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Calamus arctifrons | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Acanthuriformes |
Family: | Sparidae |
Genus: | Calamus |
Species: | C. arctifrons |
Binomial name | |
Calamus arctifrons Goode & T. H. Bean, 1882 | |
Calamus arctifrons, the grass porgy, is a fish species belonging to the family Sparidae, widely recognized for its association with reef environments and its distinct ecological and recreational importance. Found primarily in the western Atlantic Ocean, this species is known for its streamlined body, silver coloration with subtle patterns, and its adaptability to various habitats, including seagrass beds and sandy-bottom areas. [2]
Grass porgies exhibit a moderately compressed, oval body with a blunt snout and relatively small mouth. The body coloration ranges from silvery to grayish, often with faint vertical bands or mottling that aids in camouflage among seagrass and sandy substrates. They typically reach lengths of 15–25 cm (6–10 in), [3] although larger specimens have been recorded. Key physical features include a dorsal fin with sharp spines followed by soft rays, providing a distinct ridged appearance; a slightly protrusible mouth equipped with small, sharp teeth suited for omnivorous feeding; and a forked caudal fin, which contributes to their agility in navigating complex habitats.
Grass porgies are native to the western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the southeastern United States (including Florida) to parts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. [4] They prefer shallow, coastal waters up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) deep and are frequently associated with seagrass meadows, reefs, and sandy bottoms.
The grass porgy is a diurnal and primarily benthic feeder. It exhibits a diet that reflects its omnivorous tendencies, feeding on small crustaceans, bivalves, and gastropods, which it crushes using its strong pharyngeal teeth. Algae and detritus are consumed particularly in seagrass habitats. This fish plays a vital ecological role in contributing to the balance of benthic communities.
Socially, it is often observed in small groups, though solitary individuals are not uncommon.
The IUCN has evaluated Calamus arctifrons as a species of least concern, and its populations appear stable across most of its range. [5] However, efforts to protect coastal habitats and manage fisheries sustainably are crucial for ensuring the long-term health of grass porgy populations.
Calamus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. Most of the species in this genus are found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, with 2 species occurring in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The bonnethead, also called a bonnet shark or shovelhead, is a small member of the hammerhead shark genus Sphyrna, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. It is an abundant species in the littoral zone of the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, is the only shark species known to display sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the head, and is the only shark species known to be omnivorous.
The horn shark is a species of bullhead shark, in the family Heterodontidae. It is endemic to the coastal waters off the western coast of North America, from California to the Gulf of California. Young sharks are segregated spatially from the adults, with the former preferring deeper sandy flats and the latter preferring shallower rocky reefs or algal beds. A small species typically measuring 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, the horn shark can be recognized by a short, blunt head with ridges over its eyes, two high dorsal fins with large spines, and a brown or gray coloration with many small dark spots.
The narrow-lined pufferfish or striped puffer is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae.
The sicklefin lemon shark or sharptooth lemon shark is a species of requiem shark belonging to the family Carcharhinidae, widely distributed in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. It is closely related to the better-known lemon shark (N. brevirostris) of the Americas; the two species are almost identical in appearance, both being stout-bodied sharks with broad heads, two dorsal fins of nearly equal size, and a plain yellow-tinged coloration. As its common name suggests, the sicklefin lemon shark differs from its American counterpart in having more falcate (sickle-shaped) fins. This large species grows up to 3.8 m (12 ft) long. It generally inhabits water less than 92 m (302 ft) deep in a variety of habitats, from mangrove estuaries to coral reefs.
Haploblepharus is a genus of deepwater catsharks, belonging to the family Pentanchidae, containing four species of shysharks. Their common name comes from a distinctive defensive behavior in which the shark curls into a circle and covers its eyes with its tail. The genus is endemic to southern Africa, inhabiting shallow coastal waters. All four species are small, stout-bodied sharks with broad, flattened heads and rounded snouts. They are characterized by very large nostrils with enlarged, triangular flaps of skin that reach the mouth, and deep grooves between the nostrils and the mouth. Shysharks are bottom-dwelling predators of bony fishes and invertebrates. They are oviparous, with the females laying egg capsules. These harmless sharks are of no commercial or recreational interest, though their highly limited distributions in heavily fished South African waters are of potential conservation concern.
Aeoliscus strigatus, also known as the razorfish, jointed razorfish or coral shrimpfish, is a member of the family Centriscidae of the order Syngnathiformes. This unique fish adopts a head-down tail-up position as an adaptation for hiding among sea urchin spines. The razorfish is found in coastal waters in the Indo-West Pacific. Its natural habitat includes beds of sea grass and coral reefs, where sea urchins are found.
The Gulf torpedo or variable electric ray, is a species of electric ray in the family Torpedinidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean, but may represent a species flock of several local endemic species. It is distinguishable from other Torpedo species in its range by its ornate dorsal coloration. Another common name, marbled electric ray, is not to be confused with Torpedo marmorata.
The yellow stingray is a species of stingray in the family Urotrygonidae, found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Trinidad. This bottom-dwelling species inhabits sandy, muddy, or seagrass bottoms in shallow inshore waters, commonly near coral reefs.
The sheepshead porgy, also known as the littlemouth porgy or speckled porgy, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Coastal fish, also called inshore fish or neritic fish, inhabit the sea between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf. Since the continental shelf is usually less than 200 metres (660 ft) deep, it follows that pelagic coastal fish are generally epipelagic fish, inhabiting the sunlit epipelagic zone. Coastal fish can be contrasted with oceanic fish or offshore fish, which inhabit the deep seas beyond the continental shelves.
The jolthead porgy is an ocean-going species of fish in the family Sparidae. In Bermuda, it is known as the blue bone porgy, in the United States, it is also known by the Spanish name bojanado, in Jamaica, it is one of the species known by the name, porgi grunt.
Gibbonsia elegans, the spotted kelpfish, is a species of clinid native to subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean from central California, U.S. to southern Baja California, Mexico. It prefers subtidal rocky habitats with seaweed down to a depth of about 56 metres. This species can reach a maximum length of 16 centimetres. This species feeds on benthic crustaceans, gastropods, and polychaete worms. The genus Gibbonsia is named after William P. Gibbons who was a naturalist in the California Academy of Science. The spotted kelpfish occurs in three different color morphs, depending on which plants occur in an individual's habitat. Males and females do not show sexual dimorphism.
Gobioclinus gobio is a strictly marine ray finned fish, also called Gobioclinus gobio. Its common name is the palehead blenny, and is sometimes referred to as the goggle-eye blenny. It can be identified by its greenish top, red belly, and multicolored banding. L. gobio is a benthic organism with a wide range, taking up residence in a number of coastal environments from Florida to Brazil. This means the fish can live in equatorial, subtropical, and tropical climatic zones. It is native to coastal areas of the Caribbean. Its diet consists mainly of different molluscs and echinoderms.
The Longhead flathead, also known as the crocodile flathead or weed flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is endemic to reefs in the coastal waters of southern Australia.
Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, also known as the stargazer snake eel, is a benthic marine fish belonging to the family Ophichthidae. The stargazer snake eel is a large fish which grows up to 159 cm (63 in) long.
Abudefduf troschelii, the Pacific sergeant major or Panama sergeant major, is a species of damselfish belonging to the family Pomacentridae that can be identified by the pronounced black stripes on the lateral sides of the fish. Its specific name honors the zoologist Franz Hermann Troschel (1810-1882). It is native to the neritic pelagic zone of the shallow water coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and they are an omnivorous species feeding on plankton and algae attached to their coral habitat. Abudefduf troschelii is a sister-species of A. saxatilis but have diverged from each other since the uplift of the isthmus of Panama, separated by the rise of the Panama land bridge 3.1 to 3.5 million years ago. Males, like in many other marine species, take care of and defend newborn A. troschelii after they have been hatched by eggs from the female. There are currently no major threats to the species and there is no indication of a current decline in its population size. The IUCN Red List lists this damselfish as being of “least concern”.
Torquigener florealis is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a marine fish known for its distinct body shape and ecological role in its native habitat. The species is found primarily in the coastal and reef areas of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Eastern striped grunter is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunter from the family Terapontidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region where it is found in coastal waters and is an omnivore.
Diplodus argenteus, the silver porgy, is an ocean-going species of sparid fish (seabream/porgies). It is also called the South American silver porgy and the white bream in Uruguay, plus the silver seabream and the sargo, though the latter three names are also used for other fish species as well.