from powder

blue to deep purple, and pale or darken. Dorsal and anal fins edged in bright blue. More circular than other surgeonfishes.

SIZE: 5-8 in. max 12 in

OCEAN SURGEONFISH Acanthurus bahianus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Uniform color with no body bars.

• DESCRIPTION: Can change from bluish

gray to dark brown, and pale or darken dramatically. Markings radiate from eye. Blue or white edging on dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have pale band on base of tail.


DOCTORFISH Acanthurus chirurgus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Always have body bars (10-12), although they may be quite faint.

• DESCRIPTION: Can change from bluish

gray to dark brown, and pale or darken dramatically. Several markings radiate from eye. Blue or white edging on dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have pale band on base of tail.


BAR JACK Caranx ruber

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright blue-and-black border on back runs along dorsal fin and onto lower tail fin.

• DESCRIPTION: Silvery. Can darken

almost to black, especially when feeding near bottom.


BLUE TANGAcanthurus coeruleus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Blue bodies laterally compressed with a yellow spine.

• DESCRIPTION: Sharp Caudal Spines

make it difficult for predators to swallow tangs. Juveniles are bright yellow

SIZE: 12 to 39 centimeters

PERMITTrachinotus falcatus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Elongated dorsal fin and anal fin. Deeply forked tails.

• DESCRIPTION: Compressed silver with

high back and rounded snout.

SIZE: 1 to 3 feet

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPEROcyurus chrysurus

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow tail with mid-body stripe

• DESCRIPTION: Back and upper sides are

olive bluish with yellow irregular spots. The belly and lower sides have narrow stripes that are pale red to yellow, and the fins are yellow

SIZE: 1 to 2 feet

SMOOTH TRUNKFISHLactophrys triqueter

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Triangular box body covered with white spots

• DESCRIPTION: Shy but curious fish

that swim slowly above reefs, hovering under ledges or small holes. Prefer warm temperatures (72 - 79 F)

SIZE: 6 to 10 inches

NURSE SHARKGinglymostoma cirratum

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Two equal size dorsal fins; small underside mouth

• DESCRIPTION: Nurse sharks are slow-

moving bottom-dwellers with very strong jaws filled with thousands of tiny, serrated teeth,

SIZE: 5 – 14feet

References:

• REEF Website http://www.reef.org/resources/galleries/caribbean

• Deloach, N., Humann, P., (2002). Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications Inc. Jacksonville, FL.

Caribbean and Florida Reef Fish Examples of what you could typically expect to see when out...

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