Northeast Gulf Science Volume 10 Article 1 Number 1 Number 1

12-1988 New Records of in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with Notes on Some Rare Species George D. Dennis Texas A&M University

Thomas J. Bright Texas A&M University

DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/goms

Recommended Citation Dennis, G. D. and T. J. Bright. 1988. New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with Notes on Some Rare Species. Northeast Gulf Science 10 (1). Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf of Mexico Science by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northeast Gulf Science Vol. 10, No. 1, December 1988 p. 1-18

NEW RECORDS OF FISHES IN THE NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO, WITH NOTES 9N SOME RARE SPECIES

George D. Dennis 1

Thomas J. Bright

Department of Oceanography Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843

ABSTRACT: Based on submersible, SCUBA, and trawl collections 14 new records are reported for the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. In addition the distribution of eight rare species are discussed in detail.

Recent investigations on offshore Although, it is now evident that large banks and oil platforms have revealed a populations of tropical reef fish occur diverse tropical reef fish fauna on hard year-round on the Flower Garden banks substrate in the northwestern Gulf of and other natural hard banks under Mexico (Bright and Cashman, 1974; insular environmental conditions (Dennis Sonnier eta/., 1976; Dennis and Bright, and Bright, 1988). 1988). This so-called warm temperate Extensive offshore oil exploration in region (Briggs, 1974), which is generally the northwestern Gulf has enhanced the characterized by turbid waters, vast amount of hard substrate habitat, by pro­ expanses of mud bottom, and widely viding oil platforms available for reef­ fluctuating temperature regime, never­ dwelling organisms (Gallaway, 1981; theless harbors a typical, though Gallaway and Lewbel, 1982). Biological somewhat depauperate, Caribbean fish studies of natural hard bank and oil plat­ fauna. Prior to reports cited above most form faunas, under the auspices of the tropical fish were reported infrequently National Marine Fisheries Service in this region (Woods, 1942; Baughman, (NMFS) and Bureau of Land Manage­ 1947, 1950a, 1950b; Gunter and Knapp, ment (BLM) (now Mineral Management 1951; Hoese, 1958; Moseley, 1966; Service (MMS) ). have revealed several Causey, 1969). In general tropical fishes new additions to ichthyofauna of this were thought to be transient members region. These new records are reported (i.e., not able to sustain permanent herein and several previously reported populations) of the ichthyofauna brought but questionable records are discussed into the region by currents from more in light of the transient to permanent southerly Caribbean populations (Briggs, nature of the northwestern Gulf tropical 1958; Caldwell, 1959, 1963; ·Dawson, ichthyofauna. 1962b). This region is classified as a continental-type ichthyofauna rather METHODS than the insular fauna known from the Caribbean (Robins, 1971; Gilbert, 1972). Many new records and observations of reef fish were obtained during the BLM 1Present address: Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR topographical features studies from 1974 00709-5000. to 1981 (Rezak eta/., 1985). The research Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1988 1 1 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 10 [1988], No. 1, Art. 1

2 Dennis. G. D. and T. S. Bright

submersible DIAPHUS was the primary lected are deposited in the Texas vehicle of collection during this study, Cooperative Wildlife Collection (TCWC) with supplemental SCUBA diver collec­ at Texas A&M University, College Sta­ tions. In many instances color photo­ tion, TX, except where noted. Additional graphs taken from the submersible or by specimens were examined or deposited divers were used to confirm sight at Texas A&M University at Galveston records. All photographs reported herein (TAMUG), Gulf Coast Research are archived in the Texas A&M Univer­ Laboratory (GCRL), Ocean Springs, MS, sity, Department of Oceanography Syste­ and California Academy of Science matic Collection, College Station, TX (CAS), San Francisco, CA. 77843. Several species were collected by Table 1 lists the locations of banks shrimp trawlers during studies of inshore and oil platforms where samples were soft bottom fish communities at the collected during this study. Under each Buccaneer Oil and Gas Field (BGOF) off species account information is listed as Galveston, Texas (Gallaway, eta!., 1981b) to the date of coll~ction (or observation), and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve number of individuals, size range in brine disposal site off Freeport, Texas millimeters standard length (in paren­ (Chittenden et at., 1981). Specimens col- theses), location, depth, collection

Table 1. Locations of sites referred to in this report. Oil platforms designated by their Mineral Manage· ment Service area and block number. Latitude and longitude reported in degrees and minutes.

Location Latitude (N) Longitude (W)

Hard Banks Applebaum 27° 33' 94° 15' Aransas 27° 35' 96° 27' Baker 27° 45' 96° 14' Bouma 28° 02' 92° 27' Bright 27° 53' 93° 18' Diaphus 28° 05' 93° 55' Dream 27° 03' 96° 42' East Flower Garden (EFG) 27° 54' 93° 36' Elvers 27° 50' 92° 54' Ewing 28° 06' 91° 02' Fishnet 28° 09' 91 ° 48' Geyer 27° 51' 93° 04' Hospital (Rock) 27° 33' 96° 29' Jakkula 27° 59' 91° 40' Rezak-Sidner 27° 57' 92° 23' Sackett 28° 38' 89° 33' Southern 27° 26' 96° 31' Stetson 28° 10' 94 ° 18' West Flower Garden (WFG) 27° 52' 93° 48' 18 Fathom (Rankin) 27° 58' 92° 36' 28 Fathom 27° 55' 93° 27' 32 Fathom 28° 04' 94° 32' Oil Platforms Buccaneer Gas & Oil Field GA-288 and GA-296 (BGOF) 28° 53' 94° 42' Hl-389 27° 54' 93° 38' Hl-595 27° 53' 93° 59' Ml-749 27° 44' 97° 01' SPI-1048 26° 31' 97° 08' VM·241 28° 38' 92° 32' https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 2 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 3

method, and catalog number (if the color phase of the similar frogfish available). Species names follow the species A. (Lophocharon) tenebrosus nomenclature of Robins et a!. (1980). Poey (see Schultz, 1957; pl. ?a). The esca was not evident in macroscopic examin­ SPECIES ACCOUNTS ation of the first dorsal spine. It may have been broken off during capture, though OPH ICHTHI DAE Schultz (1957) reported no filaments at Myrichthys acuminatus (Gronow) the tip of the first dorsal in A. tenebrosus. sharptail eel The illicium was about twice the length 30 September 1978; 1; EFG; 56 m; of the second dorsal spine. Bohlke and photograph. Chaplin (1968) regarded A. tenebrosus A single individual of the sharptail and A. multiocellatus as separate eel was identified from a color species but Randall (1983) questioned transparency taken from the research the validity of A. tenebrosus. Since then submersible DIAPHUS at the East Flower Pietsch and Grobecker (1987) have Garden bank. This eel was observed on synonymized A. tenebrosus with A. a night dive within an aggregation of multiocel/atus. white urchins (Pseudoboletia maculata). Pale green background color and the OGCOCEPHALI DAE lack of ocellation around the white spots Ogcocephalus corniger Bradbury separate this species from M. ocu/atus longsnout batfish Kaup (Bohlke and Chaplin, 1968). This 3 August 1971; 1(141); 23°54.45'N, tropical species was previously reported 97°13'W; 167m; 20-m trawl (TCWC from the Gulf of Mexico at OREGON sta­ uncat.) tion 313 (79 m) south of Mobile Bay, 20 November 1972; 2(184-187); EFG; Alabama (Springer and Bullis, 1956) and 80-120 m; dredge. (TCWC 5153.1) at Garden Key, Dry Tortugas, Florida (Jor­ 12 October 1978; 1; Geyer; 78 m; dan and Bradby, 1892). photograph. 19 October 1978; 2; Jakkula; 110-116 ANTENNARIIDAE m; photograph. Antennarius mu/tiocel/atus 9 March 1979; 2(35-49); 28°54'N, (Valenciennes) longlure frogfish 94 °41 'W; 21 m; 12.2-m trawl. 24 September 1981; 1; 28°14'N, 10 April1979; 2(134-151); 27°56.30'N, 94°32'W; 48 m; 12.2-m trawl (TCWC 95°15.10'W; 86 m; 10.3-m trawl. uncat.). (TCWC 3342.4) One longlure frogfish was taken Previously known from the north­ while trawling off Sabine Pass, Texas western Gulf (based on one specimen over a shell-sand bottom. This frogfish taken by trawl just west of the Missis­ was kept alive in an aquarium and color sippi delta at the shelf edge 182 m) transparencies were taken. Body color (SILVER BAY Station 175; Bradbury, was bright orange with a white mottling; 1980), this species' range is extended fur­ dark spots were conspicuous on the up­ ther west to off Galveston, Texas and per body surface, dorsal, caudal, and into the southern Gulf off Rio Soto La anal fins. The specimen was partially Marina, Mexico. Two specimens of the consumed by a spiny lobster while in the longsnout batfish from the base of the aquarium, and thus was preserved in East Flower Garden bank were previ­ poor condition. This specimen matched ously erronously reported by Cashman

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4 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

(1973) as 0. vespertilio. Ogcocephalus common squirrelfish below 30 m corniger is the most commonly observed (Randall, 1983). One specimen was batfish on soft bottom around the bases reported by Darcy and Gutherz (1984) of the hard banks. Two juvenile from the southwestern Florida shelf specimens were also taken by trawl off (eastern Gulf of Mexico). This species Galveston at 21 m depth. Bradbury's may be an ecological replacement for H. (1980) revision of the western Atlantic bullisi, which is the common deepwater Ogcocepha/us has resulted in squirrelfish in the northeastern Gulf, nomenclatural changes for all species of southeastern U.S. Atlantic coast and batfish known from the northwestern Bermuda (Woods and Sonoda, 1973; Gulf. The longsnout batfish is not Shipp and Hopkins, 1978). Holocentrus uncommon in the eastern Gulf, but is not bullisi has only been reported from the restricted to that region as suggested by northwestern Gulf based on one Bradbury's records. Once other north­ specimen (106 mm SL) taken by trawl western Gulf batfish specimens are more south of Galveston, Texas (OREGON Sta­ closely examined, 0. corniger will prob­ tion 1795, 28°04'N, 94°51 'W, 64 m) (Bullis ably be as frequently reported in the and Thompson, 1965). northwestern Gulf as in the eastern Gulf. EXOCOETIDAE HOLOCENTRI DAE Hemiramphus batao Lesueur balao Ho/ocentrus marianus (Cuvier) 19 October 1979; 1 (171); 27°56'N, longjaw squirrelfish 93°36'W; surface; dipnet. 27 August 1976; 1; 28 Fathom; 72 m; This halfbeak was dipnetted at the photograph. surface near the East Flower Garden 31 August 1976; 1; 28 Fathom; 52 m; bank. One specimen was retained for photograph. identification while several others were 11 September 1977; 1; Ewing; 58 m; discarded. It did not possess the photograph. characteristic red coloration on the tip of 28 September 1977; 1; 18 Fathom; 47 the lower jaw and upper caudal fin lobe, m; photograph. but the pectoral fin length was greater 29 September 1977; 1; Bouma; 82 m; than the distance from the pectoral fin photograph. base to the anterior edge of the nostril. 6 September 1978; 1; EFG; 81 m; The balao tends to range farther offshore photograph. than H. brasiliensis (Linnaeus), although 16 October 1978; 1; Diaphus; 84 m; both have been taken together in the photograph. Bahamas (Bohlke and Chaplin, 1968). In 22 October 1978; 1; EFG; ?·. ' the Gulf of Mexico H. batao has been photograph. found 56 to 117 km offshore (off the con­ Longjaw squirrelfish records are tinental shelf) from Veracruz to Tampico, restricted to shelf-edge banks of the Mexico and there is a single record for northwestern Gulf of Mexico with all but the northern Gulf, 184 km south of Tim­ one individual (18 Fathom bank) balier, Louisiana (Springer and Bullis, observed in the algal-sponge zone 1956). It was thought to be a tropical (Dennis and Bright, 1988). Holocentrus straggler in this region, but may repre­ marianus is found in the West Indies sent a small shelf-edge population. The from the Bahamas to Trinidad (Woods present specimen is the first continental and Sonoda, 1973), where it is the most shelf record of Hemiramphus batao in https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 4 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 5

the northwestern Gulf. Epinephe/us (Dermatolepis) inermis (Valenciennes) marbled grouper SERRANIDAE August 1977; 1; Flower Gardens; Epinephelus (Cephalopholis) fulvus ?; photograph, submersible. (Linnaeus) coney 25 September 1977; 2; Bright; 68 m; 12 October 1978; 1; Geyer; 50 m; photograph, submersible. visual sighting, submersible. 28 September 1977; 1; 18 Fathom; 47 21 October 1981; 1; WFG; 21 m; m; photograph, submersible. visual sighting, diver. 12 October 1978; 1; Geyer; 91 m; 15 August 1983; 2; EFG; 21m; visual photograph, submersible. sightings, diver. 20 October 1978; 1; Elvers; 79 m; 28 October 1983; 2; EFG; 21 m; photograph, submersible. photograph, diver. 1980; 3; WFG; 70 m; photograph, This small serranid, one of the most submersible. abundant groupers on Caribbean coral See Table 2 for visual sightings. reefs, has only recently been reported The marbled grouper was originally from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico reported from the northwestern Gulf at (Cordova, 1986). Four additional individ­ the West Flower Garden bank not long uals have now been reported from the ago (Bright and Cashman, 1974), and northwestern Gulf. Two individuals were more recently in the eastern Gulf observed during SCUBA dives at the East (Bullock and Godcharles, 1982). It was Flower Garden and one at the West the most commonly diver-observed large Flower Garden; one small pale colored grouper at the Flower Garden banks until grouper observed at Geyer bank is October 1981, when it was replaced in believed to be the xanthic form of E. abundance by the tiger grouper (see fulvus. All remaining individuals were below). It is reported from submersible either brown/white or red/white bicolor observations only on shelf-edge banks at phases. The lack of records prior to 1980 six locations (Table 2). and the contemporaneous occurrence of On four occasions the distinctively the tiger grouper (see below) suggests an colored young of this species were unusual recruitment event from outside observed (Figure 1). Interestingly, in all the region. This species is believed to be instances they were associated with transient in the northwestern Gulf and aggregations of sea urchins (Astropyga seems to occur under similar circum­ magnifica Clark) at Bright (2, 68 m), Geyer stances in the eastern Gulf (Smith, 1976). (1, 91 m), Rezak-Sidner (1, ?), and WFG The coney may require shallow-water (3, 70 m) banks. On approach of the coral reef habitats (<20 m) during early submersible these young marbled life history stages which are lacking in groupers would retreat amongst the the northwestern Gulf. closely packed urchins. The exclusive Table 2. Depth range, abund&o1ce (number per nour of submersible survey time), and number observed of Epinephe/us inermis on the hard banks of the northwestern Gulf based on submersible observations. Depth No. Depth No. Bank Range Abun. Obs. Bank Range Abun. Obs. Bright 52 0.81 6 Geyer 37-67 1.31 14 EFG 21-82 0.10 7 Rezak-Sidner 59-64 0.53 7 Elvers 79 0.17 1 WFG 21-70 0.17 4 Ewing 61 0.30 1 18 Fathom 44-47 0.91 4

Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1988 5 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 10 [1988], No. 1, Art. 1

6 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

Figure 1. Young marbled grouper (E. inermis) associated with urchin aggregation at West Flower Garden (70 m).

occurrence of young marbled grouper species occurring throughout the Carib· with urchin aggregations apparently as bean (Colin, 1974; 1976). It is apparently a refuge from predation suggests that replaced in abundance by Anthias this may be a significant life history nicholsi Firth in the northeastern Gulf of aspect, at least in this region. Mexico (Shipp and Hopkins, 1978) and southeastern U.S. Atlantic coast Holanthias martinicensis (Burgess eta!., 1979). (Guichenot) roughtongue bass The roughtongue bass was first 1 June 1975; 3; Southern; 67 m; identified in this region from a specimen photograph. taken in a dredge sample at Applebaum 22 June 1975; 1; EFG; 67 m; bank (verified by Dr. William Anderson, photograph. Grice Marine Lab., Charleston, SC). 27 August 1976; 18; 28 Fathom; 76 Earlier, an anthiin species denoted as m; photograph. deep-reef fish species "A" was observed 12 September 1977; 3; Sackett; 64 m; to be common at the depths of 80 to photograph. 125 mat the West Flower Garden bank 28 September 1977; 20; 18 Fathom; (Fig. 46; p. 51; Bright eta!., 1974). This 81 m; photograph. form was also determined to be H. mar­ 29 September 1977; 4; Bouma; 82 m; tinicensis by the junior author who photograph. commented on its wide distribution in 10 October 1978; 1(69); Applebaum; the but gave no further details (Bright et 85 m; rock dredge. (TCWC 3707.1) a!., 1980). Table 3 lists the depth range 16 October 1978; 1; Diaphus; 84 m; and abundance of the roughtongue bass photograph. based on submersible observations from 16 October 1978; 2; Diaphus; 91 m; other hard tJanks in the northwestern photograph. Gulf. This species is the most con­ 22 October 1982; 2(82, 91); 27°53'W; spicuous and common member of the 110 m; 12.2-m trawl. drowned reef community, where it was Numerous locations for visual observed to hover up to a meter above sightings (see Table 3). drowned reefs from 57 to 140m (Dennis Holanthias martinicensis is the only and Bright, 1988). In situ colors, based on deep-bodied anthiin species known from Kodoachrome transparencies, indicate a the northwestern Gulf and is an insular blue hue to the pelvic and anal fins and https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 6 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 7

Table 3. Depth range, abundance (number per hour of submersible survey time), and number observed of Holanthias martinicensis on the hard banks of the northwestern Gulf based on submersible observations. Depth No. Depth No. Bank Range A bun. Obs. Bank Range A bun. Obs. Alderdice 62· 76 0.75 3 Geyer 64-100 2.25 24 Aransas 61 0.47 1 Hospital 59· 67 1.45 10 Baker 57· 64 3.70 6 Jakkula 70· 98 5.45 14 Bouma 67· 82 36.00 126 Rezak-Sidner 85-127 5.43 20 Diaphus 82·107 22.77 87 Sackett 62· 66 7.19 34 Dream 62 1.33 4 South Baker 63· 76 17.97 23 EFG 61· 94 4.40 87 Southern 61· 70 2.09 10 Elvers 82· 94 3.97 23 WFG 64-140 31.03 423 Ewing 70· 79 12.01 40 18 Fathom 81· 91 0.68 3 Fishnet 64· 73 7.49 29 28 Fathom 66-116 4.36 49 a distinctive dark bar (yellow if the light 21 October 1981; 1; WFG; 23 m; source was close enough) across the visual sighting, diver. mid-body just behind the pelvic fins. This 14-15 August 1983; 2; EFG; 21 m; bar corresponds with the posterior visual sightings, diver. yellow body blotches shown in Robins et 28-29 October 1983; 6; EFG; 21 m; a/. (1986; PL. 26), but no dark line on the visual sightings, diver. dorsal profile was evident. The elongate The tiger grouper was originally third dorsal spine was quite prominent recorded in a photograph at the West on some individuals and may be a secon­ Flower Garden bank (1970), and was ten­ dary sex characteristic. Two additional tatively reported on the coral reef at the specimens were collected between the West Flower Garden bank in 1971 (Taylor East and West Flower Garden banks by and Bright, 1973). The next record of t raw I on 22 October 1982. Both occurrence is a 1976 photograph of M. specimens possessed the characteristic tigris at the West Flower Garden bank. anchor-shaped vomerine tooth patch and In recent quarterly sampling (October oval tooth patch on the tongue (Ander­ 1978 to October 1983) at the East Flower son and Heemstra, 1980). The third dor­ Garden bank this species was first sal spine was elongate in one specimen, observed in June 1979 and subsequently but no filamentous caudal-fin rays were became the most common large grouper present. species observed by the senior author in the coral reef zone, replacing the mar­ Mycteroperca tigris bled grouper in abundance. Two speci­ (Valenciennes) tiger grouper mens of M. tigris were collected by spear September 1970; 2; WFG; 25 m; in July 1981 to verify this identification. photograph. Both specimens possessed the distinc­ 21 November 1976; 1; WFG; 26 m; tive striped pattern of the tiger grouper photograph. and low gill raker counts of eight on the 3 June 1979; 1; EFG; 22 m; first arch lower limb (Smith, 1971). photograph. The sporadic observation of this 9 July 1981; 2 (219, 635); EFG; 21 m; species suggests a transient occurrence spear, diver. in the northwestern Gulf. The tendency 17 October 1981; 10; EFG; 21m; of this grouper to aggregate and follow visual sightings, diver. divers supports the belief that the lack Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1988 7 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 10 [1988], No. 1, Art. 1

8 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

of observations between 1972-1976 and dant on shelf-edge banks where the 1976-1979 are real and that, in recent algal-sponge zone is most well years, the tiger grouper has become developed (Table 4). This species is more abundant at the Flower Garden found at similar depths in the Florida banks. The tiger grouper is previously Keys (Starck, 1968) and throughout the reported in the southern Gulf of Mexico Antilles to Brazil (Robins and Starck, at Cayo Areas (Smith, 1971), Cayo Arenas 1961). Based on its geographic range and (Taylor and Bright, 1973) and Triangulos distribution in this region, the species Oeste (Chavez, 1966) and quite recently should be considered an insular form. in the eastern Gulf (Bullock and God­ charles, 1982). MALACANTH I DAE Caulolatilus cyanops Serranus annu/aris Poey blackline tilefish (Gunther) orangeback bass 28 January 1971; 1; 28°04.0'N, 18 September 1976; 1; Southern; 61 91 °27.5'W; 117 m; 6.1-m trawl. m; photograph. (TCWC 5149.1) 25 September 1977; 1; Bright; 52 m; 15 July 1981; 2(211, 314); WFG; 91 m; photograph. hook and line. 22 June 1975; 1; EFG; 55 m; Two specimens of the blackline photograph. tilefish were caught on hook and line at 29 August 1976; 1; EFG; 57 m; the West Flower Garden over a carbo­ photograph. nate rubble bottom. Several tilefish of 31 August 1976; 1; 28 Fathom; 57 m; this were observed from the photograph. submersible at the hard banks, but no Numerous locations for visual distinctive markings were evident in sightings (see Table 4). photographs that allowed further identi­ Serranus annularis is reported as a fication. Early reports of C. cyanops from new record to the northwestern Gulf of the region proved to be C. intermedius Mexico. This distinctively colored bass is Howell (Hoese, 1958; Dooley, 1978). an "indicator" species of the algal­ Previous records from the Gulf of Mex­ sponge zone, where it is one of the most ico are from the Dry Tortugas, Florida abundant species (Dennis and Bright, (Longley and Hildebrand, 1941) and 1988). The orangeback bass is a dimin­ Yucatan, Mexico (Dooley, 1978). One utive form (to 65 mm-SL) which uses the additional specimen of this species was spaces among coralline algal nodules for found in the TCWC (determined by J.E. shelter. Serranus annularis is most abun- McEachran, Dept. Wildlife & Fisheries,

Table 4. Depth range, abundance (number per hour of submersible survey time), and number observed of Serra nus annu/aris on the hard banks of the northwestern Gulf based on submersible observations. Depth No. Depth No. Bank Range Abun. Obs. Bank Range Abun. Obs. Bouma 61 0.57 2 Jakkula 64·67 1.17 3 Bright 52·69 1.89 14 Sackett 64·72 2.75 13 EFG 47·79 0.81 34 Southern 61 0.21 1 Elvers 67·68 0.34 2 WFG 50·73 0.93 11 Ewing 58·67 4.20 14 18 Fathom 43·78 1.37 6 Geyer 75·78 1.03 11 28 Fathom 52-75 0.53 6 Hospital 60 0.29 2 https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 8 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 9

Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX) 12 September 1977; 2; Bright; 55 m; collected by trawl at the shelf edge, west photograph. of Ewing bank. These records represent 30 September 1978; 1; EFG; 82 m; a range extension from the Yucatan photograph. Peninsula to the northwestern Gulf. 5 September 1984; 1; EFG; 21 m; photograph. SPARIDAE The greenblotch parrotfish was first Upon the examination of many reported in the Gulf of Mexico from off Calamus specimens from the hard banks Panama City, Florida (Williams and and in regional museums it became Shipp, 1980) and this report represents apparent that only two species could be the first records for the northwestern confirmed in the northwestern Gulf: Gulf. Six individuals of the greenblotch Calamus leucosteus Jordan and Gilbert parrotfish were identified in color trans­ and C. nodosus Randall and Caldwell. parencies taken on the northwestern This is in agreement with the study of Gulf hard banks. The diminutive size of Calamus by Randall and Caldwell (1966), this species (to 100-mm TL) and its although historically Calamus bajonado tendency to lay still on the bottom when (Schneider) and C. macrops (since then approached reduces the chance of synonymized with bajonado) were observing S. atomarium from the sub­ reported from the region (Baughman, mersible. An intensive search for this 1950b). The senior author examined the species by the senior author in the coral specimens from the Stanford University reef zone at the EFG revealed only one museum (now housed at the California individual, which was observed and Academy of Science) reported by photographed at 21 m. Sparisoma Baughman as C. bajonado and C. atomarium may be represented by a resi­ macrops from off Texas, and found all dent population in this region based in six specimens (CAS-SU- 40480, 40481, its wide distribution here. It is apparently 40482) to be C. leucosteus. One other most common at deeper (below 50 m} species, C. arctifrons Goode and Bean, depths (Randall, 1965), yet it is not has been reported from only two loca­ uncommon at depths as shallow as 10m tions in the northwestern Gulf (OREGON in the Florida Keys where it could easily Stations 295 and 1795; Bullis and Thomp­ be mistaken for juveniles of Sparisoma son, 1965). The above suggests a depau­ aurofrenatum and S. radians (GDD, pers. perate Calamus fauna in the north­ obs.). western Gulf when compared with the six species known from the northeastern OPISTOGNATH I DAE Gulf. Opistognathus aurifrons (Jordan and Thompson) yellowhead SCARIDAE jawfish Sparisoma atomarium 11 September 1977; 1; Ewing; 58 m; (Poey} greenblotch parrotfish photograph. May 1972; 1; WFG; 49 m; 25 September 1977; 6; Bright; 59 m; photograph. visual sightings, submersible. 29 August 1976; 1; EFG; 57 m; 23 September 1978; 1; WFG; 49 m; photograph. visual sighting, submersible. 12 September 1976; 1; Hospital; 60 27 September 1979; 4; EFG; 32 m; m; photograph. photograph.

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10 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

15 August 1983; 8; EFG; 25 m; Mexico. This specimen differed from photograph. previous accounts in the following The is a new meristic count: anal Ill, 11. record to the northwestern Gulf ichthyo­ This specimen was much more col­ fauna. Previously 0. aurifrons was known orful than previously described by from as deep as 50 m off the Florida Keys Longley and Hildebrand (1941) and (Colin, 1972). The sporadic sightings Bohlke and Thomas (1961). Coloration suggest a transient nature to its occur­ was similar to Plate 43 in Robins et a!. rence in the northwestern Gulf. Four (1986), but the body was darker com­ individuals of the yellowhead jawfish parable to Fig. 355 in Walls (1975). were observed to form a "colony" in a rubble trough at the base of the high CLINIDAE diversity coral reef at the East Flower Emblemaria atlantica Garden bank in September 1979, but Jordan and Evermann banner subsequently disappeared. Another col­ blenny ony of eight individuals (one juvenile) 8 October 1980; 1(57); WFG; 75 m; was sighted in August 1983 within a sand submersible arm (TCWC 3818.1). flat (25 m) in the coral reef zone at the This species is another fish origi­ EFG. Eight jawfish observed from the nally described from the gut contents of submersible at Ewing, Bright, and WFG red snappers off Pensacola, Fla. (Jordan banks were identified as 0. aurifrons and Evermann, 1898). It has since been based on coloration, colonial aggrega­ reported on "rocky" reefs off Tampa, Fla. tion, and hovering behavior known only (17-18 m) (Springer and Woodburn, 1960), in this species (Colin, 1972). The Ewing frequently at the Florida Middle Ground bank individual possessed the dusky (Clarke, 1986), and from Bermuda head typical of Bahamian specimens (Stephens, 1970). An adu It male while the remaining individuals observed Emblemaria atlantica specimen, the first possessed all-yellow heads (Bohlke and from the northwestern Gulf, was col­ Thomas, 1961). lected by the submersible along with several algal nodules at 75 m on the Opistognathus /onchurus Jordan and WFG. Dr. John Stephens (Occidental Col­ Gilbert lege, Los Angeles, CA.) kindly verifed this 10 October 1978; 1(60); 32 Fathom; identification. 54 m; rock trawl; photograph. (TCWC 5152.1). BLENNIIDAE Opistognathus Jonchurus was Hypsoblennius invemar originally described from specimens col­ Smith-Vaniz and Acero tesselated lected from the stomachs of red snapper blenny (Lut janus campechanus Poey) at the December 1979; occasional; BGOF; snapper banks off Pensacola, Fla. (Jor­ 1-3 m; visual sighting, diver. dan and Gilbert, 1882). It is now known March 1980; frequent; BGOF; 1-3m; from the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Powell visual sighting, diver. eta/., 1972), Dry Tortugas (Longley and 22 June 1981; 9(33-40); VM-241-A; Hildebrand, 1941), Haiti, and South 1-15 m; hand net, diver (TCWC America (Bohlke and Thomas, 1961). Our 6322.1). specimen is the first record of this July 1981; rare; Hl-595; 2m; visual species from the northwestern Gulf of sighting, diver. https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 10 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 11

August 1981; occasional; SPI-1048; nacle Megaba/anus antil/ensis (Pilsbry) 1-3 m; visual sighting, diver. ( = Balanus tintinnabu/um) in which it August 1981; frequent; MU-749L-1; makes its home. The tesselated blenny 1-3 m; visual sighting, diver. is found on nearshore platforms off 29 May 1983; occasional; Ml-749; south Texas to the continental shelf 1-2.5 m; visual sighting, diver. edge (HI-389). It rarely ranges deeper 26 March 1984; rare; Hl-389; 2 m; than 3 m, though when potential shelters visual sighting, diver. (dead barnacles) are rare, it was found as 4 September 1984; frequent; Hl-389; deep as 15 m. Competition with three 1-4m; visual sighting, diver. other co-occurring blenny species This recently described tropical (Hypleurochilus geminatus (Wood), species is represented by an apparently Parablennius marmoreus (Poey), and disjunct population in the northwestern Scartella cristata (Linnaeus)) may limit Gulf (Smith-Vaniz, 1980). The following its depth range. line of evidence suggests that H. invemar The lack of reports before 1978 and has been recently recruited to the region. the apparently rapid spread of this highly The earliest record of this species in the visible and photogenic blenny suggests northwestern Gulf found by the authors recent introduction into the region. This is a photograph taken by Childs (1980) may have been accomplished either by (apparently taken pre-1979) on a platform adults or eggs traveling by ship to a off Louisiana (misidentified as H. ion· Louisiana port from the Caribbean, as thas). Paratypes of this form were first the Mediterranean barnacle is a common collected off Cameron, Louisiana in ship-fouling barnacle. The dispersal August 1979 by L.R. Martin and senior south down the Texas coast follows author. Additional specimens were known current patterns and the distribu­ obtained on a subsequent visit to the tion of potential habitat. Hypsob/ennius same location in December 1979 and on invemar is now a well established the same trip a few individuals were also element of the oil platform fish fauna. observed at the BGOF off Galveston, Texas. The blenny assemblage at the MICRODESMIDAE BGOF had been intensively studied in M1crodesmus lanceolatus 1977 through 1979, without revealing the Dawson lancetail wormfish presence of H. invemar (Workman and 9 March 1980; 1; 28°17'N, 96°11 'W, Jones, 1979; Gallaway eta/., 1981 b). Diver off Port O'Connor, Texas; 22 m; census at the BGOF in March 1980 noted sled-type benthic dredge (GCRL a more frequent occurrence of this 16951). species. Earlier oil platform investiga­ 6 December 1980; 1(95); 26°58'N, tions off Louisiana (east of Cameron) in 97°11 'W; 26 m; Smith-Mcintyre the summer 1978 failed to record this grab (TCWC 6322.1). blenny (Gallaway eta/., 1981a). Since that This rare species of wormfish time observations on oil platforms previously known only from the type throughout the region have revealed a specimen off Louisiana (Dawson, 1962a) distribution of the tesselated blenny was collected twice off Texas in 1980. It from off Cameron, Louisiana to south was previous reported by Harper et a/. Texas. (1981) as occurring at the BGOF (21 m), This blenny parallels closely the but could not be confirmed. C.E. Dawson distribution of the Mediterranean bar- (Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean

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12 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

Springs, MS) verified the identification of collections off Tampico, Mexico by the the benthic dredge specimen which is OREGON II revealed the spottail tongue­ now in the GCRL collection. Based on fish in small numbers in the south­ the limited data this species inhabits western Gulf (R. Christian, NMFS Labor­ deeper waters than its sympatric con­ atory, Galveston, TX; pers. com.). gener M. longipinnis (Weymouth). Numerous trawling studies in the northwestern Gulf have previously failed CYNOGLOSSIDAE to report the spottail tonguefish, sugges­ Symphurus urospi/us ting it may be a transient member of the Ginsburg spottail tonguefish northwestern Gulf ichthyofauna. 11 July 1971; 1(89): 29°08'N, 93°20'W; 19-m; 6.1-m trawl (TCWC BALISTIDAE 3460-3). A/uterus monoceros 21 June 1978; 1; BGOF; 21 m; 12.2-m (Linnaeus) unicorn filefish trawl. 8 August 1978; 1(233); BGOF; 2 m; 30 November 1978; 7(105-124 TL); spear, diver. BGOF; 21 m; 12.2-m trawl (TCWC One unicorn filefish was speared by 5157.1). the senior author under the research 1 December 1978; 1; 28°20'N, vessel tied to an oil platform at the 95°19'W; 36m; 10.4-m trawl (TCWC BGOF. The specimen was identified as 3307.1). A/uterus based on the lack of an external 11 February 1980; 1(80); 28°45'N, pelvic bone spine, high dorsal-fin (47) and 95°14'W; 22m; 10.4-m trawl (TCWC anal-fin (48) ray counts. body proportions 3314.1). allowed for the differentiation of A. 3 December 1980; 1; 28°25'N, monoceros from the closely related A. 95°10'W; 27-47 m; 10.4-m trawl scriptus (Osbeck), which is not uncom­ (TCWC 3303.1 ). mon in this region (Berry and Vogele, 6 May 1981; 1(94); 28°44'N, 95°10'W; 1961; pers. obs.). 27-47 m; 10.4-m trawl (TCWC As is typical for this species, the 4145.1). specimen was a uniform pale tan and The spottail tonguefish identified by completely lacked body markings. its distinctive caudal spots and low Several filefish lacking body markings caudal-fin ray count (11) was initially col­ and possessing the distinctive outline of lected near the BGOF in summer, 1978. the unicorn filefish were observed by All BGOF specimens were taken during towed-video camera at the EFG (G.S. night trawling over silty-sand substrate. Boland, LGL Ecological Research Several more specimens were collected Assoc., Bryan, TX, pers. comm.), but just southwest of BGOF off Freeport, these individuals could not be reliably Texas on similar type of bottom during separated from A. scriptus which may be a soft bottom fish study (Chittenden et similarly shaped. a/., 1981). Symphurus urospilus has not This record of A. monoceros is the been previously reported in the north­ first report of this tropical species north western Gulf, but is typically found at of the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico. similar depths as reported here in the eastern Gulf (18 m) and off Yucatan, Canthidermis maculatus Mexico (22-26 m) (Springer and Bullis, (Bloch) rough triggerfish 1956; Topp and Hoff, 1972). Recent trawl 10 October 1980; 1(232); Hl-595; https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 12 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 13

Table 5. Depth range, abundance (number per hour of submersible survey time), and number observed of Xanthichthys ringens on the hard banks of the northwestern Gulf based on submersible observations. Depth No. Depth No. Bank Range A bun. Obs. Bank Range A bun. Obs. Bright 52-55 0.41 3 Geyer 82 0.09 1 Diaphus 84-85 1.31 5 Jakkula 70 0.78 2 EFG 55 0.07 1 WFG 46-52 2.15 14 Elvers 73-79 0.34 2 18 Fathom 46 0.23 1 Ewing 58-67 1.50 5 28 Fathom 52-72 0.44 5

surface; dipnet. Numerous locations for visual 14 April 1981; 1(328); Hl-595; 10 m; sightings (see Table 5). spear, diver. The sargassum triggerfish was An adult specimen of C. macu/atus sighted at ten shelf-edge banks (Table 5). was dipnetted at the surface near an oil This species, reportedly a common platform (HI-595), just west of the WFG. associate of floating Sargassum, was A second specimen was speared at the rarely found in Sargassum community same oil platform on a subsequent studies in the western Atlantic (Dooley, sampling trip. The dip-net specimen was 1972; Bartone et a/., 1977; pers. obs.). collected at night, and possessed the Although several juvenile specimens characteristic color phase of the species, have been previously collected in the dark blue on the upper two-thirds of the Gulf of Mexico (Dawson, 1962b; Bullis body with light spots, and paler, ven­ and Thompson, 1965; Cashman, 1973), trally. (Moore, 1967). The spear-collected adults are unreported from the Gulf of specimen was observed to be much Mexico (Moore, 1967; Randall et a!., paler, closely resembling at a distance 1978). Randall (1983) reported this the ocean triggerfish (C. sufflamen species as most common below 30m in (Mitchell)) in shape and color. Once the Caribbean and it has been reported speared this individual displayed a from 90 to 130 m off Jamaica (Colin, darker coloration. Two or three additional 1974). Individuals reported herein repre­ individuals were observed to be associ­ sent the first record of a resident adult ated with the platform. population in the Gulf of Mexico. Juvenile specimens of the rough triggerfish are reported infrequently in ACKNOWLEDGMENTS the northwestern Gulf (Baughman, 1950b; Cashman, 1973), and most adults We would like to thank R. Kalke from the Gulf of Mexico are reported (Institute of Marine Science, University of from off the continental shelf (Bullis and Texas, Pt. Aransas, TX) and J. E. Thompson, 1965). McEachran and M. Retzer (Texas These specimens are the first con­ Cooperative Wildlife Collection, College tinental shelf records for adults in the Station, TX) for their help in the location northwestern Gulf and this is the first and examination of specimens in their record of substrate association for this respective collections; C.E. Dawson is typically pelagic species. thanked for examining and verifying the wormfish specimen; S.G. Pass (GCRL) Xanthichthys ringens for checking collection data on the (Linnaeus) sargassum triggerfish wormfish specimen; J. Stephens for Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1988 13 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 10 [1988], No. 1, Art. 1

14 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

examining and verifying the clinid Bertone, S.A., P.A. Hastings, and S.B. specimen; T. Iwamoto for loaning the Collard. 1977. The pelagic-Sargassum porgy specimens; and L.R. Martin, G.S. ichthyofauna of the eastern Gulf of Boland, and B.J. Gallaway for help in Mexico. Northeast Gulf Sci. 1(2): 60-67. collecting many of the specimens Bradbury, M.G. 1980. A revision of the reported on herein. S.R. Gittings com­ fish genus Ogcocephalus with descrip­ mented on a draft of the paper and two tions of new species from the western anonymous reviewers comments helped Atlantic Ocean, (Ogcocephalidae, improved its content. Support for the col­ Lophiiformes). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. lection of these specimens was supplied 42(7): 229-285. by Minerals Management Service (MMS) Briggs, J.C. 1958. A list of Florida fishes formerly Bureau of Land Management, and their distribution. Bull. Fla. State Environmental Protection Agency, Mus. Bioi. Sci. 2(8): 223-318. National Marine Fisheries Service, and Briggs, J.C. 1972. Marine zoogeography. Department of Energy. McGraw-Hill Book Co. New York, NY, 475 p. LITERATURE CITED Bright, T.J., and C.W. Cashman. 1974. Fishes. p. 339-409 In: Bright, T.J. and Anderson, W.D., and P.C. Heemstra. L.H. Pequegnat (eds.), Biota of the 1980. Two new species of western West Flower Garden Bank. Gulf Publ. Atlantic Anthias (Pisces: Serranidae): Co., Houston, TX, 435 p. redescription of A. asperilinguis and ____, J.W. Tunnell, LH. Pequegnat, review of Holanthias martinicensis. T.E. Burke, C.W. Cashman, D.A. Cropper, Copeia 1980(1): 72-87. J.P. Ray, R.C. Tressler, J. Teerling, and Baughman, J.L. 1947. Fishes not previ­ J.B. Wills. 1974. Biotic zonation on the ously reported from Texas, with West Flower Garden Bank. p. 3-54 In: miscellaneous notes on the species. Bright, T.J. and L.H. Pequegnat, eds. Copeia 1947(4): 280. Biota of West Flower Garden Bank. ______. 1950a. Random notes Gulf Publ. Co., Houston, TX, 435 p. on Texas fishes: Part I. Tex. J. Sci. 2(1): ____, P.A. LaRock, R.D. Lauer, 117-138. and J.M. Brooks. 1980. A brine seep at ______. 1950b. Random notes the East Flower Garden Bank, north­ on Texas fishes: Part II. Tex. J. Sci. 2(2): western Gulf of Mexico. Int. Revue ges. 242-263. Hydrobiol. 65(4): 535-549. Berry, F.H., and L.F. Vogele. 1961. Bullis, H.R., and J.R. Thompson. 1965. Filefishes (Monacanthidae) of the Collections by the exploratory fishing western north Atlantic. U.S. Fish. Bull. vessels Oregon, Silver Bay, Combat, 61: 61-109. and Pelican made during 1956-1960 in Bohlke, J.E., and C.G.C. Chaplin. 1968. the southwestern north Atlantic. U.S. Fishes of the Bahamas and adjacent Fish & Wildlife Serv. Spec. Sci. Rept. waters. Livingston Publ. Co. Wynne­ No. 510, 130 p. wood, PA., 771 p. Bullock, L.H., and M.F. Godcharles, 1982. ____, and L.P. Thomas. 1961. Range extensions of four sea basses Notes on the west Atlantic jawfishes (Pisces: Serranidae) from the eastern Opistognathus aurifrons, 0. lonchurus, Gulf of Mexico with color notes on and Gnathypops bermudezi. Bull. Mar. Hemanthias leptus (Ginsburg). North­ Sci. 11(4): 503-516. east Gulf Sci. 5(2): 53-56. https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 14 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 15

Burgess, G.H., G.W. Link, and S.W. Ross. coasts of Jamaica and British Hon­ 1979. Additional marine fishes new or duras (Belize). Mar. Bioi. 24: 29-38. rare to Carolina waters. Northeast Gulf ____ .1976. Observations of deep­ Sci. 3(2): 74-86. reef fishes in the Tongue-of-the-Ocean, Caldwell, O.K. 1959. Observations on Bahamas. Bull. Mar. Sci. 26(4): 603-605. tropical marine fishes from the north· Cordova, F.G. 1986. Distribution of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Quart. J. Fla. coney, Epinephe/us tu/vus, in the north· Acad. Sci. 22(1): 69-74. western Gulf of Mexico. Northeast Gulf . 1963. Tropical marine Sci. 8(2): 161-162 . fishes in the·Gulf of Mexico. Quart. J. Darcy, G.H., and E.J. Gutherz. 1984. Fla. Acad. Sci. 26(2): 188-191. Abundance and density of demersal Cashman, C.W. 1973. Contributions to fishes on the west Florida shelf, the ichthyofaunas of the West Flower January 1978. Bull. Mar. Sci. 34(1): Garden reef and other reef sites in the 81-105. Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean. Dawson, C. E. 1962a. A new gobioid fish, Ph.D. dissertation. Texas A&M Univ. Microdesmis lanceolatus, from the College Station, TX, 247 p. Gulf of Mexico with notes on M. Causey, B.D. 1969. The fish fauna of /ongipinnis (Weymouth). Copeia Seven and One-Half Fathom reef, north· 1962(2): 330-336. western Gulf of Mexico. Master's Dawson, C.E. 1962b. New records and Thesis. Texas A&l Univ. Kingsville, TX, notes on fishes from the north-central 110 p. Gulf of Mexico. Copeia 1962(2): 442-444. Chavez, H. 1966. Peces colectados en el Dennis, G.D., and T.J. Bright. 1988. Reef arrecife Triangulos Oeste y en Cayo fish assemblages on hard banks in the Arenas, Sonda de Campeche, Mexico. northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Bull. Mar. Acta Zool. Mex. 8(1): 1-12. Sci. 43(2): Childs, T. 1980. The Silver Lining. Oceans Dooley, J.K.1972. Fishes associated with 13(2): 50-54. the pelagic Sargassum complex, with Chittenden, M.E., J. Ross, and J. Pavela. a discussion of the Sargassum com­ 1981. Nekton. Chapter 4. In: Hann, munity. Contr. Mar. Sci. 16: 2-32. R.W., and R.E. Randall (eds.), Pre­ ____ . 1978. Systematics and disposal studies. Evaluation of brine biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: disposal from the Brine Mound pro­ Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) gram. Vol. 1. Final report to DOE SPR with descriptions of two new species. office, New Orleans, LA. DOE Contract NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. 411.78 p. No. DE-FC96-79P010114. 131 p. Gallaway, B.J. 1981. An ecosystem Clarke, D.G. 1986. Visual censuses of fish analysis of oil and gas development on populations at the Florida Middle the Texas-Louisiana continental shelf. Ground. Northeast Gulf Sci. 8(1): 65-81. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serv. Rep. Colin, P.L. 1972. Daily activity patterns FWS/0 BS-81/27, 89 p. and effects of environmental condi· , and G.S. Lewbel. 1982. tions on the behavior of the yellowhead The ecology of petroleum platforms in jawfish Opistognathus aurifrons with the northwestern Gulf of Mexico: a notes on its ecology. Zoologica 57(4): community profile. U.S. Fish & Wildlife 137-169. Serv. Rep. FWS/OBS-82/27, 92 p. ____ . 1974. Observations and , M.F. Johnson, L.R. collections of deep-reef fishes off the Martin, F.J. Margraf, G.S. Lewbel, R.L. Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1988 15 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 10 [1988], No. 1, Art. 1

16 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

Howard, and G.S. Boland. 1981a. The ____, and C.H. Gilbert. 1882. artificial reef studies In: Bedinger, C.A. Notes on fishes observed about Pensa­ and L.Z. Kirby (eds.), Ecological investi­ cola, Florida and Galveston, Texas, gations of petroleum production plat­ with descriptions of new species. Proc. forms in the central Gulf of Mexico. Vol. U.S. Nat. Mus. 5:241-307. II. SWRI Report to BLM, OCS Office, Longley, W.H., and S.F. Hildebrand. 1941. New Orleans, LA. NTIS Accession No. Systematic catalogue of the fishes of PB82-167828, 199 p. Tortugas, Florida, with observations on , L.R. Martin, R.L. color, habits, and local distribution. Howard, G.S. Boland, and G.D. Dennis. Pap. Tortugas Lab. Carnegie lnst. 1981 b. Effects on artificial reef and Wash. D.C. Publ. No. 535, 331 p. demersal fish and macrocrustacean Moore, D. 1967. Triggerfishes (Balistidae) communities. p. 237-293 In: Middle­ of the western Atlantic. Bull. Mar. Sci. ditch, B.S. (ed.), Environmental Effects 17(3): 689-722. of Offshore Oil Production: the Buc­ Moseley, F.N. 1966. Notes on fishes from caneer Oil and Gas Field Study. Mar. the snapper banks off Port Aransas, Sci. Ser. Vol. 14. Plenum Press, New Texas. Tex. J. Sci. 18: 75-79. York, NY, 446 p. Pietsch, T.W. and D.B. Grobecker. 1987. Gilbert, C.R. 1972. Characteristics of the Frogfishes of the World. Stanford Univ. western Atlantic reef-fish fauna. Quart. Press, Stanford, CA. J. Fla. Acad. Sci. 35(2-3): 130-144. Powell, D., L.M. Dwinell, and S.E. Dwinell. Gunter, G., and L. Knapp. 1951. Fishes, 1972. An annotated listing of the fish new, rare, or seldom recorded from the reference collection at the Florida Texas coast. Tex. J. Sci. 3(1): 134-138. Department of Natural Resources Harper, D.E., D.L. Potts, R.R. Salzer, R.J. Marine Research Laboratory. Dept. Case, R.L. Jaschek, and C.M. Walker. Nat. Resour. Mar. Res. Lab. Spec. Sci. 1981. Distribution and abundance of Rep. No. 36, 179 p. macrobenthic and meiobenthic organ­ Randall, J.E. 1965. A redescription of isms. p. 133-177 In: Middleditch, B.S. Sparisoma atomarium (Poey), a valid (ed.), Environmental Effects of Off­ West Indian parrotfish. Acad. Nat. Sci. shore Oil Production: the Buccaneer Phil. Not. Nat. 26: 194-200. Gas and Oil Field Study. Mar. Sci. Ser. _____ . 1983. Caribbean reef Vol. 14. Plenum Press. New York, NY, fishes. 2nd Edition. T.F.H. Publ. Neptune 446 p. City, NJ, 350 p. Hoese, H.D. 1958. A partially annotated _____ , and D.K. Caldwell. 1966. checklist of the marine fishes of Texas. A review of the sparid fish genus Publ. lnst. Mar. Sci. Univ. Texas 5: Calamus, with descriptions of four new 312-352. species. Bull. L.A. Co. Mus. Nat. Hist. Jordan, D.S., and M.D. Bradby. 1892. A Sci. 2: 1-47. preliminary review of the apodal fishes _____ , K. Matsuura, and A. or eels inhabiting the waters of America Zama. 1978. A revision of the trigger­ or Europe. Rep. U.S. Fish. Comm. 1888. fish genus Xanthichthys with descrip­ 16: 581-677. tion of a new genus. Bull. Mar. Sci. _____, and B.W. Evermann. 1898. 28(4): 688-706. The fishes of north and middle America. Rezak, R., T.J. Bright, and D.W. McGrail. Part Ill. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 47: 2183 1985. Reefs and Banks of the North­ -3136. western Gulf of Mexico. Wiley-Inter- https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 16 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01 Dennis and Bright: New Records of Fishes in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with No

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico fish records 17

science, New York, NY. 259 p. fish genus Hypsoblennius. Proc. Acad. Robins, C.R. 1971. Distribution patterns Nat. Sci. Phil. 132: 285-305. of fishes from coastal and gulf waters Sonnier, F., H.D. Hoese, and J. Teerling. of the tropical western Atlantic. p. 1976. Observations on the offshore reef 249-255. In: Symposium on investiga­ and platform fish fauna of Louisiana. tions and resources of the Caribbean Copeia 1976(1): 105-111. Sea and adjacent regions. FAO Fish. Springer, S., and H.T. Bullis. 1956. Collec­ Rept. No. 71.2. tions by the Oregon in the Gulf of Robins, C.R.,and W.A. Starck. 1961. Mexico. U.S. Fish Wildlife Ser. Spec. Material for a revision of Serranus and Sci. Rep. Fish. No. 196, 134 p. related fish genera. Proc. Acad. Nat. Springer, V.G., and K.D. Woodburn. 1960. Sci. Phil. 113(11): 259-314. An ecological study of the fishes of the _____, R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, Tampa Bay area. Fla. State Bd. J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, Conserv. Mar. Res. Lab. Prof. Pap. Ser. and W.B. Scott. 1980. A list of common No.1, 104 p. and scientific names of fishes from the Starck, W.A. 1968. A list of the fishes of United States and Canada. 4th Edition. Alligator Reef, Florida with comments Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 12, on the nature of the Florida reef fish 174 p. fauna. Undersea Bioi. 1: 4-40. Robins, C.R., G.C. Ray, J. Douglass. 1986. Stephens, J.S.1970. Seven newchaenop­ A Field Guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes sid blennies from the western Atlantic. of North America. Houghton Mifflin Co. Copeia 1970(2): 280.309. Boston, MA, 354 p. Taylor, D.O., and T.J. Bright. 1973. The Schultz, L.P. 1957. The frogfishes of the distribution of heavy metals in reef­ family Antennariidae. Proc. U.S. Nat. dwelling groupers in the Gulf of Mexico Mus. 107: 47-105. and Bahama Islands. Texas A&M Univ. Shipp, R.L., and T.S. Hopkins. 1978. Sea Grant Publ. TAMU-SG-73-208, 249 p. Physical and biological observations of Topp, R.W., and F.H. Hoff. 1972. Flat­ the northern rim of the Desoto Canyon fishes (Pieuronectiformes). Mem. Hour­ made from a research submersible. glass Cruise No. 4(2), 135 p. Northeast Gulf Sci. 2(2): 113-121. Walls, J.G. 1975. Fishes of the Northern Smith, C.L. 1971. A revision of the Ameri­ Gulf of Mexico. T.F.H. Publ. Neptune can groupers: Epinephelus and allied City, NJ, 432 p. genera. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Williams, J.T., and R.L Shipp. 1980. Obser­ 146(2): 69-241. vations on fishes unrecorded or rarely Smith, G.B. 1976. Ecology and distribu­ encountered in the northeastern Gulf tion of eastern Gulf of Mexico reef of Mexico. Northeast Gulf Sci. 4(1): 17-27. fishes. Fla. Dept. Nat. Resour. Mar. Woods, L.P. 1942. Rare fishes from the Res. Publ. No. 19, 78 p. coast of Texas. Copeia 1942(3): 191-192. _____, H.M. Austin, S.A. Bartone. _____, and P.M. Sonoda. 1973. R.W. Hastings, and L.H. Ogren. 1975. Family Holocentridae, Order Beryco­ Fishes of the Florida Middle Ground morphi (Beryciformes). p. 331-386. In: with comments on ecology and zoo­ Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. geography. Fla. Dept. Nat. Resour. Mar. Mem. 1, Pt. 6, Sears Found. Mar. Res. Res. Publ. No. 9, 14 p. Yale Univ. New Haven, CN. Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1980. Revision of Workman, I.K., and C.E. Jones. 1979. western Atlantic species of the blennid Determine effects of oil field Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1988 17 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 10 [1988], No. 1, Art. 1

18 Dennis, G. D. and T. S. Bright

discharges on species composition and abundance of pelagic fishes and demersal fishes and macro­ crustaceans in the oil field. Work Unit 2.35. Environmental assessment of an active oil field in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, 1977-1978. NOAA/NMFS Annual Report to EPA. EPA-IAG-D5-­ E693-EO. NMFS Laboratory, Galveston, TX. 146 p.

https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol10/iss1/1 18 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1001.01