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Caribbean Fish Slideshow # 2. Family groups from P - W Lifestyle groupings 2008 Edition. Snappers. Snap jaws when hooked by anglers Slightly upturned mouths. Schoolmaster Snapper. Silver body All fins are yellow Often school Juvenile. Yellow tail Snapper. Streamlined body
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Caribbean FishSlideshow # 2 Family groups from P - W Lifestyle groupings 2008 Edition
Snappers • Snap jaws when hooked by anglers • Slightly upturned mouths
Schoolmaster Snapper • Silver body • All fins are yellow • Often school • Juvenile
Yellow tail Snapper • Streamlined body • Yellow tail • Yellow line running length of body
Mahogany Snapper • Reddish tinge • Red border on fins • Sometimes black dot below rear dorsal
Dog Snapper • Note pale band down from eye 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet long
Surgeonfish Family • Have a collapsible razor sharp “scalpel” on either side at the base of the tail • defense • anchoring in reef • Very oval body shape • Scales NOT conspicuous
Blue Tang (immature) • Spine on lateral surface of tail base • Distinct oval shape
Blue Tang • Spine on base of tail • Oval shaped body
Doctor Fish • Spine on base of tail • Vertical bars always present, but may be faint
Surgeonfish • Spine on base of tail • Bars absent • Body oblong instead of circular to oval
Triggerfish and Filefish • All have a skinny foredorsal fin that can be extended up for defense • Triggerfish can lock this fin into the upright position
Black Durgon • Black Body • Pale blue line along base of dorsal and anal fin • trigger
Queen Triggerfish • Dorsal and anal fin extend backwards • Blue stripes on face • Dark lines extend from eye
Ocean Triggerfish • Gray in color • Black spot at base of pectoral fin
Slender Filefish • Always found in heavy cover • Look in soft corals • Note “trigger” dorsal fin
Scrawled Filefish • Blue spots • Irregularly shaped blacked dots • Elongated body with fan shaped tail
Whitespotted Filefish • Belly extends downward • Orange Spine at base of tail
Wrasses & Hogfishes • Most are cigar shaped • All show prominent scales • Many have “buck teeth” for crushing crustaceans • Related to Parrott Fish
Yellowhead Wrasse • Yellow head in mature stage • Two bars or dots behind eye • Body tapers dorsally
Immature Bluehead Wrasse • Black spot on dorsal fin • Two black spots behind eye
Bluehead Wrasse – “supermale” phase • Blue head • Two dark bars behind head • Usually with “harem” of yellow females
Creole Wrasse • Dark Purple to lavender • Older fish develop yellow on their underbelly • Schools often patrol the wall
Puddingwife • Yellowish margin on tail • 5 white blotches along back
Spanish Hogfish • Act as cleaners when immature • Constantly swim above reef
Hogfish • First 3 spines of dorsal fin are long • Change color quickly when moving from sand reef • Color over sand
Bridled Goby • Two dorsal fins • Light line from mouth to gill cover
Glass Goby • Bright dots along lateral surface • Clear fins and body
Cleaning Goby • Bright V on head fades as it moves towards the tail • Two dorsal fins • Found on ground and at cleaning stations
Goldspot Goby • 2 dorsal fins • Gold spot above operculum
Redlip Blenny • Blunt reddish/brown head • Large lips
Green Razorfish • Pink eye • Black spot at midbody • Tapered body
Rosy Razorfish • Tail margin straight • Tapered body
Yellowheaded Jawfish • Seen on sandflats • Moves Rock around the burrow • Yellow/Green Head • Moves up and down into the sand
Sand Tilefish • Elongated body • C shaped tail-margin • Dorsal and anal fin run nearly the length of the body • Seen on sand flats
Sanddiver • Noticeable blue and gold horizontal stripes
Peacock Flounder • Found in shallows • Swims flat • Blue dots as seen on the tail of a peacock
Yellowtail Goatfish • Flattened ventral surface • Yellow line running along the lateral surface • Barbels used to grub in sand
Spotted Goatfish • Flattened ventral surface • Barbels used to grub in sand • Inactive/night colors:
Flat Needlefish • Silver body • Found in shallows • Often jump when disturbed • Dark bars on body • May be confused with Houndfish
Cero • Silver • Streamlined body • Noticeable projections from dorsal and ventral surface near the base of the tail
Bermuda Chub • Silver, football shaped body
Flat Needlefish • Silver body • Found in shallows • Often jump when disturbed • Dark bars on body • May be confused with Houndfish
Glassy Sweeper • Juveniles almost transparent • Coppery-silvery • Pronounced dip along ventral surface
Bar Jack • Bright blue/black border that runs along the dorsal surface to the tail • Streamlined body
Horse Eye Jack • In schools • Often maneuver in tight schools • Huge eye
Palometta (Jack Family) • Note faint bars on body • long extensions on dorsal & anal fins