AGRRA: Fish Identification Course Revision: 2016-05-25 (Common Names) Images in this presentation are Copyright © by Ken Marks and New World Publications. Copyright © Ocean Research & Education Foundation Permission is granted to use this Powerpoint presentation for educational purposes with the AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for other valid educational purposes. All other uses are strictly prohibited. Angelfishes The angelfish family contains only a handful of species that are thin bodied and have rounded or oval profiles. Angelfishes can be distinguished from the closely related butterflyfishes by the presence of a rear-pointing spine extending from the lower part of the gill cover and their generally larger size compared to the butterflyfish. Two tiny species of angelfishes (genus Centropyge) are not included as they are uncommon species usually restricted to deeper reefs. Yellow tail Dark blue “crown” ringed in brilliant blue Queen Angelfish Body bars curved Queen Angelfish (juvenile) Fins bordered in yellow Blue Angelfish Body bars straight Blue Angelfish (juvenile) Black with yellow rims on scales Rounded tail French Angelfish Yellow oval on curved tail French Angelfish (juvenile) Gray body with dark scales Square-cut tail with light margin Yellow inner face of pectoral Gray Angelfish Square-cut tail with light margin Gray Angelfish (juvenile) Black body Yellow forebody and tail Rock Beauty Black spot ringed in brilliant blue Rock Beauty (juvenile) Butterflyfishes Butterflyfishes, like the closely related angelfishes, are thin bodied fishes that have rounded or oval profiles but they are generally smaller and lack the spine on the gill cover. Butterflyfishes are often seen in pairs as they flit about the reef. Most species have a dark bar running through the eyes to conceal them. This is combined with false eye spots on the tail of most juveniles (and some adults) to further create the illusion that the fish is pointing the other way (to confuse predators). Two black midbody bands Banded Butterflyfish Black spot ringed in white Foureye Butterflyfish Black spot on edge of rear dorsal All fins (except pectoral) bright yellow Spotfin Butterflyfish Broad dark area on rear body Reef Butterflyfish Yellow to black bar runs to eye but not below Long pointed snout Longsnout Butterflyfish Surgeonfishes A sharp scalpel-like spine on either side of the tail base gives this family its name. These herbivorous fishes are often seen as singles or in small groups but they also may form large schools which often use their numbers to overcome the defenses of damselfishes to feed upon their algal gardens. There are only three species in the Tropical Western Atlantic and they all have similar coloration but they can be identified by subtle but reliable distinguishing features. White to yellow spine Blue Tang Bright yellow overall Blue Tang (juvenile) Pectoral fin translucent, often yellowish Ocean Surgeonfish May show faint or bold body bars Dark area at base of pectoral fin Doctorfish Silvery (Miscellaneous) Several families of silvery colored fishes are grouped here (jacks, barracudas, porgies and sea chubs). It is no surprise that the prey items of this diverse group of species covers a wide range. Barracudas and Jacks prey on fishes both up in the water column as well as down on the reef. Porgies feed on benthic invertebrates (including the Long-spined Urchin, Diadema antillarum). Chubs are herbivores feeding on benthic algae. There are actually four nearly identical species of chubs in the area but as they are functionally equivalent on the reef they are recorded generically as chubs rather than to species. Black and bright blue border on back and lower tail Bar Jack High back profile Dark pectoral Orangish area Permit Long, cylindrical body often with scattered black blotches on side Underslung jaw with large teeth Great Barracuda Small black spot on pectoral base Slight overbite Sheepshead Porgy Bluish saucer-shaped line under eye Bluish blotch on Corners of pectoral base mouth yellow Saucereye Porgy Long sloping head Large mouth with thick lips Jolthead Porgy Blue rectangular stripe behind eye Pluma Porgy Football-shaped body Chub (multiple species) Grunts Grunts and snappers (next) are closely related families but grunts are generally smaller and tend to have more deeply notched tails. While they lack the sharp canine teeth of snappers, they do have pharyngeal teeth deep in their throats that when ground together make a grunting sound (amplified by the air-filled swim bladder). Grunts may aggregate in large schools (sometimes of mixed species) during the day resting in sheltered areas on the reef by day. They spread out over sand flats and seagrass beds to feed on benthic invertebrates at night. Diagonal yellow stripes below lateral line French Grunt Dark tail and Blue stripes with rear dorsal black edges Bluestriped Grunt 5 or 6 yellow stripes Small cylindrical body Smallmouth Grunt All fins whitish Checkered pattern on body scales Yellow and blue stripes only on head White Grunt Thin yellow stripes Darkish rear fins Caesar Grunt Yellowish green back Yellow saddle on tail base Black stripes on upper body Spanish Grunt Thick gold line at midbody and thinner line on back Usually dark spot on tail base Tomtate Black stripe runs from snout to eye Black diagonal stripe on back runs onto tail forming V Cottonwick Black spots on scales form diagonal bands Gold ring around eye Sailors Choice High back profile Black patch behind pectoral Black Margate High back profile Small eye with white iris White Margate High back profile Yellow fins Yellow nape Two black bands on head Porkfish Snappers The common name of this family comes from their behavior of snapping their jaws when hooked. Snappers are generally larger than the similarly shaped grunts and have prominent canine teeth and a single, continuous dorsal fin that further helps to distinguish them from grunts. Like grunts, they are also nocturnal hunters feeding on benthic invertebrates as well as small fishes. During the day they may form small to large aggregations but are often solitary. The Yellowtail Snapper is much more streamline shaped with a lower body profile and a widely forked tail. This species is often found well above the reef in mid-water. Usually has midbody spot Blue line below eye Pointed anal fin Mutton Snapper Largest snapper; often silvery gray with no markings but may have faint bars Thick lips with large teeth Cubera Snapper Pale triangular patch under eye Dog Snapper Reddish margin on tail Mahogany Snapper Usually dark blotch on back Narrow parallel yellow stripes on body Lane Snapper Gray often with no markings Occasionally dark band from lip through eye Gray Snapper Yellow midbody stripe merges into yellow tail Yellowtail Snapper Silvery to yellow body with all yellow fins May have faint bars on back (especially young) Schoolmaster Damselfishes Damselfishes are a common inhabitant on most reef habitats and many species can be difficult to identify to species (especially as juveniles). Many damselfish species are planktivores—picking small specks out of the water columns. The only species of interest to AGRRA are the two species that create and tend algal gardens (often killing areas of coral in the process). Yellow crescent over eye Spots on tail base and pectoral fin base Threespot Damselfish Dark body with a few bright blue spots Yellow tail Yellowtail Damselfish Clear tail Blue body with brilliant blue spots Yellowtail Damselfish (juvenile) Groupers/Sea Basses Groupers are the best known members of the sea bass family and the only part of that family of interest to AGRRA. The large groupers in the genera Epinephelus and Mycteroperca are often some of the first species to disappear from over-fished reefs. Often, only the smaller grouper species in the genus Epinephelus and those in the genus Cephalopholis may be left in any abundance on reefs receiving fishing pressure. On reefs with severely degraded fish populations these too may be absent. Most groupers tend to remain relatively hidden during the day lurking in the shadows of ledges or wrecks and blending in with their surroundings with colors and markings that provide camouflage. All large groupers should be counted but only common species are shown here. Diagonal bands on head Black saddle spot on tail base Dark bars on body Nassau Grouper Rectangular markings on back Pale edge on pectoral Black Grouper Oval markings on back Dark margin on tail Yellow to pale outer edge of pectoral Yellowfin Grouper Pectoral margins pale Yellow around corners of mouth Yellowmouth Grouper Diagonal “tiger-stripe” bars on back Tiger Grouper 3 to 5 dark spots along base of dorsal fin Tail more rounded than similar species Graysby Tail and rear fins have dark margin with thin white edge Red Hind Dark blotches along back Black saddle on tail base Rock Hind Two black spots Two black spots on lower lip on tail base Reddish-brown color phase Coney Bicolor phase Coney Golden variation (rare) Coney Parrotfishes Parrotfishes have teeth fused into parrot-like beaks and strong jaws. These adaptations serve them well as they feed by scraping algae from areas of dead coral. Occasionally, they will also bite live coral—in some cases leaving bright white scars to mark the boundaries of their territory. Like the closely related wrasses, parrotfishes have several life stages marked with, often drastically different, colors and markings which can make identification difficult.