Edward Robertson
Fish ID Project
By: Edward Robertson
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 1
Common Name: Basking Shark Scientific Name: Cetorhinus maximus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Cetorhinidae
Geography / Habitat: This marine fish can be found in the North and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Basking sharks live in sub polar and temperate seas moving southward during the winter. They prefer surface waters of the open sea, straying inland only to breed during the summer. Life Strategy: Basking sharks are believed to be ovoviviparous, or producing young by means of eggs that are hatched within the body of the parent. Females mature at 4-5m. Embryos supposedly measure between 1.5-1.8m in length. Food / Feed Strategy: This fish’s primary source of food is plankton. It is a filter feeder. To capture food, it swims with its mouth open widely, gill rakers straining plankton from the water.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://best-diving.org/adrenalin-diving/133-best-diving-animals-basking-sharks-belugawhales-leopard-seals http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cetorhinus_maximus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 2
Common Name: Angel Shark Scientific Name: Squatina californica Kingdom: Animalia Class:
Chondrichthyes
Phylum: Chordata Order: Squatiniformes
Family: Squatinidae
Geography / Habitat: Pacific angel sharks occupy the Eastern Pacific ocean, ranging from Costa Rica to Southern Chile and also from Southeast Alaska to the Gulf of California (Baja). These sharks are often found on the continental shelves of western North and South America, in littoral zones, in shallow bays, in sand channels by rocky reefs and outcrops, at the edges of submarine canyons and in kelp forests. Inhabiting marine temperate and tropical environments, Pacific angel sharks are generally found in shallow waters at depths of 10 to 328 feet off the coast of California but they have also been found as deep as 610 feet in the Sea of Cortez. Life Strategy: The reproductive cycle of the Pacific angel shark is typically annual with a gestation period of approximately 10 months and the births occurring primarily between March and June in the northern part of the species' range. Pacific angel sharks reproduce by eggs hatching inside of the mother’s body. At birth, the pups are on average, 9 in. long. Males tend to reach sexual maturity earlier than females at the age of 8 years, while females reach sexual maturity around the age of 13 years Food / Feed Strategy: Pacific angel sharks are carnivores that primarily feed on bony fish and cephalopods such as squid and octopus but are known to eat crustaceans and other types of mollusks as well. Of the bony fish, Pacific angel sharks attack croakers; flatfish, sea basses, mackerels, and tunas.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Squatina_californica/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 3
Common Name: Black Tip Shark Scientific Name: Carcharhinus limbatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Geography / Habitat: The blacktip shark is widespread in all tropical and subtropical continental waters. These waters include: the Western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea, the Eastern Atlantic, the Indo-West, Central Pacific or ,Hawaiian Islands, Eastern Pacific such as the Californian coast as well as in the Red Sea. Life Strategy: Female blacktips are viviparous and contain a yolk-sac placenta. The number of offspring per litter ranges from 1-10. Gestation of the young lasts anywhere from 10-12 months. The young are born in late spring or early summer. Pregnant females move inshore to drop their young in nursery and pupping grounds. Young are believed to be produced in alternate years by each female blacktip. Food / Feed Strategy: Blacktip sharks are primarily fish eaters. The prey species include a number of bony fishes including sardines, menhaden, herring, anchovies, ten-pounders, sea catfish, tongue-soles, threadfins, mullet, jacks, groupers, butterfish, tilapia, and porcupine fish. They also consume other aquatic organisms such as guitarfish, skates, butterfly rays, stingrays, eagle rays, squid, cuttlefish, octopi, crabs and lobsters. Blacktips are quite prone to feeding frenzies when there is competition between sharks for a common abundant food source.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharhinus_limbatus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 4
Common Name: Blue Shark Scientific Name: Prionace glauca Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Geography / Habitat: Blue sharks are one of the most wide ranging shark species and can be found in all major oceans (except the Arctic), as well as the Mediterranean Sea and in temperate and tropical pelagic waters. Blue sharks inhabit the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones (from the surface to about 350 m in depth), in water temperatures ranging between 12 and 20°C. While they are mainly found in pelagic, open-ocean waters, they may sometimes be found closer to shore in the neritic zone, near the edge of continental shelves.
Life Strategy: Blue sharks congregate together on continental shelves during the summer. Mating begins when a male bites a female between her first and second dorsal fins. For this reason, the skin over most of a female's dorsum may be up to three times as thick as in males. Insemination occurs via insertion of one of the claspers into the female's urogenital opening. Pair bonding does not occur, and after mating, individuals separate.
Food / Feed Strategy: Blue sharks primarily feed upon non-active, gelatinous, mesopelagic/bathypelagic cephalopods such as blanket octopus, bathyscaphoid squids, and pelagic octopus. Prey also includes small schooling fishes, such as longsnouted lancetfish, snake mackerel, and castor oil fish.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Prionace_glauca/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 5
Common Name: Bull Shark Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Geography / Habitat: The Bull Shark inhabits coastal waters in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide, such as Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Australian native islands Although Bull Sharks have been caught in considerably deeper water; they most often reside in water between 30 meters and waist deep. The sharks also seem to favor murky water for hunting. It is one of the only sharks that are able to survive in freshwater for extended periods of time. Life Strategy: Bull Sharks are viviparous. Sexual maturity is reached between the ages of 8 - 10. Bull Sharks breed in the summer months and the young sharks are born approximately one year later. The pups are born in litters of up to 13 and are around 28 inches at birth. A common breeding place for the Bull Shark is the brackish water where freshwater rivers meet the saltwater oceans. Food / Feed Strategy: The Bull Shark is an omnivorous animal. It routinely preys upon fish, sharks (especially young sandbar sharks), rays, turtles, echinoderms, birds, mollusks, dolphins, and almost anything else it can find.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharhinus_leucas/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 6
Common Name: Goblin Shark Scientific Name: Mitsukurina owstoni Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Mitsukurinidae
Geography / Habitat: Originally caught in Japan, the range is wide, but not evenly distributed. The majority of known specimens come from bays of Japan while the rest are mostly found off New Zealand, southern Africa, and in the Eastern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Two specimens have been taken off the Mississippi and California coasts of the United States. Goblin sharks seem to live in the mid and deep-water zones of outer continental shelves and slopes. Life Strategy: Goblin sharks are rarely seen, and even more rarely studied in detail. Essentially all known data on goblin sharks are from accidental catches in trawling nets. Thus, since there have been no opportunities to observe goblin sharks in their natural habit (or even alive for that matter), data on reproduction and behavior are very scarce. There is no information on age at sexual maturity for either sex, number of offspring, or gestation period. Food / Feed Strategy: The Goblin shark appears to feed mid-water or close to the bottom where it uses a combination of electrical sensors, smell and (minimal) eyesight to catch any vertically migrating animals that it comes across. It is also possible that they stay deep and scan the bottom for prey. Stomach records are rare, and include parts of squid, fish, ostracods, and crabs.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/world/thgoblin.html http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mitsukurina_owstoni/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 7
Common Name: Great White Shark Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Lamnidae
Geography / Habitat: The geographic range of great white sharks is extremely wide. They can be found in all cold temperate and tropical coastal waters. Great white sharks can be found in coastal waters along central California and off the western cape of South Africa. They have also been reported in North American coastal waters from Newfoundland to Florida and from Alaska to Southern Mexico. Great white sharks are primarily a coastal and offshore inhabitant of insular and continental shelves. They seem to prefer waters with sea surface temperatures of 59 to 72°F. Life Strategy: Reproduction is ovoviviparous, that is, fertilized eggs are retained within the body and develop there. Prior to birth, the young in the womb may feed on undeveloped eggs and possibly their unborn siblings. Gestation is thought to take about 12 months, and females are assumed to give birth in warm temperate and subtropical waters, but specific nursery areas are unknown. Newborns get no help from their mothers after birth. As soon as they are born they swim away and are independent and are capable predators the moment they are born. Food / Feed Strategy: Young great white sharks typically feed on smaller species such as squid and stingrays, as well as other small sharks. As these fish mature their appetites change. The diet of adults consists primarily of seals, sealions, dolphins, and whale carcasses. One of the most frequent prey animals of great white sharks are elephant seals. Sometimes they feed on turtles and various sea birds. Great white sharks may attack with different strategies depending on the size of their prey. The most common attack method used by great white sharks involves the shark positioning itself directly below its prey and then swimming vertically into an attack.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharodon_carcharias/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 8
Common Name: The Great Hammerhead Shark Scientific Name: Sphyrna mokarran Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Sphyrnidae
Geography / Habitat: Great hammerhead sharks occur in all tropical waters worldwide. These sharks are found in both open ocean and shallow coastal waters. During summer they may make small migrations towards more northerly areas. Life Strategy: Great Hammerhead sharks are viviparous. At a length of 3m, maturity is reached. Litters are made up of between 20 and 40 pups. Young are born in the summer season and are approximately 70 cm in length. Head shape of a newborn pup is more rounded than that of an adult but this changes as they grow.
Food / Feed Strategy: Great hammerhead sharks feed on rays, smaller sharks, and many species of bony fishes.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://sharks.sharkyc.com/Great_Hammerhead_Shark.html http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sphyrna_mokarran/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 9
Common Name: Shortfin Mako Shark Scientific Name: Isurus oxyrinchus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Lamnidae
Geography / Habitat: Shortfin mako sharks are found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Within the Pacific Ocean, shortfin makos are found in both the northern and southern hemispheres, along the coasts of North and South America (from the Aleutian Islands and southern California to Chile), from Primorskiy Kray in the Russian Federation to Austraila and New Zealand and in Indo-Pacific waters from East Africa to Hawaii. Within the Atlantic Ocean, shortfin makos are found from the Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil and Argentina, and from Norway to South Africa. This species is also found in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Shortfin mako sharks are pelagic and are typically found in surface waters up to depths of 150 meters. Life Strategy: Little information on mating exists for this species, but as is the case for other lamnid sharks, breeding is promiscuous, with no pair bonds formed. This species shows marked sexual segregation in some areas; adult males and females are seldom found together, possibly caused by females avoiding of males due to potential reduced fitness. Courtship and mating are thought to take place during late summer and early fall and, judging from female scars, is quite violent, involving males biting females' bellies, flanks, gill regions and pectoral fins. Food / Feed Strategy: Shortfin mako sharks are at the top of the marine food chain, making them apex predators. Bluefish have been shown to make up about 92% of their diet (by weight) in the northwest Atlantic. Generally, prey includes other fish and elasmobranchs, cephalopods and, occasionally marine mammals. Recorded prey includes Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic herring, albacore, swordfish, squid, dolphins, green sea turtles, and unidentified small cetaceans.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://havehest.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/press-release-chile-to-ban-shark-finning/ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Isurus_oxyrinchus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 10
Common Name: Nurse Shark Scientific Name: Ginglymostoma cirratum Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Ginglymostomatidae
Geography / Habitat: Nurse sharks live in warm waters. They range from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Eastern and Western Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Nurse sharks live off of sandy beaches, mud and sand flats, and from the intertidal zone on coral and rocky reefs to depths of 70 meters. Life Strategy: Very little is known about most shark mating rituals, and the same holds true for the Nurse shark. The Atlantic Nurse shark has been observed mating on the ocean floor. In general, the male inseminates the female with his claspers. Nurse sharks can be either oviparous or ovoviparous. The yolk of these pups are hatched inside the uterus before the pups are developed, and they too have leathery eggs. These sharks have from 20-30 pups at a time. They do not reach sexually maturity until they are from 15 to 20 years old. Food / Feed Strategy: Nurse sharks eat a variety of foods. Their diet includes small fishes, shrimps, octopus, sea snails, crabs, lobsters, squid, sea urchin, and corals.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ginglymostoma_cirratum/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 11
Common Name: Thresher Shark Scientific Name: Alopias vulpinus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Alopiidae
Geography / Habitat: Common thresher sharks are found in tropical and temperate waters in almost every major ocean. They are found along the coast of North America from Oregon to Mexico in the Pacific Ocean and from Maine to Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. Common thresher sharks are also commonly found around Asia and occasionally in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Common thresher sharks primarily live in temperate waters beyond the continental shelf and do not stray much more than 30 km from the coast. During the day, they stay near the edge of the continental shelf at an average depth of 110 m. At night, members of this species spend most of their time at a mid-range depths, remaining near or on the continental shelf. Life Strategy: In some parts of the world, common thresher sharks breed all year long. The migratory patterns of common thresher sharks near North America suggest they breed in northern waters during the spring and summer and release their pups into nurseries along the coast as they travel south for the winter months. Common thresher sharks are polygynous. Food / Feed Strategy: Like most sharks, common thresher sharks are carnivores and feed mainly on small fish that travel in schools. Thresher sharks use their enlarged caudal fin as a means to herd schools of fish into tightly packed balls to maximize strike success. Common threshers eat a variety of fish, including sardines, and different species of anchovies, mackerel, hake, squid and red crab from deep waters. In warmer waters, members of this species feed primarily on anchovies, but in cooler waters they feed mostly on squid and sardines.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alopias_vulpinus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 12
Common Name: Tiger Shark Scientific Name: Carcharias taurus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Odontaspididae
Geography / Habitat: Tiger sharks can be found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans in temperate and tropical waters. They are found in warm seas, except for the eastern Pacific. They occur from the Gulf of Maine to Argentina in the western Atlantic, the coast of Europe to North Africa in the eastern Atlantic, in the Mediterranean Sea, from Australia to Japan in the west Pacific, and off the coasts of South Africa. Grey nurse sharks are found in temperate and tropical waters. They are typically found in shallow waters, such as shallow bays, surf zones, and near coral or rocky reefs. Life Strategy: The gestation period will take anywhere from six to nine months. Females give birth in early spring near coastal, rocky reefs. Caves inhabited by these sharks are also used as breeding grounds and, if disrupted, their breeding may be interrupted. Female sharks bear young once every two years, with a maximum of two shark pups at birth, one from each uterus. Food / Feed Strategy: Tiger shark feeds on food including bony fish, rays, lobsters, crabs, squid, and other small sharks. Grey nurse sharks sometimes hunt cooperatively, chasing fish into small groups and then attacking them. Grey nurse sharks, like other sharks, have been known to attack at random during feeding frenzies, where a large number of prey is found together. In feeding frenzies sharks rely heavily on their electroreceptors, attacking everything in close vicinity.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharias_taurus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 13
Common Name: Whale Shark Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Rhincodontidae
Geography / Habitat: They are known to inhabit both deep and shallow coastal waters of subtropical zones and lagoons of coral atolls and reefs. This species can regularly be found in the offshore waters of Australia, Belize, Ecuador, Mexico, the Philippines, and South Africa. This species prefers surface waters between 21° and 30°C. These giant zooplanktivores are usually found in coastal zones with high food productivity. Life Strategy: Genetic data from the previously mentioned embryos suggested that they were all sired by the same father. This indicates that a single male can fertilize an entire litter, suggesting that females utilize a form of sperm storage to fertilize the eggs in successive phases. If this reproductive behavior is typical for this species, it would suggest that they mate rarely with a single individual, and that breeding or mating areas with large numbers of adults will not be found in this species. Food / Feed Strategy: Whale sharks are known to prey on a range of planktonic and small nektonic organisms that are spatiotemporally patchy. These include krill, crab larvae, jellyfish, sardines, anchovies, mackerels, small tunas, and squid. Whale sharks are able to feed by suction, ram-feeding, and active surface ram-feeding. In ram filter feeding, the fish swims forward at constant speed with its mouth partially or fully open, straining prey particles from the water by forward propulsion. This is also called ‘passive feeding’, as there is little if any pumping of the gills. Planktonic prey is captured by filtering seawater through a filter-like device containing five sets of porous pads on each side of the pharyngeal cavity. The backmost pair is nearly triangular in shape, and leads into a narrow esophagus. Whale sharks can sift prey as small as 1 mm through the fine mesh of their gill rakers.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rhincodon_typus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 14
Common Name: Cookie-cutter Shark Scientific Name: Isistius brasiliensis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Dalatiidae
Geography / Habitat: Pelagic: The cookie-cutter shark is found in seas as far north as Japan and south to Southern Australia. It is a deep-water fish, and wide-ranging, often found near islands. Cookie-cutter sharks are wide-ranging creatures, found in tropical oceanic climates all across the world. They tend to be found closer to islands, but they have been caught in open sea, as well. Life Strategy: Cookie-cutter sharks are essentially a solitary species, coming together only to mate. They follow a dial cycle of movement, coming closer to the surface at night, when they are more likely to be caught in fishing nets. Even during the night, however, they stay at least 300 feet below the surface. They are often found near islands, but it is uncertain whether this is because of a greater concentration of prey or in order to mate. The oily liver of this species is larger than that of most similar sharks, and it is thought to allow them to swim to greater depths. Food / Feed Strategy: The cookie-cutter shark is a carnivore. It attaches itself to its prey with its strong sucking mouth, and then twists about, using its sharp lower teeth to slice out a plug of flesh, which can sometimes be twice as deep as its diameter. It then uses its hook-like upper teeth to hold the plug, while the lower teeth scoop the plug out. Detaching, it swims away to enjoy its meal. It preys on deep water organisms, including crustaceans, squid, large bony fishes, cetaceans, and even large sharks. It is bioluminescent, able to emit a greenish light from its belly. It may use this light to attract the attention of potential victims
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Isistius_brasiliensis/
Edward Robertson
Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 15
Common Name: Spiny Dogfish Shark Scientific Name: Squalus acanthias Kingdom: Animalia Class:
Chondrichthyes
Phylum: Chordata Order: Squaliformes
Family: Squalidae
Geography / Habitat: The spiny dogfish inhabits the temperate and subarctic latitudes of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Specimens have been found in the Black and Mediterranean seas. Spiny dogfish exist in an oceanic environment of depths from the surface to 400 fathoms or more. They prefer a temperature range of 6-11 degrees centigrade. Life Strategy: This shark is ovoviviparous. Males reach maturity between 80-100cm in length or at around 11 years of age; females mature at100-124 cm or in 18-21 years. Mating takes place during the winter months. As soon as the eggs are fertilized, the female secretes a thin, horny, transparent shell around them. The shells suround several eggs at once and are called candles. Gestation lasts between 22-24 months. Litters range between 2-11 pups and are between 20-30 cm at birth. They live for as long as 25-30 years.
Food / Feed Strategy: Spiny dogfish prey on bony fishes, smaller sharks, octopuses, squid, crabs, and egg cases of sharks and chimaeras.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Squalus_acanthias/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 16
Common Name: Greenland Shark Scientific Name: Somniosus microcephalus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Somniosidae
Geography / Habitat: Greenland Sharks are found in the north Atlantic, from the coast of New England and Canada to Scandinavian waters. They occasionally venture as far south as the mouth of the Seine River in France. live mainly on continental and insular shelves. They occupy intertidal regions in addition to some river mouths and shallow bay areas during the winter months and often move to depths from 180 to 550 meters during warmer months. They have been observed as low as 1200 meters, with one observation at 2200 meters off the coast of Georgia - extending its range both geographically and in terms of depth. In northern parts of their range, Greenland sharks are found from 0 to 1200 meters in waters from 1 to 12 degrees Celsius. In southern parts of their range, these sharks may occur at greater depths. Life Strategy: Mating by this species has never been observed, but females have been found with mating scars on their caudal fins. Therefore, it is inferred that, as is the case with most sharks, males bite females until they submit. Fertilization occurs internally. Most of these sharks are independent immediately after birth. Females provide developing embryos with rich food sources to support their development. Food / Feed Strategy: Fish, marine mammals, and carrion are three staples in the diet of the Greenland Shark. Fish include herring, salmon, smelt, and cod. Seals and small whales are also common food items. Drowned horses and reindeer have also been found in the stomachs of captured specimens. Greenland sharks have been observed feeding in great numbers on carrion produced by commercial whaling and fishing operations.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Somniosus_microcephalus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 17
Common Name: Blue Marlin Scientific Name: Makaira nigricans Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Istiophoridae
Geography / Habitat: Found mainly in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It is the most tropical of all billfishes. Larvae are found extensively in the tropical and subtropical waters of the western and central Pacific Ocean, south of Maldives Islands, around the Mascalene Islands, and off the south coasts of Java and Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. In the western central Atlantic, larvae are found off Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Jamaica, Bahamas, Arecibo, and also off Brazil in the southwest Atlantic. is an epipelagic and oceanic species. It is the most oceanic of all istiophorids, usually remaining far from land except where the continental shelf is narrow It shows preference for blue waters, at least in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Life Strategy: The spawning season extends from July through October in the North Atlantic. In the Pacific Ocean, spawning occurs from December to January during the southern hemisphere’s summer. Females can spawn up to four times during the reproductive season, while males can spawn year round. Sexual maturity is reached at 2-4 years of age. Fecundity of a female at 124 kg is estimated to be 7 million eggs, and 10.9 million eggs for a female of 147kg. Eggs are spherical, transparent, white to yellow in color, and around 1mm in diameter. Food / Feed Strategy: The Blue Marlin is an apex predator. Often, it approaches a school of fish or invertebrates at full speed, slashes through with its bill, then returns to devour the stunned or dead prey. It forages mostly in the near-surface waters, but the presence of benthic and demersal species in its stomach indicates it also feeds near the bottom. The Blue Marlin feeds mainly on bullet mackerel off the coast of Mexico, and on shipjack tuna in the central Pacific.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Makaira_nigricans/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 18
Common Name: Atlantic Sailfish Scientific Name: Istiophorus platypterus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Istiophoridae
Geography / Habitat: The Atlantic sailfish is the least oceanic of all billfish species, and although capable of descending into deep water, most of its time is spent above the thermocline, at depths of 10 to 20 meters. Preferentially sticking to shallow coastal waters, the Atlantic sailfish can usually be found in the warmer, upper layers within a temperature range of 21 to 28 degrees Celsius. Life Strategy: Breeding typically occurs in inshore shallow waters. The female, accompanied by one or more males, will swim slowly with the dorsal fin extended above the water, spawning close to the surface . In the western Atlantic, spawning occurs primarily during the summer while in the eastern Atlantic spawning can occur all year round, peaking in the summer months. A large female may typically release between 4.5 and 4.8 million eggs in a single spawning, usually in three batches. Fertilization of the eggs occurs in the water, and the eggs hatch within 36 hours Food / Feed Strategy: The Atlantic sailfish feeds primarily on fish, as well as consuming some squid and octopuses (3) (4) (9). Young of the Atlantic sailfish feed mostly on copepods (2) (9). When feeding, the Atlantic sailfish will often herd shoals of fish into a tight group, known as a ‘bait ball’, using its dorsal fin. The sailfish will then thrash from side to side at great speed using its bill to stun the schooling fish on impact, before leisurely picking off those that are injured
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/atlantic-sailfish/istiophorus-albicans/ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Istiophorus_platypterus/pictures/collections/contributors /Grzimek_fish/Scombroidei/Istiophorus_platypterus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 19
Common Name: Dogtooth Tuna Fish Scientific Name: Gymnosarda unicolor Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Dogtooth tuna are found in the Indo West Pacific, from Australia (the Great Barrier Reef) to East Africa and the Red Sea, and in the waters off of the coast of Japan and the Philippines, New Guinea, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tuamotus, Pitcairn, and Oeno Islands. Dogtooth tuna are typically pelagic, but are known to come inshore and are found around coral reefs and atolls at depths from 15m (50ft) to 45m (150ft). They prefer water temperatures between 21°C (70°F) and 26°C (80°F). They are migratory; their movements are linked to water temperatures and the fish they feed upon. Life Strategy: Spawning takes place around December, January, and February. Dogtooth Tuna are nonguarders and are classified as open water substratum egg scatterers. The eggs are small and float near the surface, hatching within two days. Larvae grow very quickly. Food / Feed Strategy: Dogtooth tuna feed upon shoaling fishes like herring, sprats, mackerel, whiting, cuttlefish, and sometimes squid.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gymnosarda_unicolor/ http://animal.discovery.com/fish/fishing/dogtooth-tuna.htm
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 20
Common Name: Bluefin Tuna Fish Scientific Name: Thunnus thynnus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Bluefin tuna are distributed throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in subtropical and temperate waters. In the western Atlantic Ocean, they are found from Labrador, in Canada, to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, they are found from Norway to the Canary Islands. In the western Pacific Ocean, they are found from Japan to the Philippines. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, they are found from the southern coast of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Life Strategy: Bluefin tuna form spawning aggregations. Males and females synchronously produce eggs and sperm (milt), resulting in mating among many individuals at the same time. Bluefin tuna form spawning aggregations. Males and females synchronously produce eggs and sperm (milt), resulting in mating among many individuals at the same time. Bluefin tuna become sexually mature between the ages of 4 and 8 years. Food / Feed Strategy: Bluefin tuna chase down their prey using their ability to swim at very high speeds. They can also use modified filter feeding to catch small, slow moving organisms. They have also been known to eat kelp. They form feeding aggregations throughout the Atlantic and Pacific outside of the spawning season. Larvae feed on small organisms such as brine shrimp, other fish larvae, and rotifers. Juveniles also feed on small organisms until they become large enough to start feeding on small fish. The prey of adults include smaller fish, squid, eels, and crustaceans.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://eol.org/pages/223943/overview http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Thunnus_thynnus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 21
Common Name: King Mackerel Fish Scientific Name: Scomberomorus cavalla Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: The king mackerel is found along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, from New England to Brazil, and in the Gulf of Mexico as well. It doesn't like waters colder than 68 degrees Fahrenheit, so kingfish that live off the eastern coast of the United States migrate south in the fall and return north in the spring. Life Strategy: Eggs are believed to be released and fertilized continuously during these months, with a peak between late May and early July with another between late July and early August. The ovaries of the king mackerel have five stages of development. Maturity may first occur when the females are as small as 17.7-19.6 inches (450-499 mm) in length and usually occurs by the time they are 35.4 inches (800 mm) in length. Stage five ovaries, which are the most mature, are found in females by about age 4 years. Males are usually sexually mature at age 3, at a length of 28.3 inches (718 mm). Food / Feed Strategy: The northern and southern kingfish are bottom-dwelling fish that feed on shrimps, small fish, and crabs. Both are excellent food fish. The northern kingfish grows to a length of 18 inches (46 cm). It is found in coastal waters from Massachusetts to Yucatán. The southern kingfish, which reaches 15 inches (38 cm), ranges from New York to Argentina.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://eol.org/pages/205100/overview http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Scomberomorus_cavalla/classification/ http://animal.discovery.com/fish/fishing/kingfish.htm
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 22
Common Name: Atlantic/Spanish Mackerel Fish Scientific Name: Scomberomorus maculatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Spanish mackerel are found in the subtropical and tropical waters off North America and the Caribbean. They are locally found along the Atlantic coast from as far north as Nova Scotia (Canada) and south to Florida along the Gulf of Mexico (US). Florida is considered to be the area with the highest abundance of Spanish mackerel.This species is also seen along the north coast of Cuba and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula. Spanish mackerel are epipelagic, residing at depths ranging from 33-115 feet (10-35 m). They are often found in very large schools near the surface of the water. They frequent barrier islands and the passes associated with these islands and are rarely found in low salinity waters. Spanish mackerel larvae occur mostly offshore while juvenile mackerels are found both offshore and in the beach surf. Life Strategy: Spanish mackerel have separate male and female sexes which produce milt and roe (respectively) during reproduction. The gametes are broadcast into the water column and fertilization is external. Spawning most likely takes place between April and October depending on the latitude. Along the inner continental shelf of Texas, spawning occurs from May through September while in the waters off Florida spawning typically occurs from July through September. In the more northern portion of its range, the Spanish mackerel spawns from August through September. The eggs are buoyant, round in shape and transparent. The larvae feed on larval fishes such as carangids, clupeids, and engraulids as well as some crustaceans. Juveniles often utilize estuaries as nursery areas.
Food / Feed Strategy: The diet of adult Spanish mackerel consists primarily of smaller fish such as herrings, jacks and sardines. This mackerel is also known to feed in lesser quantities on shrimp and cephalopods.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/SpanishMackerel/SpanishMackerel.html
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 23
Common Name: Horse Mackerel Fish Scientific Name: Trachurus trachurus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Carangidae
Geography / Habitat: The Atlantic horse mackerel can be found in the north-eastern Atlantic from Iceland to Senegal, including the Cape Verde islands, and also in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Life Strategy: The two main populations are the west stock which spawns in the eastern Atlantic off the coasts of western Europe, and the north stock which spawns in the North Sea. Food / Feed Strategy: It congregates in large schools in coastal waters, where it feeds on crustaceans, squid, and other fishes
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_horse_mackerel
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 24
Common Name: Arctic Bonito Scientific Name: Katsuwonus pelamis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Katsuwonus pelamis, are marine fishes found in most waters all over the world but are rarely seen in the North Sea and have never been caught in the Black Sea. Skipjacks are confined to waters with temperatures above 15 degrees C. An epipelagic fish, skipjacks are distributed in water with temperatures ranging from 14.7 and 30 C. Skipjacks tend to be associated with regions of upwelling, or areas where cold, nutrient-rich waters are brought up from the bottom of the ocean to the surface, as well as regions where cold and warm water mix. These are areas with high productivity. Rarely are they found at depths greater than 260 m. Life Strategy: Skipjack tuna spawn throughout the year, although they limit spawning from early fall to spring in regions near the equator (Collette and Nauen 1983). Fecundity is related to size Females mature at 41-42 cm fork-length while males mature at a slightly larger size, 42-43 cm fork-length. Both of these are equivalent to approximately 1.5 years of age. 70% of the females during any given month had ovaries in the terminal stages of maturation, providing more evidence that reproduction is not allocated to a particular time of year. Exactly how skipjacks reproduce is not known, but the breeding area of this species is thought to be limited to tropical regions of the world's oceans. Food / Feed Strategy: They feed predominantly on fishes, crustaceans and mollusks. The wide variety of food items consumed suggests that the skipjack is a highly opportunistic feeder. Feeding activities peak in the early morning and again in the late afternoon. The major food items found in stomachs of skipjacks in Australian waters were euphausids, with various fishes and squid making up a smaller percentage of the stomach contents.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Katsuwonus_pelamis/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 25
Common Name: Clown Anemone Fish Scientific Name: Amphiprion ocellaris Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae
Geography / Habitat: The clown anemone fish is a tropical marine fish found in parts of Asia and Australia. Its range includes Northwest Australia, Southeast Asia, and as far north as the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. The clown anemone fish inhabits coral reefs and sheltered lagoons up to a depth of 15 meters. More specifically, it is mainly found in or near the anemones as part of a symbiotic relationship. Life Strategy: They are territorial to the specific anemone they inhabit and are monogamous. Prior to spawning, nest preparation is done by the male, where substrate is cleared to make a nest on bare rock, but near enough to the anemone to still have protection from the overhanging tentacles. Males will attract the female by extending fins, biting, and chasing. During spawning, the males are increasingly aggressive. When spawning is about to occur, the male will chase the female to the nest, but the female actually begins the process. The female makes several passes over the nest and eventually lays orange eggs over the period of 1-2 hours before leaving the nest. Food / Feed Strategy: Planktonic food such as zooplankton, copepods, and algae are the primary source of food for A. ocellaris. They are classified as generalized omnivores as they feed on equal amounts of algae and animals. They are also reported to consume parasites from their host anemones. Feeding is also dominated by the hierarchical structure of the group dynamics in the anemone. Because the smaller fish receive the most aggression from the others, they have reduced energy for foraging great distances from the anemone and tend to stay close.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amphiprion_ocellaris/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 26
Common Name: Green Sawfish Scientific Name: Pristis zijsron Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Pristidae
Geography / Habitat: This once common sawfish has a wide distribution in the northern Indian Ocean, reaching east to South Africa, and is also found off Indonesia and Australia (1) (3) as well as in the western Pacific. The small tooth sawfish ranges in the western Atlantic from Brazil to Florida, including the Gulf of Mexico. It is a year-round resident of peninsular Florida and can be found in the warm summer months as far north as North Carolina, rarely straying to New Jersey.
Life Strategy: The size at maturity for the sawfish is not known. Sawfish have internal fertilization, such as in all sharks and rays. The eggs of the sawfish hatch in the uterus and the embryos continue to grow in the uterus without a placental connection with the mother. The embryos are nourished by yolk stored in a yolk sac, connected to the embryo by a yolk stalk and both of these structures are fully absorbed before the young sawfish are born.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sawfish feed on crabs, shrimps, and other bottom dwelling animals along with any locally abundant small schooling fishes such as small mullet or members of the herring family. The saw is used in obtaining food by disrupting the bottom and dislodging any prey items that may be available. They probably also slash through schools of small fishes, stunning or lacerating them before they are consumed.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citations: http://www.arkive.org/green-sawfish/pristis-zijsron/image-G70628.html http://www.elasmoworld.org/sawfish.html
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 27
Common Name: Shovelnose Guitarfish Scientific Name: Rhinobatos productus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Rajiformes
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rhinobatidae
Geography / Habitat: Shovelnose guitarfish are found along the Southwestern coast of North America, ranging from San Francisco to Guerrero, Mexico as well as within the Gulf of California and along the coast of Baja California. This species is usually found in the surf zone and in shallow coastal waters. This species prefers sandy or muddy bottoms and is occasionally found in sea grass beds, estuaries, and near rocky reefs. Life Strategy: Shovelnose guitarfish mate once a year and are monogamous. Males typically move into shallow waters by midsummer, shortly followed by females, for mating; following mating, the fish typically leave these areas. This species mates seasonally, during summer months. On average, males reach sexual maturity at 8 years while females reach sexual maturity at 7 years. Beginning in midsummer, males migrate to bays and estuaries to mate, followed by females; they are absent from these areas during the fall and winter months. Gestation ranges from 9-12 months. Food / Feed Strategy: Shovelnose guitarfish feed nocturnally on infaunal organisms such as worms, crabs, clams, and smaller fish. In Elkhorn Slough, California, their preferred prey is yellow shore crabs
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rhinobatos_productus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 28
Common Name: Cownose Ray Scientific Name: Rhinoptera bonasus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Myliobatidae
Geography / Habitat: The cownose rays occur worldwide in tropical and temperature oceans, bays, estuaries, and river mouths. There are five pelagic species in the genus Rhinoptera. R. bonasus is found in the western Atlantic from New England (southern Massachusetts) to Florida and further to southern Brazil. R. bonasus also occurs in the Gulf of Mexico migrating to Trinidad, Venezuela and is suggested to be a separate population from Atlantic residents. Cownose rays are usually seen on continental and insular shelves and to depths of 22 m. Life Strategy: The mode of reproduction in the cownose ray is aplacental viviparity in which the eggs hatch and babies develop inside the body of the female without a placenta to provide nourishment. As a result, the pups will eat any unfertilized eggs and each other. Usually an individual will only give birth to one pup a year measuring approximately 36 cm in width Food / Feed Strategy: The diet of Rhinoptera bonasus consists mainly of small invertebrates, in particularly crustaceans, polychaetes, and bivalve mollusks. They locate food in the benthos and use their pectoral fins to stir the sand while sucking water and sediment through the gills to filter out their prey. Shells are crushed between their tooth-plates and the soft tissue is digested.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Rhinoptera_bonasus.htm
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 29
Common Name: Carpet Shark Scientific Name: Orectolobus maculatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Orectolobidae
Geography / Habitat: Spotted wobbegong are generally found in inshore waters off the southern and southeastern coasts of Australia, from the Fremantle region in Western Australia to Moreton Island in southern Queensland. Some sources indicate that spotted wobbegong have a global distribution that includes Japanese waters and the South China Sea. Life Strategy: During breeding season, the males are attracted to chemical pheromones released into the water by females. During copulation, the male will bite the female in the gill region, and use his modified pelvic fin, called a clasper, to insert sperm into the cloaca. In captivity males fight fiercely over opportunities to court females, but it remains unclear if this male-male competition occurs among wild populations. Food / Feed Strategy: Spotted wobbegong, like most sharks are carnivorous and feed primarily on bottom dwelling invertebrates. Their invertebrate prey includes crabs, lobsters, and octopus. Spotted wobbegong also prey on some bony fishes including sea bass, scorpionfishes, and luderick. They may also prey on other, smaller shark species, including individuals of their own species, as well as some ray species.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Orectolobus_maculatus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 30
Common Name: Megamouth Shark Scientific Name: Megachasma pelagios Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Megachasmidae
Geography / Habitat: The Megamouth Shark was recently discovered in deep water off of the Hawaiian Islands and near the shores of California, Japan and Western Australia. The megamouth lives in the deep scattering layer of the ocean. It seems to enjoy warmer climates, though it has been discovered in temperate waters.
Life Strategy: The megamouth reproduces sexually through internal fertilization. There are separate sexes, and the offspring are miniature versions of the adult at birth.
Food / Feed Strategy: The Megamouth is a filter feeder. It uses its enormous mouth to draw in water and filter out small planktonic animals such as crustaceans and shrimp.
Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Megachasma_pelagios/ Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 31
Common Name: Giant Devil Ray Scientific Name: Mobula mobular Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Mobulidae
Geography / Habitat: The giant devilray occurs in the Mediterranean and in the eastern Atlantic, from the English Channel south to Senegal, the Azores and the Canary Islands. The giant devilray inhabits offshore, deep waters and occasionally can also be found in shallow waters. Life Strategy: Giant devilrays are ovoviviparous, a method of reproduction in which embryos develop within eggs that remain inside the mother’s body until they hatch. The gestation period is long, lasting about 25 months, and results in only one, or rarely two, pups born in summer. Food / Feed Strategy: The giant devilray feeds on plankton and small pelagic fishes, which are strained out of the water. Their horn-like cephalic fins assist in feeding.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/giant-devilray/mobula-mobular/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 32
Common Name: Giant Manta Ray Scientific Name: Manta birostris Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Mobulidae
Geography / Habitat: The giant manta ray is found in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate waters in all the world’s major oceans, between about 31 degrees North and 36 degrees South. It has been recorded as far north as southern California and New Jersey in the United States, Mutsu Bay in Japan, the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and the Azores Islands, and as far south as Peru, Uruguay, South Africa and New Zealand Life Strategy: The developing eggs remain inside the female’s body for up to 12 months and then hatch internally, so that the female gives birth to live young (4). The female giant manta ray is believed to give birth to one or occasionally two young, probably in shallow water and at night. Births may take place only once every two to five years. Food / Feed Strategy: the giant manta ray feeds on tiny planktonic organisms by filtering large volumes of water through its mouth. Food is strained out of the water using plates of pinkish-brown, sponge-like tissue between the gills, known as ‘gill rakers’.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/giant-manta-ray/manta-birostris/image-G121233.html
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 33
Common Name: Spotted Eagle Ray Scientific Name: Aetobatus narinari Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Myliobatidae
Geography / Habitat: The spotted eagle ray is found in coastal waters in shallow bays and coral reefs, it has been recorded from a range of depths from 1 – 80 metres. Although the spotted eagle ray is found throughout the world’s tropical oceans, current research indicates that there are several different forms of this ray that likely constitute a number of distinct species. Life Strategy: Large groups of spotted eagle rays may be seen outside of the breeding season. These rays swim close to the surface and can occasionally be seen jumping clear out of the water (known as ‘breaching’). Females give birth to around 4 live young Food / Feed Strategy: Spotted eagle rays have heavy dental plates which they use to crush their hardshelled prey (4); they feed predominantly on bivalve shellfish
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://www.arkive.org/spotted-eagle-ray/aetobatus-narinari/image-G124634.html
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 34
Common Name: Bat Ray Scientific Name: Myliobatis californicus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Myliobatidae
Geography / Habitat: Bat rays are found in shallow waters and coral reefs from Oregon to the Sea of Cortez. Bat rays are found living close to the shores of bays, sloughs, kelp beds and coral reefs. Bat rays prefer to live in areas with sandy or muddy bottoms for it allows easier access to food. They are most commonly found in depths reaching between 3m and 12m but have occasionally been spotted as deep as 46m.
Life Strategy: Bat rays reproduce on an annual cycle, usually copulating during the spring or summer of one year and then giving birth the following spring or summer. Bat rays reproduce in large mating aggregations with the females clustering in one area. Females may lie on top of one another, burying females that have already mated or those that are not sexually mature yet. This allows less confusion for the males to pick a suitable mate. The gestation period is between 8-12 months and the number of live young born depends upon the size of the mother but can be up to 10 pups at a time.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bat rays are carnivorous and feed on a variety of mollusks, crustaceans, and small fishes. Diet varies with the abundance of prey locally. Juveniles eat primarily clams and shrimp. Adult bat rays eat larger prey, including larger clams, crabs, shrimp, and echiuran worms. Bat rays use their snout to dig invertebrates from the sand, making bat rays an important benthic predator. They also capture prey by lifting the body on the pectoral fin tip, flapping the pectoral tips quickly up and down, and then using the suction created by the flapping to pull sand out from under the body, exposing hidden prey.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Citation: http://www.arkive.org/bat-ray/myliobatis-californicus/image-G90317.html http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Myliobatis_californica/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 35
Common Name: Swordfish Scientific Name: Xiphias gladius Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Xiphiidae
Geography / Habitat: The swordfish occurs in tropical, temperate and sometimes even cold waters of all oceans, primarily between 50°N to 50°S. An oceanic species, the swordfish is usually found in mid-water, at depths from 200 to 600 meters, in water from 18 to 22°C. It is frequently seen swimming at the surface, but may also swim at depths greater than 650 meters. Life Strategy: Spawning occurs year-round in warm equatorial waters, while in cooler regions it occurs in the spring and summer. The best known spawning grounds of the swordfish are found in the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian peninsula and Sicily. Swordfish eggs have been found here from June to September, and large numbers of juveniles occur throughout the Mediterranean from November to March. Fertilization is external, whereby a female releases millions of buoyant eggs into the water, which are then fertilized by sperm secreted by the male. From the fertilized eggs, hatch swordfish larvae. Food / Feed Strategy: They possess acute eyesight, with which they can locate prey, and their flesh consists primarily of ‘white’ muscle which provides energy for sudden bursts of activity, such as when in pursuit of their quarry. The swordfish then uses its bill to stun or impale its victim, slashes it into pieces or swallows it whole. Swordfish feed during the day (3), primarily on squid, but also fish and occasionally crustaceans. They undertake vertical migrations in the ocean, following the movement of many small shrimp, fish and squid.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://www.arkive.org/swordfish/xiphias-gladius/image-G125221.html
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 36
Common Name: Lionfish Scientific Name: Pterois volitans Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Geography / Habitat: The common lionfish is native to the western Pacific Ocean, from southern Japan and southern Korea, throughout Indonesia, Micronesia and French Polynesia to Lord Howe Island, the east coast of Australia and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand. In the South Pacific Ocean the common lionfish is distributed from Western Australia to Marquesas and Oeno in the Pitcairn Islands. Life Strategy: Although the common lionfish is usually found alone in the non-breeding season, during courtship male lionfish will aggregate with multiple females to form groups of three to eight fish, performing a suite of complex courtship and mating behaviours. The elaborate courting display is performed by the male and includes circling, following, and leading the female, as well as using its many spines in territorial displays with competing males. Food / Feed Strategy: The common lionfish feeds on a wide variety of small fish, shrimps and crabs. It hunts primarily at night, stalking and ambushing its prey by spreading the pectoral fins out wide and corralling its prey into a corner, before rapidly swallowing it whole.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://www.arkive.org/common-lionfish/pterois-volitans/image-G84676.html
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 37
Common Name: Electric Eel Scientific Name: Electrophorus electricus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gymnotiformes
Family: Gymnotidae
Geography / Habitat: The electric eel, occupies the northeastern portions of South America. This includes the Guyanas and Orinoco Rivers as well as the middle and lower Amazon basin. They dwell mainly on the muddy bottoms of rivers and occasionally swamps, prefering deeply shaded areas. However, they must surface rather frequently because they are air breathers, gaining up to 80 percent of their oxygen through this method. This feature allows E. electricus to survive comfortably in water that has a very low concentration of dissolved oxygen. Life Strategy: Electric eels reproduce during the dry season. The eggs are deposited in a well-hidden nest made of saliva, built by the male. In field observations, an average of 1200 embryos was hatched. Fecundity counts have been documented as high as 17,000 eggs. The electric eel is thought to be a fractional spawner. Food / Feed Strategy: To find prey E. electricus uses its weak electric organ, also known as the Sachs organ. This transmits a weak pulsating signal, thought to be used for locating and directional purposes. Once prey is found the electric eel will use a much larger electrical current to stun the fish. This is done with the two larger electric organs, the Main and Hunters organs. The shock itself does not kill the prey, but it is usually sufficiently stunned. Since eels lack maxilla teeth, it is difficult to eat a fish that is thrashing about. However, since the prey is fairly stationary eels are able to open their mouths to create a suction, which allows them to eat the prey with ease. Most adult electric eels will feed on smaller fish, while juveniles will prey mainly on smaller invertebrates.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Electrophorus_electricus/pictures/collections/contributo rs/Grzimek_fish/Gymnotiformes/Electrophorus_electricus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 38
Common Name: European eel Scientific Name: Anguilla anguilla Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Anguillidae
Geography / Habitat: The geographic range of adult European eels includes the English Channel and coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and northern Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Mauritania. Their range also encompasses the Baltic and North Seas, as well as all accessible continental or coastal hydrosystems. Silver (juvenile) stage eels of Anguilla anguilla live in tributaries along the European coast. Depending on the lifestage of the individual eel, European eels can be found in marine, freshwater, and brackish aquatic environments. Life Strategy: In the early spring months, European eels migrate to the Sargasso Sea for breeding. Larvae are hatched from the Sargasso Sea and can also be found along the coast of Europe. Upon reaching sexual maturity, European eels migrate from freshwater streams back to the Sargasso Sea in order to spawn and die in the late winter months to the early summer months. European eel males release sperm into the water in which female European eels have already laid eggs, thereby fertilizing the eggs. Food / Feed Strategy: European eels have completely different diets during different life stages. No food contents have ever been discovered in the guts of leptocephali, therefore their diet is unknown. Adult eels have a fairly broad diet and eat freshwater, marine, or terrestrial fauna. Their primary food source is aquatic invertebrates, but they will eat essentially any food they can find-- even dead organisms. European eels are reported to leap out of the water during the winter and feed on terrestrial invertebrates.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilla_anguilla/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 39
Common Name: Morena verde Scientific Name: Gymnothorax funebris Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Geography / Habitat: The green moray eels can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Typically, these moray eels range as far north as New Jersey and as far south as Brazil. One individual was reported off the coast of Nova Scotia. Experts speculate that this animal had been carried there by the Gulf Stream. The species is most common in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. These eels make small migrations to spawning sites. Green morays live in rocky, intertidal areas, coral reefs, mangroves, tidal creeks, harbors, seagrass beds, and other areas over sandy or muddy bottoms. They reside in rock crevices and small caves, usually no deeper than 30 m. Life Strategy: The mating system of Gymnothorax funebris has yet to be described. It is know however that fertilization occurs externally and at a spawning site. Based on what is known about European eels (Anguilla anguilla), it is plausible that green morays are promiscuous and that spawning sites are farther from the shoreline than the eel's foraging habitat, between 400 m and 500 m deep. Food / Feed Strategy: The Morena Verde is a dietary generalist. It readily consumes most species of fish, so long as they are small enough to swallow whole or can be ripped into manageable pieces. Green morays will also prey on crustaceans and cephalopods. Larvae prey on diatoms, smaller crustaceans, and other zooplankton.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gymnothorax_funebris/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes
Species # 40
Common Name: Undulated Moray Eel Scientific Name: Gymnothorax undulatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Geography / Habitat: Occurring in coastal areas and around islands in the Indian Ocean and western, central and eastern Pacific Ocean, the greatest density of undulated morays is found throughout south-east Asia, from Indonesia and the Philippines southwards to northern Australia Life Strategy: Not much is known about the biology of the undulated moray, but in other species of moray eel, the male begins courtship by displaying to a female, before entwining around the female’s body. Once pair formation is complete, the female spawns large numbers of heavily-yolked eggs, which are fertilised externally by the male. Small, ribbon-shaped larvae subsequently emerge from the eggs to drift passively in ocean currents as part of the zooplankton community, before growing large enough to establish a territory on a reef. Food / Feed Strategy: The undulated moray is a nocturnal species that uses its keen sense of smell to actively and aggressively hunt for fish, octopus and crustaceans, consuming almost anything that will fit in its mouth. When prey is captured, it uses a specialized second set of jaws within the throat to grasp onto the prey and drag it back into the throat.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Terminal Citations: http://www.arkive.org/undulated-moray/gymnothorax-undulatus/image-G65435.html
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 41
Common Name: Alligator Gar Scientific Name: Atractosteus spatula Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lepisosteiformes
Family: Lepisosteidae
Geography / Habitat: The Alligator Gar is found in the Ohio River in southwestern Ohio and the Mississippi river south to the Gulf of Mexico. They are found in drainages throughout the southeastern coastal United States. They are found in parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Their range is from 44° to 20° north latitude and 101° to 82° west longitude. Alligator Gar is found in large lakes, rivers, and bayous. Typically they are found in backwaters and bottomland swamps. They are found in both freshwater and brackish waters, they rarely enter marine waters
Life Strategy: Mating behaviors in this species are not known. Female alligator gars lay eggs that are dark green or red and stick to rocks and vegetation. The eggs are poisonous if eaten. Alligator gar may take many years to reach sexual maturity, although little is known about reproduction in this species.
Food / Feed Strategy: Alligator gars are opportunistic carnivores and sit-and-wait predators. They appear to be sluggish, but can ambush prey with short bursts of speed. They feed on almost anything, including fish, ducks, turtles, small mammals, and carrion
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Atractosteus_spatula/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 42
Common Name: Florida Gar Scientific Name: Lepisosteus platyrhincus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lepisosteiformes
Family: Lepisosteidae
Geography / Habitat: One of the most widespread and numerous of the gar species in Florida, Florida Gar is found in the United States from the Savannah River drainage in Georgia to the Ocklockonee River drainage in Florida and Georgia. Florida Gar is also found in peninsular Florida, generally north of and in Lake Okeechobee. Inhabits medium to large lowland streams, canals, and lakes with muddy or sandy bottoms, and must be near abundant underwater vegetation. Like all gars, Florida Gar uses an air bladder to breathe air to survive in poorly oxygenated or stagnant water that is intolerable to most other fish. Typically occurring between 43 to 28 degrees North, Florida Gar is subtropical, demersal and is also tolerant of brackish and estuarine environments.
Life Strategy: Groups of both sexes congregate in shallow weedy waters where the females place their adhesive eggs among aquatic plants. Males release sperm over the eggs and both sexes leave the spawning area. Following a dormant period in the summer, there is an increase is the testosterone of the males. Female gar also show reproductive hormone increases during this time. Following a single spawning event during the early spring (February to March), reproductive parameters return to basal levels. This indicates that seasonal changes in photoperiod and temperature activate hormone production and declines. Food / Feed Strategy: Florida gars use ram feeding, which is the use of a high velocity lunge or chase to kill prey. This feeding behavior in consists of a slow stalk, resulting in the close, lateral positioning of the head relative to prey. It uses a sideways lunge of the head during the strike, which lasts only 25 to 40 ms and is extremely fast. Prey capture in adults is also characterized by the jaws closing on the prey, and then slashing their mouth from side to side. This is followed by manipulation and repositioning of the prey so that the gar can eat them head first.Young Florida gars feed on zooplankton, insect larvae and small fish. Adults primarily feed on fish, shrimp, and crayfish.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_platyrhincus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 43
Common Name: Spotted Gar Scientific Name: Lepisosteus oculatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lepisosteiformes
Family: Lepisosteidae
Geography / Habitat: The northern range of Lepisosteus oculatus stretches throughout the Lake Michigan and Lake Erie drainages. It is also found in the Mississippi River drainages and river drainages along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico from the Nueces River in Texas east to the lower Apalachicola River in Florida. Spotted gar prefers shallow open waters, usually 3 - 5 m deep, as well as stagnant backwater. They are often found near the surface basking near fallen logs, trees, or brush. This species is also shoreline-oriented, meaning it can be found near banks that include some sort of brush covering. Spotted gar are rarely found in areas that do not include some form of brush covering. Life Strategy: Multiple males gather in shallow (1.5 m) water near vegetation to compete for the larger females. Females allow more than one male to fertilize their eggs. Females splash and make quick movements at the moment the eggs are deposited. Egg production is its highest in October, when females laid an average of 13,789 +/- 7654 (SE) eggs. Fecundity was lowest during June in which just 1,772 +/- 392 (SE) eggs were laid. Larger females lay more eggs. Food / Feed Strategy: This species of gar is an ambush predator, feeding primarily on aquatic crustaceans, such as crayfish. They utilize their brush covered habitat for foraging at night. Spotted gar also eat other species of fish including sunfish, gizzard shad, crappies, bass, catfish, and shiners. One study showed that this species can feed efficiently across a spectrum of habitat complexity, and that some species were simply more vulnerable to gar attack regardless of cover.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_oculatus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 44
Common Name: Shortnose Gar Scientific Name: Lepisosteus platostomus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lepisosteiformes
Family: Lepisosteidae
Geography / Habitat: The short nosed gar is found in Mississippi River basin from south central Ohio, northern Indiana and Wisconsin to Montana and south to Alabama and Louisiana. The species is also found in Lake Michigan drainage in Wisconsin. Shortnose gar presumably dispersed into Wisconsin from the Mississippi river via the Wisconsin and Fox rivers Habitat of the shortnosed gar includes lakes, swamps, and the calm pools and backwaters of creeks and rivers. They are commonly found near vegetation and submerged logs. Life Strategy: Gars begin to spawn in early to mid-April until the end of May. Shortnose gars spawn in shallow water among the grass and aquatic weeds and prefer grassy sloughs as spawning grounds. Their eggs are large, green, and poisonous to warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. Food / Feed Strategy: Young of the year gars consume a variety of food items, ranging from tiny crustaceans to different life stages of insects and fish. The diet of young gars suggests that most feeding is surface oriented. Adult and young of the year gars feed more actively at night than during the day. Hunting activity of gars can be described as stalking rather than active pursuit. Gars are typically opportunist, consuming the most available food. Shortnose gar consumes more invertebrates than any other species of gar. Gars are efficient ambush predators. With its long jaws, gars lie in ambush and catch fish with a sideways strike.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_platostomus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 45
Common Name: South American Lungfish Scientific Name: Lepidosiren paradoxa Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sarcopterygii
Order: Lepidosireniformes
Family: Lepidosirenidae
Geography / Habitat: Is found in the neotropics of South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. This species lives in South America, primarily in the Amazon river basin. They prefer stagnant water where there is little current, such as a swamp or lake. These fish typically stay very close to the surface of the water. In times of drought, they can burrow in the mud up to 50 cm to avoid drying out are primarily freshwater fish and are physiologically unable to cross large expanses of saltwater. Life Strategy: Both parents gather debris to make a nest. The nest is then guarded by the male parent. The males can increase oxygen levels for their developing young by using gill-like structures formed during the breeding season. These gill-like structures are highly vascularized, feathery structures developed from the pelvic fin. These structures allow the male to release oxygen from his blood into the surrounding nest and remove carbon dioxide. Food / Feed Strategy: Eat a variety of food items including some bony fish, algae and weeds, terrestrial plants, shrimp, insects, clams, and snails. They are primarily carnivorous. Juveniles, who are strictly aquatic, feed on larval insects and snails. South American lungfish capture prey by suction feeding. They use tooth plates, an enlarged cranial rib. Hydraulic transport achieved by movements of the hyoid apparatus is used to position prey within the mouth. This is parallel to the function of a tongue.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 46
Common Name: Flathead Catfish Scientific Name: Pylodictis olivaris Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: Flathead catfish are native to rivers and lakes in the lower Great Lakes and Mississippi River basin. They are found in appropriate habitat in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, much of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, western Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and as far south as Mexico. Flathead catfish inhabit rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with slow currents. Older and larger flathead catfish stay in deeper waters during the daylight hours, moving into shallower water at night. They prefer to remain near or under cover, including fallen trees, logs, brush piles, and river banks. Life Strategy: Total spawning time was approximately 4 hours, after which the female was removed and the male began ferociously defending the eggs, even from the female that had laid them. Age at sexual maturity appears to be regionally dependent, and can range from 3 to 5 years in males and 3 to 7 years in females. Spawning occurs in early to late summer, when the water temperature is 23.8 to 29°C, with eggs hatching 6 to 9 days post-fertilization. Nests are constructed under cover, including logs, stumps, brush piles, and rock outcroppings. Food / Feed Strategy: Flathead catfish are carnivores that prey on many different types of animals, depending on size. They are known to eat crayfish, gizzard shad, insects and larvae, channel catfish, drum, other flatheads, green sunfish and carp. Insect larvae are the major prey type until an individual reaches approximately 100 mm in total length, at which point the diet expands to include crayfish and small fishes. Individuals above 250 mm in length feed almost exclusively on other fishes.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal
Edward Robertson Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pylodictis_olivaris/ Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 47
Common Name: Texas Blind Catfish Scientific Name: Satan eurystomus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: is known only from the Edwards Aquifer in Bexar County near San Antonio, Texas. Widemouth blindcats live in the fresh waters of the subterranean Edwards Aquifer. These waters range from 305 to 582 m below the surface. Life Strategy: Little is known about the mating system of widemouth blindcats. It has not been studied in the natural habitat. Specimens that have been studied appeared to be juveniles, having not reached sexual maturity. Among ictalurids, both monogamy and polygamy have been observed. Spawning season usually varies by habitat. Food / Feed Strategy: Widemouth blindcats are carnivores and detritivores. Upon examining the stomach contents of a few specimens, a mudlike substance was observed, as well as the exoskeletons of crustaceans. Widemouth blindcats are also able to store extra fat due to a reduced gas bladder. This helps the fish to store more energy when food is scarce. Widemouth blindcats may be top predators in the Edwards Aquifer.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Satan_eurystomus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 48
Common Name: Danube Catfish Scientific Name: Silurus glanis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Siluridae
Geography / Habitat: Danube catfish is native to Eastern Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to several other areas including Germany, France, Spain, England, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands. Its found primarily in large rivers and lakes and in deep water near dams. These catfish sometimes enter brackish water in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea. Life Strategy: There is little known about mating behavior in this species. Males create nests where females deposit their eggs. Males then guard the eggs until they hatch. The male creates a shallow depression that will hold thousands of eggs laid by the female. The eggs are protected by the male until they hatch. Females can lay about 30,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight. Males grow faster and mature earlier than females. Food / Feed Strategy: fry feed on plankton during their first year of life. When they reach larger sizes they begin to eat worms, snails, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish. At adult sizes they will also prey on ducks, voles, crayfish, fish, eels, frogs, rats, coypu, and snakes. They use the incredible suction created by suddenly opening their large mouths to take in prey.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Silurus_glanis/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 49
Common Name: Electric Catfish Scientific Name: Ictalurus punctatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Malapteruridae
Geography / Habitat: The genus Malapterurus is found throughout western and central tropical Africa and the Nile River. They occur in all major freshwater systems including the Buzi Niger, Ogooué, Omo, Sanaga, Sabi-Lundi, Senegal, Shari, Zaïre and Zambezi River basins,as well as Lakes Albert, Chad, Kainji, Tanganyika and Turkana. There are currently three species of Malapterurus. It is believed that M. electricus is restricted to the Nile River and Lake Chad. Species in the genus Malapterurus are generally found among rocks or roots in turbid and/or black waters with low visibility; they favor sluggish or standing water.
Life Strategy: Nothing much is known of the reproductive biology of M. electricus According to Polle & Gosse (1969), breeding pairs nest in holes some 3 meters in length excavated in clay banks in water 1 to 3 meters deep. Food / Feed Strategy: is voracious piscivore hunting and stunning its prey using its paralyzing electrical organ discharge (EOD). It is an opportunistic feeder and will feed on the most readily available prey within its habitat. Electric catfish are able to consume prey up to half their size. The presence of high percentages of electric catfish with empty stomachs in wild-caught specimens studied suggests that these fish are slowmoving, deliberate feeders with infrequent, heavy meals. The EOD volleys involved in predation are long-lasting and may comprise several hundred EODs. These feeding volleys are often preceded by low frequency "pre-volley" activity, which is believed to startle potential prey.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Malapterurus_electricus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 50
Common Name: Tiger Catfish Scientific Name: Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: The Tiger Catfish is found in South America in countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela. The Tiger Catfish is a freshwater fish. Life Strategy: Tiger catfish spawn in January. The eggs are fertilized as they are shed into the water. A single female can produce millions of eggs: over 150,000 eggs per kilo of her body weight. Juvenile fish spend more time in flooded forests where, in amongst the branches and roots, they are safer from predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: The Tiger Catfish is a carnivore. Its diet consists mostly of crustaceans - crustacivore, fish – piscivore. They have a series of sensitive whiskers or barbells that surround the mouth and allow catfish to search out their prey after dark or in very cloudy water. The eyes are small, also indicating that this is a species that relies less on sight and more on other senses.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/tiger-catfish
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 51
Common Name: Brown Catfish Scientific Name: Ameiurus nebulosus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: Brown bullhead is native to freshwater habitats in Canada and the United States from 25° to 54° north latitude. They are distributed in the Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages, ranging from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Mobile Bay, Alabama, and in the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi basins from Quebec west to southeast Saskatchewan and south to Louisiana.They are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, including water temperatures up to 36 degrees Celsius and oxygen levels to 0.2 ppm. They prefer habitats with vegetation and substrate. They survive well in domestically and industrially polluted waters. Life Strategy: Brown bullhead spawns once during the spring and early summer breeding season. During an extensive four year study in Michigan by Blumer (1985), this species spawned most frequently within the first 16 days of June. He also found that larger males spawned earlier in the season Substrate is sucked into the mouth and relocated during nest building. Sheltered nests are thought to provide protection from predators. Eycleshymer (1901) noted nests in pieces of stovepipe and a bucket. During nest construction males are territorial. Egg clusters contain 50 to 10,000 eggs. Brown bullhead demonstrates iteroparity. Fertilization is external. Food / Feed Strategy: Brown bullhead is benthic, opportunistic omnivores. In aquarium settings they eat most food given to them. Juveniles eat zooplankton, including chironomids, cladocerans, ostracods, and amphipods, insects, including mayfly larvae and caddisfly larvae, and plants. Adults feed on insects, small fish, fish eggs, mollusks, plants, leeches, worms, and crayfish. They typically are nocturnal feeders, but have been observed feeding during the day. They use their barbels to locate food.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ameiurus_nebulosus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 52
Common Name: Bull Trout Scientific Name: Salvelinus confluentus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: Occupy northwestern United States and Canada where cold, clean waters flow. The geographic range of Bull Trout is confined to northwestern North America from Alaska to northern California). The species is generally considered to live within the Arctic, Pacific and Missouri River drainages in mountain and coastal streams. usually found in medium to large river systems but can also occur in large lakes and reservoirs when conditions are adequate. In the fluvial setting the bull trout favors deep pools where it usually sits on or near the bottom the species frequents the cold, deeper sections of lakes as well as the shallows Life Strategy: Bull trout begin to spawn in the late part of August or early September and often lasting through October. spawning activities are triggered when the water temperature drops below 10 degrees Centigrade As is typical of all trout and salmon, the female, after finding a suitable spawning area, fans a section of gravel substrate thereby producing a large depression in the stream bed. After this process is complete a male bull trout (usually only one) will fertilize eggs deposited by the female. Depending on the size of the individual, fecundity can vary for average size bull trout around 5000 eggs. Food / Feed Strategy: After departing from the spawning red in spring the young bull trout begins looking for suitable habitat for protection and food sources. As a juvenile, the first year in the life of the bull trout is spent eating small aquatic invertebrates. These aquatic larvae, often ephemeropterans, are readily available in the lower water column and interstitial spaces that these juveniles inhabit. As the bull trout grows larger, their diet, in addition to aquatic invertebrates, consists of other fish species.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_confluentus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 53
Common Name: Coast rainbow trout Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: are only native to the Pacific Coast of North America, extending from Alaska down to the border between California and Mexico. However, they have been introduced throughout the United States. and in every continent except for Antarctica for game fishing purposes. Freshwater, the anadromous form, called steelhead, spawn and complete their early development in freshwater mountain streams, then migrate to spend their adult life in the ocean. In freshwater, they prefer cool water but have been known to tolerate water temperatures up to 24°C. Life Strategy: Adult rainbow trout and steelhead lay their eggs in a series of nests in gravel. Collectively, the nests are called a red. When they hatch, the hatchlings are still attached to, and survive on their yok sac. They remain in the protective gravel for about 2 to 3 weeks when they have shed their yolk sacs and are fit enough to survive in the open water. Juvenile fish tend to stick to shallow and side areas of the streams where there is protective cover and slow-moving currents. Food / Feed Strategy: Rainbow trout and steelhead are insectivorous and piscivorous. Resident rainbow trout tend to eat more fish than steelhead. Both species primarily feed on invertebrate larvae drifting in mid-water to conserve energy that would be expended if they were foraging for food in the substrate. Young rainbow trout and steelhead eat insect larvae, crustaceans, other aquatic invertebrates, and algae.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Oncorhynchus_mykiss/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 54
Common Name: Golden trout Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus aguabonita Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: The golden trout is found in high altitude fresh bodies of water in the western area of the United States. Specifically, this species can be found in Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and most abundantly in California, where it was first discovered. Golden trout occupy only high altitude fresh water lakes and rivers, usually in scenic mountain areas that are highly inaccessible and can only be reached by horseback riding or backpacking. These altitudes can range anywhere from 9000-12000 feet. Life Strategy: The female golden trout's egg development starts early in their short growing season. The egg is almost completely ripe when lowering temperatures arrest development at the onset of winter. The fish are then ready to spawn the following spring. Provoked by the melting snow and thawing streams, the spawning routine, which starts anytime between March through July, begins its process, depending on weather conditions and elevation. Reproduction is sexual with external fertilization. Food / Feed Strategy: The diet of the golden trout consists mainly of surface water-dwelling insects, principally small ones such as caddisflies and midges. Small crustaceans such as tiny fresh water shrimp as well as some terrestrial insects contribute to the diet as well. However, small insects, either in larvae or fully developed form, floating on the surface compose most of the natural food of this species. To feed, the trout opens its gills and hinged mouth and inhales its prey whole in the water.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Oncorhynchus_aguabonita/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 55
Common Name: Aurora trout Scientific Name: Salvelinus fontinalis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: Aurora trout are found as far south as Georgia in the Appalachian mountain range and extend north all the way to Hudson Bay. From the east coast their native range extends westward to eastern Manitoba and the Great Lakes. Aurora trout are found in three types of aquatic environments: rivers, lakes, and marine areas. Their living requirements in these environments are very specific. The freshwater populations occur in clear, cool, well-oxygenated streams and lakes. Life Strategy: Aurora trout spawn in late summer or autumn depending on the latitude and temperature. The type of area required for brook trout spawning is one that offers loose, clean gravel in shallow riffles or shoreline area with an excellent supply of upwelling, oxygen-rich water. Aurora trout reach maturity on an average at the age of two and spawn every year, although their size at first maturity depends on growth rate and the productivity of their habitat To gain the spawning right of the female the males compete for position by nipping and displaying themselves to the competitor males. When spawning is actually taking place the male takes a position to hold the female against the bottom of the redd and both of the fish vibrate intensely while eggs and milt are simultaneously discharged. Food / Feed Strategy: The food habits of brook trout vary according to their age and life history stage. As fry, or very young fish, brook trout feed primarily on immature stages of aquatic insects. In general a brook trout's diet can be likened to a smorgasbord of organisms with prey ranging from mayflies to salamanders. A brook trout will virtually eat anything its mouth will accommodate, including mostly many aquatic insect larvae such as caddisflies, mayflies, midges, and black flies. Other organisms consumed include worms, leeches, crustaceans, terrestrial insects, spiders, mollusks, a number of other fish species.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_fontinalis/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 56
Common Name: Stripped Bass Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Moronidae
Geography / Habitat: Striped bass are native to the Atlantic coastline of North America from the St. Lawrence River into the Gulf of Mexico to approximately Louisiana. They are anadromous fish that migrate between fresh and salt water. Spawning takes place in fresh water. On the Atlantic coast, striped bass range from St. Lawrence River, Canada to St. Johns River, Florida, although they are most prevalent from Maine to North Carolina. Striped bass tend to move north to nearshore waters of the New England coast during the summer and south to the North Carolina/Virginia Capes during the winter. Striped bass inhabit coastal waters and are commonly found in bays but may enter rivers in the spring to spawn. Some populations are landlocked
Life Strategy: Female striped bass can mature as early as age 4; however, it takes several years (age 8 or older) for spawning females to reach full productivity. Males can mature as early as age 2. Once a mature female deposits her eggs, they are fertilized by milt ejected from a mature male. Food / Feed Strategy: Larvae feed on zooplankton. Juveniles take in small shrimps and other crustaceans, annelid worms, and insects. Adults feed on a wide variety of fishes, crustaceans, squids, mussels, and worms. Feeding ceases shortly before spawning.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishfacts/stripedbass.asp
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 57
Common Name: Roanoke Bass Scientific Name: Ambloplites cavifrons Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: The Roanoke bass occurs in the United States where it has one of the smallest ranges of native game fishes. It is endemic only to the Chowan, Roanoke, Tar and Neuse river drainages of Virginia and North Carolina. The Roanoke bass occurs in medium to large streams with firm substrate, high levels of dissolved oxygen, and a near neutral pH. Life Strategy: During the spawning season, from mid-May to mid-June, the male builds a nest in unvegetated shallows over gravel substrates and guards it from intruders. Maturity occurs at approximately two years old, typically when the Roanoke bass has reached a total body length. Food / Feed Strategy: the Roanoke bass is a carnivorous fish, preying on small aquatic invertebrates when young and consuming an increasing amount of crayfish as it matures
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/roanoke-bass/ambloplites-cavifrons/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 58
Common Name: Smallmouth Bass Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: The smallmouth bass is found throughout the temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stock to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. Its native to the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence River–Great Lakes system, and up into the Hudson Bay basin. The smallmouth bass is found in clearer water than the largemouth, especially streams, rivers, and the rocky areas and stumps and also sandy bottoms of lakes and reservoirs. The smallmouth prefers cooler water temperatures than its cousin the Largemouth bass, and may be found in both still and moving water. Because it is intolerant of pollution, the smallmouth bass is a good natural indicator of a healthy environment, though it can better adjust to changes in water condition than most trout species. Life Strategy: Various reports exist about when smallmouth males reach sexual maturity. Most articles report maturity is reached in the third or fourth year. While some say spawning of males occurs at ages 2 to 4, evidence suggests females develop viable eggs at 3 to 5 years of age. Newer information indicates size, rather than age, determines when smallmouths reach sexual maturity Food / Feed Strategy: Carnivorous, its diet comprises crayfish, insects, and smaller fish; the young also feeding on zooplankton
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallmouth_bass
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 59
Common Name: White Bass Scientific Name: Morone chrysops Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Moronidae
Geography / Habitat: White bass are distributed widely across the United States, particularly in the midwest. They are very abundant in Pennsylvania and the area around Lake Erie. Some native ranges of the white bass are the Arkansas River, Lake Erie near Cleveland, Ohio, and Lake Poinsett in South Dakota; they are abundant in the Winnebago lakes system of Wisconsin; and they are also very abundant in Oklahoma Life Strategy: The spawning season for the white bass is mid-March to late May. The optimal water temperatures are 12 to 20°C. They are known to find their home spawning ground even if it is moved to a different part of the same lake. They often spawn in moving water in a tributary stream, but they will spawn in windswept lake shores Food / Feed Strategy: White bass are carnivores. They have four main taxa in their diet: calanoid copepods, cyclopoid copepods, daphnia, and leptodora. They are visual feeders.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_bass
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 60
Common Name: Yellow Bass Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: The yellow bass is native to eastern North America and historically ranged from southern Canada to northern Mexico and from the Atlantic coast to the central region of the United States. Largemouth bass prefer quiet, clear waters with abundant vegetation. More specifically, they prefer shallow water that is usually no deeper than 2.5 meters, but they sometimes occupy deeper regions. Abundant vegetation is important because it allows bass to hide from their prey and provides protection against predators. Their environment is also made up of regions of clear waters where the bass' vision can be utilized to detect prey. Life Strategy: During the breeding season, each male prepares and builds a nest in shallow water. Nests are generally very crude in design. Once the nest is built female swims near, and following an act of courtship, she lay her eggs in the nest. As female yellow bass lay their eggs in the nests of males and males then guard the eggs until they hatch. On average there are about 3,000 fry per nest. Food / Feed Strategy: Immature Micropterus salmoides feed on zooplankton and aquatic insects. As they grow their diet shifts to crayfish and other fish species.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Micropterus_salmoides/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 61
Common Name: Largemouth Bass Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: Largemouth Bass live in lakes, ponds, resevoirs, large rivers, and slow-
moving streams. They like a lot of vegetation, both in the water and along its edges. Largemouths will often school (group together) and can be found in groups around underwater structures, such as trees, stumps, large rocks, drop offs, and dock pilings. Life Strategy: The male will prepare the nest, usually in one to four feet of water. He will use his fins to expose gravel, shells, or plant roots on the bottom, making a circle two to three feet wide. the nest is built, the female will arrive and lay between 2,000 and 40,000 eggs, depending on her size.The male will stay and guard the eggs, which will hatch in about a week. When the fry (group of baby fish) hatch, they will stay in the nest for another week Food / Feed Strategy: The juvenile largemouth bass consumes mostly small bait fish, scuds, small shrimp, and insects. Adults consume smaller fish (bluegill, banded killifish), snails, crawfish (crayfish), frogs, snakes, salamanders, bats and even small water birds, mammals, and baby alligators.[12] In larger lakes and reservoirs, adult bass occupy deeper water than younger fish, and shift to a diet consisting almost entirely of smaller fish like shad, yellow perch, ciscoes, shiners, and sunfish. It also consumes younger members of larger fish species, such as pike, catfish, trout, walleye, white bass, striped bass, and even smaller black bass.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largemouth_bass
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 62
Common Name: Yellow Bullhead Scientific Name: Ameiurus natalis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) range throughout the eastern United States, extending north to southeastern Canada and west to the Great Plains and Rio Grande drainage; they are introduced elsewhere. Yellow bullhead prefers backwaters with slow current in rivers and streams. They can be found in the shallow parts of streams, lakes, ponds, or large bays. Habitat varies from a slow current with poorly oxygenated, highly silted, and highly polluted water to a more swift current with clean and clear water that has aquatic vegetation. Yellow bullhead is bottom dwellers, living in areas with muck, rock, sand, or clay substrates. Life Strategy: Yellow bullhead males dig nests, which may range from a shallow depression in muddy sediment to a deep burrow in the stream bank. Protected nest sites near rocks and stumps with dense vegetation are preferred. Nest sites attract females for mating. Food / Feed Strategy: Like all other catfish species, yellow bullheads are opportunistic feeders. Yellow bullheads feed at night. They have been known to eat minnows, crayfish, insects and insect larvae, aquatic invertebrates, and worms. Compared to the other two bullheads, the yellow bullheads consume more aquatic vegetation. The young will feed on aquatic invertebrates.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ameiurus_natalis/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 63
Common Name: Adriatic salmon Scientific Name: Salmo obtusirostris Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: The Adriatic salmon occurs in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, where it is restricted to a few rivers in the Krka, Jardo, Nereveka and Zeta river basins. It has also recently been introduced into the Zrnornica River. Doesn’t migrate into ocean, and this freshwater fish inhabits cold streams and small rivers at high altitudes, where it favors deep, undisturbed places. Life Strategy: It spawns in April or May (3). A small number of the population reach maturity and begin to spawn in their third year, but the majority spawns in their fourth year of life Food / Feed Strategy: The Adriatic salmon, which usually occurs in shoals (3), feeds on small fish, insects, and other small aquatic invertebrates.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/adriatic-salmon/salmo-obtusirostris/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 64
Common Name: Yellow perch Scientific Name: Perca flavescens Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Geography / Habitat: Yellow perch, Perca flavescens, are north temperate fish. They extend from west central Canada and the Hudson Bay area east to New Brunswick, down to South Carolina and west to Kansas. Yellow perch are found mainly in lakes and sometimes in impoundments of larger rivers. Clear water is important as excessive turbidity and silt could lead to death of perch. Perch do however have a high tolerance for low oxygen conditions. They inhabit water of moderate temperature, avoiding cold deep water and warm surface waters during the summer. Young perch generally inhabit shallower water than larger ones, though as temperature increases all move to cooler, deeper water Life Strategy: Female yellow perch mature at ages two to four, males usually mature one year earlier. Spawning takes place in the spring (April through early May) when the water temperature reaches 45 - 52°F (Craig 1987; Herman 1959). The average number of eggs laid per female is 23,000. After deposition the eggs rapidly swell and harden. Eggs hatch in 8 -10 days and the emerging the fish are 4 - 7 mm in length. Food / Feed Strategy: Young of the year yellow perch feed on zooplankton, then as they grow they switch to benthic macroinvertebrates and finally fish
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Perca_flavescens/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 65
Common Name: Bluegill Scientific Name: Lepomis macrochirus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: The bluegill or bluegulli occurs naturally in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains from coastal Virginia to Florida, west to Texas and northern Mexico, and north to western Minnesota and western New York. Life Strategy: Spawning season for bluegills starts late in May and extends into August. The peak of the spawning season usually occurs in June in waters of 67 to 80°F. The male bluegills arrive first at the mating site. They will make a spawning bed of six to 12 inches in diameter in shallow water, clustering as many as 50 beds together. The males scoop out these beds in gravel or sand. Males tend to be very protective and chase everything away from their nests, especially other male bluegills. Some bluegills, regardless of their small size, will even attack snorkelers if they approach the edge of the nest. With the male in an upright posture, the pair will touch bellies, quiver, and spawn. Food / Feed Strategy: Young bluegills' diet consists of rotifers and water fleas. The adult diet consists of aquatic insect larvae (mayflies, caddisflies, dragonflies), but can also include crayfish, leeches, snails, and other small fish.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluegill
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 66
Common Name: Atlantic Cod Scientific Name: Gadus morhua Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Gadidae
Geography / Habitat: is commonly known as Atlantic cod and can be found along the eastern and northern coasts of North America, along the coasts of Greenland, and from the Bay of Biscay north to the Arctic Ocean, including the Atlantic waters around Iceland, the North Sea, and the Barents Sea. Atlantic cod are marine benthopelagic fish, living near the bottom and in the open ocean. Cod also inhabit brackish waters. Cod can be found in a wide range of habitats within the ocean, from the shoreline down to the continental shelf. They can be found at depths of 500 to 600 meters in coastal waters and are also numerous in open ocean waters. These fish are located in a temperate climate. Life Strategy: Many stocks of cod exhibit migratory behavior during their reproduction season due to seasonal variations in water temperature. Typically, a cod population moves into warmer waters during winter and early spring to begin spawning. Although spawning can occur year round, peak spawning levels occur in the winter and spring. As the population moves inshore it may disperse temporarily to feed if large amounts of prey are present. Cod spawn annually, and spawning takes place within a three month period. Food / Feed Strategy: he diet of Atlantic cod is best described as opportunistic because they feed on anything they are capable of capturing. At all life stages, however, they eat primarily other animals. During the larval stage they feed on smaller organisms such as zooplankton. Juveniles feed on shrimp and other small crustaceans. Adult Atlantic cod consume squid, mussels, clams, tunicates, comb jellies, brittle stars, sand dollars, sea cucumbers, and polychaetes, and are also cannibalistic.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gadus_morhua/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 67
Common Name: Freshwater Whipray Scientific Name: Himantura chaophraya Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Geography / Habitat: Giant freshwater stingrays are found in the large river systems of Thailand, including the Mekong, Chao Phraya, Nan, Bang Kapong, Prachin Buri, and Tapi River basins. They are also found in the Kinabatangan River in Malaysia, as well as the island of Borneo. This species is typically found over sandy bottoms in large rivers, at depths of 5 to 20 meters. Many females are found in estuaries and it is thought that they give birth in brackish waters, though the reason for this is not currently known. There are no records of this species from fully marine habitats. Life Strategy: Female stingrays appear to choose mates by using their electrosensory system to detect sexspecific electrical signals produced by males. Once a female has mated, they leave the male and reside with other females in brackish waters until they give birth. Food / Feed Strategy: Giant freshwater stingrays generally feed on river bottoms. Their mouth contains two jaws that act like crushing plates, and small teeth to continue chewing up food. Their diet consists mainly of benthic fishes and invertebrates.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Himantura_chaophraya/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 68
Common Name: Common carp
Scientific Name: Cyprinus carpio Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: The carp now has a global distribution, after numerous introductions. The supposed original wild European population occurs in the River Danube. This hardy fish is able to tolerate a broad range of conditions, but fares best in large bodies of fresh water with slow-flowing or still water, with soft muddy sediments. Life Strategy: In temperate waters, spawning take place during the summer in patches of weeds. A number of males pursue spawning females in the race to fertilize the eggs as they are shed into the water. The sticky yellowish colored eggs attach to vegetation, and are not guarded by the parents. A typical female can lay over a million eggs in one breeding season Food / Feed Strategy: This species is omnivorous, feeding on aquatic crustaceans, insects, worms, aquatic plants, algae and seeds. It’s feeding technique, of grubbing around in the sediment and straining food from the mud.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/common-carp/cyprinus-carpio/image-A19160.html
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 69
Common Name: Grass Carp Scientific Name: Ctenopharyngodon idella Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: Grass carp have been introduced to many Northern Hemisphere countries including Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, USA, Mexico, India, Malaysia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Denmark, Sweden, Romania, U.S.S.R. This species occurs in lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of large rivers, preferring large, slow-flowing or standing water bodies with vegetation.[ The species was deliberately introduced into the United States in 1963 for aquatic weed control. The grass carp is considered an invasive species in the United States,[7] and in 2013 was determined to be reproducing in the Great Lakes Basin;[8] however, it is still stocked in many states as an effective biocontrol for undesirable aquatic vegetation, many species of which are themselves invasive. Life Strategy: In the wild, grass carp spawn in fast-moving rivers, and their eggs, which are slightly heavier than water, develop while drifting downstream, kept in suspension by turbulence. The eggs are thought to die if they sink to the bottom.[ Food / Feed Strategy: Adults of the species feed primarily on aquatic plants. They feed on higher aquatic plants and submerged terrestrial vegetation, but may also take detritus, insects, and other invertebrates
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_carp
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 70
Common Name: Redtailed black shark Scientific Name: Epalzeorhynchos bicolor Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: The redtailed black shark is endemic to Thailand, where it previously inhabited the Mae Khlong, Chao Phraya and Bang Pakong River Basins. It is now known only from a single location in the Chao Phraya basin. The redtailed black shark is a tropical freshwater fish species (1). In the wild, it has been recorded in clear and muddy waters in rivers and floodplains (2) (3), and in lowland streams with rocky or sand gravel bottoms Life Strategy: It spawns in rocky caves and the young hatch after just 30 to 60 hours. Four days after hatching, the young are free-swimming, but do not develop the characteristic red tail until seven to ten weeks old (3). The redtailed black shark lives for five to eight years Food / Feed Strategy: An omnivorous fish, the redtailed black shark feeds on plant matter and small animals that live on the river bed
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/redtailed-black-shark/epalzeorhynchos-bicolor/
Edward Robertson
Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 71
Common Name: Mountain Perch Scientific Name: Macquaria australasica Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percichthyidae
Geography / Habitat: This freshwater species lives in rivers and stream, preferring deep, rocky pools. They also favor cool and clear water with slow-moving riffles or shallow running water. is only found in Australia. In its native range, this species occurs in highest abundance in the Murray-Darling basin in New South Wales. Life Strategy: Breeding fish migrate upstream and gather in schools which can last for several weeks. Males nudge the female vent region which causes the release of eggs and then fertilization. Females are oviparous and mate each year. Food / Feed Strategy: The bulk of their diet consists of aquatic invertebrates such as caddisfly, stonefly and mayfly species, with a small quantity of terrestrial insects taken as well. Adults feed at the bottom of lakes and rivers. Young are zooplanktivores, and eat water fleas, rotifers and water mites by sucking them up into their mouths.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macquaria_australasica/pictures/collections/contributors /Grzimek_fish/Percoidei/PercoideiIII/Macquaria_australasica/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 72
Common Name: Danube Salmon Scientific Name: Hucho hucho Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: As implied by its common name, this fish is native to the rivers of the Danube basin in Europe (2). However, in recent years it has also been introduced into other European river basins when their numbers declined due to ecological changes in the Danube. A freshwater species found in deeper regions of strong to moderate flowing waters, which are cold, clear and oxygen-rich, with deep scours as hiding places. Life Strategy: These fish undertake short migrations upstream for spawning between April and May (2) (5). Here, females make a pit in the gravel, in which the male fertilises the eggs (5). One female mates with one male, which warns off other males that approach. The length of incubation depends on water temperature, but larvae generally hatch 16 to 24 days after the eggs are ‘activated’ by appropriate water temperatures (6). Individuals then proceed to grow very rapidly, reaching sexual maturity by between four and six years of age Food / Feed Strategy: Juveniles feed primarily on invertebrates such as insect larvae, whilst adults prey mostly on fish, but also on amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and waterfowl
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/danube-salmon/hucho-hucho/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 73
Common Name: Sockeye Salmon Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus nerka Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: Sockeye salmon use patterns of limnetic feeding behavior, which encompasses vertical movement, schooling, diel feeding chronology, and zooplankton prey selectivity. Sockeye salmon range as far south as the Columbia River in the eastern Pacific (although individuals have been spotted as far south as the 10 Mile River on the Mendocino Coast of California), and in northern Hokkaidō Island in Japan in the western Pacific. They range as far north as the Bathurst Inlet in the Canadian Arctic in the east and the Anadyr River in Siberia in the west. Life Strategy: Males partake in competitive and sneaking tactics, formation of hierarchies, and nonhierarchical groupings around females who are ready to mate. Reproductive success varies more in males than females. The greater variability in male reproduction is associated with the greater average size and exaggerated shape of males. Reproductive success in females is determined by the number of eggs she lays, her body size, and the survival of the eggs, which is due in part to the quality of the nest environment. Food / Feed Strategy: Sockeye salmon use patterns of limnetic feeding behavior, which encompasses vertical movement, schooling, diel feeding chronology, and zooplankton prey selectivity. They can change their position in the water column, timing and length of feeding, school formation, and choice of prey to minimize the likelihood of predation. This also ensures they still get the minimum amount of food necessary to survive.
Body Form or Style: Depressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockeye_salmon
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 74
Common Name: Australian bass Scientific Name: Macquaria novemaculeata Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percichthyidae
Geography / Habitat: Australian bass are found in coastal rivers and streams from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria east and north along the eastern seaboard to the rivers and creeks of the Bundaberg region in central Queensland. Australian bass are not found in the Murray-Darling system because although the system is extensive, it has only one variable entrance to the Southern Ocean, a feature that appears to be incompatible with the estuarine breeding habits of Australian bass and other aspects of their life cycle. In the freshwater reaches of coastal rivers in the warmer months, Australian bass require reasonable quality, unsalted habitats with adequate native riparian vegetation and in-stream cover/habitat. Life Strategy: Australian bass spawn in estuaries in winter, generally in the months of July or August. Australian bass spawn in salinities of 8–12 parts per thousand (salt water is approximately 36 ppt), based on capture of recently spawned larval and juvenile Australian bass in estuaries. Australian bass sperm have no viability at or below 6 ppt, but are most viable at 12 ppt, the latter probably being the most relevant fact. However, it has been reported that Australian bass spawned in salinities of 12–18 ppt, with this statement based on fishermens' reports of observing wild Australian bass spawning. Food / Feed Strategy: Common items in the diet of Australian bass are terrestrial insects in the forms of freshwater shrimps and estuarine prawns, small fish, particularly flathead gudgeon.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Bass
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 75
Common Name: Goldfish Scientific Name: Carassius auratus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: Although goldfishes originated in China, they have now spread worldwide in aquariums, ornamental pools, and into the wild. In the wild, goldfish can be found in slow-moving, freshwater bodies of water. As with their close relative the carp, they thrive in slightely sludgy water. Goldfish prefer a pH range of 6.5-8.5. Life Strategy: Goldfish, like all cyprinids, are egg-layers. Their eggs are adhesive and attach to aquatic vegetation, typically dense plants such as Cabomba or Elodea or a spawning mop. The eggs hatch within 48 to 72 hours. Food / Feed Strategy: In the wild, goldfish are omnivores. They eat plants, insects such as mosquito larvae, small crustaceans, zooplankton, and detritus.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfish http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carassius_auratus/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 76
Common Name: Hybrid Striped Bass Scientific Name: Morone saxatili (striped bass) + (white bass) M. chrysops Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Moronidae
Geography / Habitat: Wipers became part of aquaculture in the United States in the late 1980s. Most producers purchase the fish young (as fry or fingerlings) and raise them in freshwater ponds. Life Strategy: Produced in hatcheries, the most common hybridization is the female striped bass Morone saxatilis and the male white bass M. Chrysops. This is due to the high number of eggs produced by the female striped bass. This hybrid cross typically produces a faster growing offspring which attains larger size. The female striped bass is injected with human gonadotropin which stimulates her to lie. Usually there are around a dozen male white bass in the tank when the spawn occurs. Once the eggs are fertilized, the brood fish are removed and the eggs must stay adrift in artificial current for approximately 48 hours to hatch. Natural hybridization has been occurring for thousands of years between the species, but it is usually the reverse cross which would be male saxatilis x female chrysops since the white bass eggs do not require the same degree of flotating to hatch. Food / Feed Strategy: Hybrid striped bass are known for aggressive feeding habits. Often schooling by the thousands, these stocked fish will surface feed on baitfish like shad
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_striped_bass
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 77
Common Name: Butterfly Peacock Bass Scientific Name: Cichla monoculus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Geography / Habitat: freshwater fish of the genus Cichla, native to the Amazon River basin of South America. They also inhabit the waters of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela and some tropical regions the United States; these being Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands. Despite their name, these fish are cichlids, not basses. Life Strategy: In most tropical areas, some peacocks can be found breeding each month of the year. The masses, however, will usually breed once or twice a year. This is often just before and during the rainy season in areas that have such, according to biologists reports. Spawning normally takes place on a flat surface that has been cleared (or is bare to begin with) of algae or other debris during the fanning movements of the parents. This could be on the top of a stump or the bark of a fallen tree that lies horizontal below the surface, yet near to the depression beds. The female moves over the bed and deposits neat rows of eggs as the male follows and exudes sperm which drifts down over each row. This effort usually takes several hours. Reports state that peacocks may lay an average from 3,000 to 10,000 eggs, with an average being about 5,000.
Food / Feed Strategy: Peacock bass regularly go after tiny fish. Some of the kinds of tiny fish they feed on include bluegill, threadfin shad and mosquito fish, for starters. They sometimes eat other kinds of cichlids. Youngsters frequently eat shrimp. When on the hunt for their next meals, peacock bass often move extremely quickly. It is common for these fish to solely eat in the daytime. At night, they usually rest.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal http://animals.pawnation.com/types-food-peacock-bass-5799.html http://www.peacockbassassociation.com/html/maturity_peacock_bass.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacock_bass
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 78
Common Name: Arctic Char Scientific Name: Salvelinus alpinus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: ActinopterygiI
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: The Arctic charr has a circumpolar distribution, stretching from Alaska to northern Russia, including Canada, Greenland, Norway and Iceland. There are isolated populations in the northern United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Finland, as well as landlocked populations in Canada and the United States. The Arctic charr inhabits freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as estuaries and oceans, where there is cold, clear water. Populations in the ocean remain close to the coastline. In rivers, the Arctic charr is found in deep runs and pools. Life Strategy: In lake-dwelling populations, spawning occurs between autumn and early winter, with young fish usually emerging the following spring. However, different stocks are known to spawn at different times throughout the year. Once hatched, the young fish will remain hidden within the gravel and stones, only leaving to feed on insect larvae and small crustaceans. Food / Feed Strategy: The diet of the Arctic charr is mainly composed of small fish, amphipods, planktonic crustaceans, mollusks and insects. When feeding at sea, fish and larger invertebrates are taken.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.arkive.org/arctic-charr/salvelinus-alpinus/image-G126588.html
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 79
Common Name: California Sheephead Scientific Name: Semicossyphus pulcher Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Geography / Habitat: California sheephead inhabit rocky shoreline reefs, in and around kelp beds between 6 and 30 m in depth. California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) are found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean along the California coast, from Monterey Bay to the Gulf of California (Cabo San Lucas). They are sometimes seen in the Gulf of California, Mexico, but are most abundant south of Point Conception, California. Life Strategy: California sheephead follow a consistent mating routine, which begins about an hour before sunset, as a group of females gather below the kelp canopy. Meanwhile, the largest and more dominant males define their territory by forcing smaller males outside from their courting zone, which is approximately 25 m in diameter. The male then selects a female and the mating process begins. Food / Feed Strategy: California sheephead consumes benthic invertebrates including the purple sea urchins, Pacific rock crabs, acorn barnacles, mussels, clams, and bryozoans. They also eat snails, squids, common sand dollars, eccentric sand dollars, and sea cucumbers.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Semicossyphus_pulcher/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Fishes
Species # 80
Common Name: Piranha Scientific Name: Pygocentrus nattereri Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Geography / Habitat: Pygocentrus nattereri is found in South America. Pygocentrus nattereri can be found east of the Andes in the Parana-Paraguay and Amazon basin. They can also be found in rivers of northeast Brazil and the Guianas. Pygocentrus nattereri is typically found in whitewater streams in South America (Saint-Paul 2000). However, the species is not found typically in blackwater streams Life Strategy: Pygocentrus nattereri seems to have a type of courtship display that involves swimming in circles. This results in ventral-to-ventral interactions among the male and female. Eggs are placed in the sediment, in bowl shaped nests. These nests are around 4-5 cm in depth and 15 cm in diameter. The eggs are in clusters and are attached to the bottom vegetation. There may also be a relationship between the times of the spawning and the time of the wet season. Food / Feed Strategy: Foraging methods vary in different life stages of P. nattereri. During the day, smaller fish (80-110 mm) search for food. At dawn, late afternoon, and early evening the larger fish (150-240 mm) search for food. Pygocentrus nattereri groups gather in vegetation in order to wait for prey. The group typically includes around 20-30 fishes. In the daytime P. nattereri can be seen lurking or ambushing prey. Two other methods for obtaining food employed by P. nattereri are chasing and scavenging. The hunting mode of chasing was seen after the fish lie and wait in vegetation. The fish then proceed to swim after and eat the fish. P. nattereri has a wide variety of food in its diet, including fins, scales, fish (pieces and whole), insects, snails, and plants. The plant intake of the animal may be an active way of gaining food supplies while scanning for prey.
Body Form or Style: Compressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pygocentrus_nattereri/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 81
Common Name: Red Tree Sponge Scientific Name: Haliclona compressa Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Haplosclerida
Family: Chalinidae
Geography / Habitat: The red tree sponge grows as part of the coral reef community. It occurs in Florida, the Caribbean Sea, and the Bahamas at depths down to about 20 m (66 ft).[3] It occurs on the crests and sides of the reef growing on rock and on vertical surfaces it protrudes sideways.[ Life Strategy: Most sponges are hermaphroditic; however they are only one gender at a time. They can reproduce sexually or asexually. To produce sexually, sperm is released into the canal of one sponge, and then pumped out through the osculum, top, into the surrounding water, where it then flows into the canal system of another sponge and reaches the egg. When the larvae is ready, it is released from the parent sponge into the surrounding waters, where it swims or crawls around and eventually settles to grow into a new individual sponge. Sponges reproduce asexually by releasing special groups of cells called gemmules into the surrounding water which eventually germinate under the right conditions and also grow into a new sponge. Sponges have the ability to recover from damage. Because the cells are not linked in a tissue, it is possible for them to be separated and then come together again to form a new sponge. That is another method that sponges reproduce. Food / Feed Strategy: The red tree sponge feeds on plankton and tiny organic particles suspended in the water. To do this, the sponge draws in water through small pores called ostia, filters out particles in the choanocyte tissue, then moves the water through the spongocoel or central cavity before pumping the water out through the osculi.
Body Form or Style: Other Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Other Citation: http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/sponges/project.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haliclona_compressa
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 82
Common Name: Red Sea Star Scientific Name: Odontaster validus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Odontasteridae
Geography / Habitat: Red sea stars are found in the Antarctic region, most prevalently in the waters surrounding the Antarctic continent and islands. Red sea stars are unique amongst sea stars in their ability to withstand the cold environment of the Antarctic region (averaging -1.8 degrees Celsius). They live at depths of 0-914 meters and are found most often in shallower waters. Life Strategy: As with most echinoderms, red sea stars reproduce via broadcast spawning and external fertilization. This species reaches sexual maturity at 3-6 years. Reproduction occurs once a year during the winter season, between the months of April and June, with peak spawning occurring during June. Scientists are able to determine when the sea stars are spawning by a decrease in the size of their gonads (sexual organs). Fertilization occurs from June to September. This sea star is known for releasing a large number of oocytes that, once fertilized, then mature into larva. Food / Feed Strategy: Red sea stars are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of species such as bivalves (e.g. Limatula hodgsoni and Laternula elliptica), sponges (e.g. Rossella racovitzae, Rossella nuda, Scolymastra joubini, Craniella leptoderma, and Homaxinella balfourensis), hydroids (e.g. Halecium arboreum), other echinoderms (e.g. Acodontaster conspicuus and Sterechinus neumayeri), and isopods (Glyptonotus antarcticus), as well as red algae, diatoms and seal feces. Due to the harsh environment of the Antarctic, red sea stars must be capable of surviving for long periods (potentially an entire winter) with no food.
Body Form or Style: Other Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Odontaster_validus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 83
Common Name: Magnificent Sea Anemone Scientific Name: Heteractis magnifica Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Stichodactylidae
Geography / Habitat: is found only in the tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Occurring from the Red Sea to Samoa, H. magnifica lives in marine waters of South East Asia, Northern Australia, and the Western Pacific Regions. From Australia, the range of H. magnifica extends all the way to the Ryukyu Islands. Is found in marine reefs ranging from 1 to 50 meters deep and prefers warm waters ranging from 24 degrees C to 32 degrees C. This species resides in clear waters with a strong current. Life Strategy: Heteractis magnifca can reproduce sexually or asexually. In sexual reproduction, the male releases his sperm first to stimulate the female to release her eggs. This external fertilization leads to the development of a ciliated planula larvae. Asexual reproduction can occur by budding, binary fission, or pedal laceration Food / Feed Strategy: is carnivorous, feeding on small fish, shrimp, isopods, amphipods, mussels, sea urchins, and plankton. This species also absorbs sulfur, nitrogen, and other essential nutrients for growth from the waste of the symbiotic clownfish that live within the tentacles of the anemone. The clownfish also occasionally carries chunks of food to its host.
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Superior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Heteractis_magnifica/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 84
Common Name: Grooved Brain Coral Scientific Name: Diploria labyrinthiformis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Faviidae
Geography / Habitat: Grooved brain coral is in the order Scleractinia, stony corals. The optimum temperature for adult Scleractinia coral is between 25 and 29 degrees Celcius; the absolute minimal temperature is 18 degrees Celcius. Because it has a single-celled symbiotic algae within its cells, grooved brain coral needs to be at depths where light can penetrate the water. Grooved brain coral, Diploria labyrinthiformis, grows in the Caribbean, Bahamas, southern Florida, and Bermuda. This species tends to grow on less solid and loose substrates of the ocean floor. Life Strategy: Grooved brain coral is hermaphroditic, with an annual gametogenic cycle with a 10-11 month period for gonad (sex organ) development. The typical spawning season of grooved brain coral is from late May to late June. Spawning likely begins for this species as a result of environmental cues such as high air temperature, low number of solar hours per month, low wind velocity, and initiation of the rainy season. Food / Feed Strategy: depends primarily on suspension feeding of small marine invertebrates. This coral also has zooxanthellate algae. The symbiotic algae photosynthesize and supply the coral with nutrients and energy for calcification and growth.
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Other Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Diploria_labyrinthiformis/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 85
Common Name: Sea Cucumber Scientific Name: Holothuroidea Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Aspidochirotida
Family: Holothuriidae
Geography / Habitat: Holothruroidea, or sea cucumbers, have around 1100 described extant species. Holothurians are found in oceans all over the world. Sea cucumbers are common in shallow water areas to deep ocean floors. While most are benthic, a few are pelagic. Life Strategy: Holothurians have a single gonad, and most are dioecious. Although most spawn and are fertilized externally, there are approximately thirty brooding species. Some capture eggs with tentacles, placing the eggs at the sole or dorsal body surface for incubation. A few have internal fertilization and development, where hatched young are released. Food / Feed Strategy: In sedentary forms, holothurians hold out extended tentacles to trap particles and plankton. Motile species crawl across the substrate and use tentacles to capture sediment and organic detritus. Sediment feeders are highly selective deposit feeders, generally consuming highly organic sediments. Members of the subclass Apodacea ingest sediments as they burrow through the substrate.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Holothuroidea/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 86
Common Name: Common Octopus Scientific Name: Octopus vulgaris Kingdom: Animalia Class:
Cephalopoda
Phylum: Mollusca Order: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Geography / Habitat: Its range in the eastern Atlantic extends from the Mediterranean Sea and the southern coast of England to at least Senegal in Africa. It also occurs off the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands. The species is also common in the Western Atlantic. Life Strategy: common octopus hunts at dusk. Crabs, crayfish, and bivalve mollusks (two-shelled molluscs such as cockles) are preferred, although the octopus will eat almost anything it can catch. It is able to change colour to blend in with its surroundings, and is able to jump upon any unwary prey that strays across its path. The prey is paralyzed by a nerve poison, which the octopus secretes in its saliva, and the octopus is able to grasp its prey using its powerful arms with their two rows of suckers. If the victim is a shelled mollusc, the octopus uses its beak to punch a hole in the shell before sucking out the fleshy contents Food / Feed Strategy: The common octopus hunts at dusk. Crabs, crayfish, and bivalve mollusks (twoshelled molluscs such as cockles) are preferred, although the octopus will eat almost anything it can catch. It is able to change colour to blend in with its surroundings, and is able to jump upon any unwary prey that strays across its path
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_vulgaris http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 87
Common Name: Vampire Squid Scientific Name: Vampyroteuthis infernalis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Vampyromorphida
Family: Vampyroteuthidae
Geography / Habitat: deep-sea cephalopod found throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. The vampire squid lives in the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world at depths ranging from 3003000m with a majority of squids living between the ranges of 1,500-2,500m. Vampire squids live in the oxygen minimum layer of the ocean where virtually no light penetrates. The vampire squid prefers a temperature between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius. The vampire squid is an extreme example of a deep-sea cephalopod, thought to reside at aphotic (lightless) depths from 600 to 900 metres (2,000 to 3,000 ft) or more. Within this region of the world's oceans is a discrete habitat known as the oxygen minimum zone Life Strategy: Because small vampire squids occupy deeper water than larger squids, spawning probably occurs in very deep water. It is most likely that males transfer spermatophores to the female from their funnel. The female vampire squid is larger than the male and discharges the fertilized eggs directly into the water. Mature eggs are fairly large at 3-4mm in diameter and are found free-floating in small masses in deep water. Food / Feed Strategy: Carnivorous. The vampire squid has the lowest mass-specific metabolic rate of any cephalopod because of its decreased reliance on locomotion for escaping predators and capturing prey in the light-limited deep sea. The vampire squid uses its sensory filaments to find food in the deep sea and also has a highly developed statocyst indicating that it descends slowly and balances in the water almost effortlessly.
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_squid http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Vampyroteuthis_infernalis/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 88
Common Name: Cyanea capillata Scientific Name: Lions mane Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Semaeostomeae
Family: Cyaneidae
Geography / Habitat: Cyanea capillata can be found in the cooler regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, North Sea and Baltic. They are especially prevalent near the east coast of Britain. The Lion's Mane Jellyfish is found in the cooler regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, North Sea, and Baltic Sea. They are especially common along the East coast of Britain. They are found in the pelagic zone as medusae and then benthic zone as polyps. Life Strategy: The medusa form of the jellyfish reproduces sexually and has separate sexes. The ova and sperm are produced in baglike projections of the stomach wall. The sex cells are relased through the mouth for external fertilization. In the case of Cyanea, the eggs are held in the oral tentacles until the planula larvae develop. The planula larvae then settle on the substrate and develop into polyps. These scyphopolyps reproduce asexually by horizontal division (strobilation) and are then termed strobila. Food / Feed Strategy: Cyanea capillata feeds mainly on fish. It catches its prey by sinking slowly with its tentacles spread in a circle around it. The prey is captured in the "net" of tentacles and stunned by the nematocysts.
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cyanea_capillata/
Edward Robertson
Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 89
Common Name: Horseshoe Crab Scientific Name: Limulus polyphemus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Merostomata
Order: Xiphosura
Family: Limulidae
Geography / Habitat: Along the Atlantic Coast, from Nova Scotia to the Yucatan. The horseshoe crab can generally be found in shallow water, over sandy or muddy bottoms. Life Strategy: The first pair of the six, flap-like appendages on the underside of the abdomen acts as a cover for the genital pore. The egg or sperm are released through this pore during spawning. Food / Feed Strategy: The horseshoe crab feeds at night on worms, small molluscs, and algae. Food is picked up by the chelicerae and passed back to the bristle bases, where it is "chewed." The food is then moved forward to the mouth.
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Other Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Limulus_polyphemus/
Edward Robertson Title: Saltwater/ Marine Invertebrates
Species # 90
Common Name: American Red Lobster Scientific Name: Homarus americanus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Nephropidae
Family: Nephropidae
Geography / Habitat: This species is found in the western Indian Ocean and central Pacific Ocean. It is known from South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Indonesia, eastern Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Hawaii. This species inhabits coral and rocky reefs and is generally found in deeper areas on the outer. It is found at depths from shallow subtidal to about 100 m. It is nocturnal and hides in rock cavities and crevices during the day Life Strategy: A female is ready to mate at about 5 years of age. Mating must occur within 48 hours after the female molts, and the process usually lasts about a minute. The female will spawn her eggs between one month and two years after mating, at which time they become fertilized by sperm that has been stored. Food / Feed Strategy: does the majority of its eating at night. It is usually a scavenger, feeding on dead animals, but is also capable of capturing its own prey. The lobster's diet consists mostly of clams, crabs, snails, small fish, algae and other plants called eelgrass
Body Form or Style: Depressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/185060/0
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 91
Common Name: Cherry Shrimp Scientific Name: Neocaridina heteropoda Kingdom: Class:
Animalia
Malacostraca
Phylum: Order:
Arthropoda
Decapoda
Family: Atyidae
Geography / Habitat: adapt to a wide range of water conditions, Neutral to slightly alkaline pH, with low nitrates and nitrites, They prefer clean water, with a pH of 6.5-8, and a temperature of 14–29 °C (57– 84 °F) They are most comfortable at 22 °C (72 °F). Cherry shrimp are omnivores that may live 1–2 years. Life Strategy: They have 20–30 eggs, which take 2–3 weeks to hatch. The eggs are green or yellow, depending on the colour of the saddle. They turn darker and darker until the young shrimp hatch after about three weeks. As the eggs near the end stages of growth, tiny dark eye spots of the developing shrimplets within can be observed. When the young hatch, they are tiny (~1 mm) copies of the adults. They have no planktonic larval stage. They spend their first few days of life hiding among plants, where they are almost invisible, nibbling on the biofilm on the plants. They then emerge and graze on algae on tank surfaces and ornaments. Food / Feed Strategy: Cherry shrimp are omnivores that may live 1–2 years. Red cherry shrimp are primarily algae eaters. They will eat any food intended for aquarium use, but some will prefer compressed algae discs (algae wafers
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_shrimp
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 92
Common Name: Asian Clam Scientific Name: Corbicula fluminea Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Family: Corbiculidae
Geography / Habitat: This species has been introduced into many parts of the world, including North America and Europe. This clam originally occurs in Russia, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, but also in parts of Africa
Life Strategy: Right after reaching maturity these clams produce eggs, followed by sperm. Even later, they produce eggs and sperm simultaneously. They can self-fertilize, and release up to 2,000 juveniles per day, and more than 100,000 in a lifetime. Juveniles are only 1 mm long when discharged, and take one to four years to reach maturity. At this time they are about one centimeter long. Adults can reach a length of about 5 cm.
Food / Feed Strategy: They feed primarily on phytoplankton (algae), which they filter from the sandy or muddy bottom of streams, lakes, or canals. According to the United States Geological Survey, C. fluminea is likely to continue to expand its North American range until it reaches its lower temperature tolerance
Body Form or Style: Depressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbicula_fluminea
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 93
Common Name: Water Flea Scientific Name: Daphnia pulex Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Diplostraca
Family: Daphniidae
Geography / Habitat: Daphnia pulex is the most common species of the water flea, an organism which can be found in almost every permanent, eutrophic (nutrient-rich) water body. A few species are marine, but generally Daphnia, including Daphnia pulex, are freshwater organisms. Daphnia can be found in almost any permanent body of water, even in rain-filled tire ruts or several meters from the ground, growing in tree moss in a rainforest. They are mainly freshwater and the highest concentrations of Daphnia populations are found in the vegetation in most lakes and ponds. They are often the most abundant organism in a body of water. Life Strategy: The sexual stage of Daphnia reproduction occurs mainly in the winter during less favorable conditions caused by overcrowding, accumulation of wastes, lower food availability, and lower temperatures. First, some of the eggs that were produced by parthenogenesis hatch into males instead of females. These males then copulate with the females to form fertilized eggs which are then kept in the female's brood chamber. Food / Feed Strategy: Daphnia are oftened used to clear fish tanks of algae "bloom" because of their diet of bacteria, fine detritus, and very small algae particles. They are filter feeders meaning they do not usually actively seek food; they merely create a constant movement of water using their thoraic legs through their carapace where they are able to filter out any food particles with the setae and direct these towards the mouth
Body Form or Style: Globiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Daphnia_pulex/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 94
Common Name: Red Swamp Crawfish Scientific Name: Procambarus clarkii Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Cambaridae
Geography / Habitat: Although crayfish inhabitat many regions of the Earth, members of the genus Procambarus are located in North America. Procambarus clarkii are mostly found south-central United States, and northeastern Mexico (areas to which this species is native). The red swamp crayfish has also been transplanted to Hawaii, Japan, and even the River Nile. As the common name implies, red swamp crayfish are found mainly in swamps, sloughs, and ditches. This species avoids streams and areas with strong current. During periods of drought or cold, the red swamp crayfish burrows itself for survival
Life Strategy: The red swamp crayfish mate in late autumn. Sexes are separate, but the location of gonads are similar in both males and females -just anterior to the heart. Testes are usually white, while ovaries are usually orange. The sperm cells (crayfish sperm lack tails and are sometimes referred to as spermatophores) are released from the body of male crayfish through a pore at the base of the fifth pair of walking legs. Fertilization is internal. Sperm enters the female at the base of the third pair of walking legs, where the eggs are fertilized and released.
Food / Feed Strategy: Although some crayfish are known to feed on vegetation, the red swamp crayfish is carnivorous, eating insect larvae, tadpoles, and snails. When traditional food sources are scarce, the crayfish eat the remains of dead animals and worms as well
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Procambarus_clarkii/
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 95
Common Name: Electric Blue Crayfish Scientific Name: Procambarus
alleni
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Cambaridae
Geography / Habitat: Freshwater habitat that requires a lot of food to eat and place to hide such as some kind of plant or matter in the water. Found all around the world. Life Strategy: Segregate gravid females. Eggs carried on modified legs. 200 eggs. Cannibalistic young must be fed heavily to prevent losses. Food / Feed Strategy: Omnivore and willing predator of fish and other invertebrates. Unfussy feeder, but consideration must be given to dietary variety and mineral balance. Supplement with commercial shrimp or crab foods.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=2812
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 96
Common Name: Horseshoe Shrimp Scientific Name: Hutchinsoniella macracantha Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Cephalocarida
Order: Brachypoda
Family: Hutchinsoniellidae
Geography / Habitat: ephalocaridans are found from the intertidal zone down to a depth of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), in all kinds of sediments. Life Strategy: Cephalocarids are hermaphrodites (her-MAE-fro-daits), with individuals having both male and female reproductive organs. Eggs are carried by small appendages on the midbody. The hatching cephalocarid is eyeless and has only three pairs of functional limbs, all located on the head. This is one of its three stages as a larva (LAR-vuh), or young animal that must go through changes in form before becoming an adult. As the larvae (LAR-vee; plural of larva) grow and molt, or shed their exoskeletons, additional body segments and limbs are added. Food / Feed Strategy: Cephalocaridans feed on marine detritus. To bring in food particles, they generate currents with the thoracic appendages like the branchiopods and the malacostracans. Food particles are then passed anteriorly along a ventral groove, leading to the mouthparts.[
Body Form or Style: Depressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triops_cancriformis
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 97
Common Name: Longtail Tadpole Shrimp Scientific Name: Triops longicaudatus Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Notostraca
Family: Triopsidae
Geography / Habitat: Triops longicaudatus is found in freshwater ponds and pools, often in places where few higher forms of life can exist Life Strategy: In females, the eleventh pair of legs is modified into egg sacs, where the eggs are carried for several hours. The eggs are released in batches, have a thick shell, and can stand freezing temperatures as well as drought, enabling the population to survive from one season to the next. The eggs have to dry out completely before being submerged in water again in order to hatch successfully Food / Feed Strategy: Tadpole shrimps are omnivorous and may eat algae, insects, and other organic debris; they are known to chase very small fry, tadpoles, and oligochaete worms.[5] In general, they eat anything organic that is smaller than they are, which even may include their siblings
Body Form or Style: Depressed Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triops_longicaudatus
Edward Robertson
Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 98
Common Name: Yellow-nose Shrimp Scientific Name: Xiphocaris elongata Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Malacostraca
Family: Xiphocarididae
Geography / Habitat: Larvae go through several planktonic (microscopic, floating organisms) stages in brackish, estuarine waters, before metamorphosing into post-larval, miniature shrimp form and assuming their benthic (bottom-dwelling) lifestyle in the upper reaches of freshwater streams and rivers. X. elongata are found in tropical rivers, streams and ponds, close to banks or near rocks and aquatic plants, preferring slow flowing water.
Life Strategy: The Yellow Shrimp is extremely prolific, meaning that they breed readily and virtually around the clock. A healthy colony will quickly multiply and females will be constantly pregnant. It is typically 30-45 days from pregnancy to hatching. The female carries over 25 eggs at adulthood. It is said that sometimes it seems that the Yellow Shrimp carries so many eggs it appears as if some will fall out.
Food / Feed Strategy: Yellow-nosed Shrimp normally eat decomposing vegetation such as leaf litter, and particles of algae. Their first two pairs of legs are used to grab the food and place it in the mouth.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/elyunque/learning/nature-science/?cid=fsbdev3_042937 http://www.planetinverts.com/Yellow%20Shrimp.html \ Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 99
Edward Robertson
Common Name: Brine Shrimp Scientific Name: Artemia Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Anostraca
Family: Artemiidae
Geography / Habitat: The historical record of the existence of Artemia dates back to 982 from Urmia Lake, Iran. Populations are found worldwide in inland saltwater lakes, but not in oceans. Life Strategy: Males differ from females by having the second antennae markedly enlarged, and modified into clasping organs used in mating.[9] Adult female brine shrimp ovulate approximately every 140 hours. In favourable conditions, the female brine shrimp can produce eggs that almost immediately hatch. While in extreme conditions, such as low oxygen level or salinity above 150‰, female brine shrimp produce eggs with a chorion coating which has a brown colou Food / Feed Strategy: In their first stage of development, Artemia do not feed but consume their own energy reserves stored in the cyst.[10] Wild brine shrimp eat microscopic planktonic algae. Cultured brine shrimp can also be fed particulate foods including yeast, wheat flour, soybean powder or egg yolk.[
Body Form or Style: Depressed Form Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Inferior Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brine_shrimp
Edward Robertson Title: Freshwater Invertebrates
Species # 100
Common Name: Bamboo Shrimp Scientific Name: Atyopsis moluccensis Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Atyidae
Geography / Habitat: Found in fresh water but migrate to brackish water to reproduce. This animal is found everywhere all over the world. Life Strategy: this species requires brackish water during the larval stage in order to successfully develop from hatching. Food / Feed Strategy: The "fans" of the Bamboo Shrimp are actually appendages that filter the current of outgoing filter water for microorganisms and/or particles of food. Since it filters the current you will most likely find this species sitting peacefully in the current with its fans spread out
Body Form or Style: Fusiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform Mouth Position: Terminal Citation: http://www.aquariumcarebasics.com/aquarium-pictures/bamboo-shrimp-planted-aquarium.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atyopsis http://www.planetinverts.com/Bamboo_Shrimp.html