A barracuda is a large, predatory, ray-finned fish known for its fearsome appearance and ferocious behaviour. The barracuda is a saltwater fish of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae, which was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. It is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide ranging from the eastern border of the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, on its western border the Caribbean Sea, and in tropical areas of the Pacific Ocean. Barracudas reside near the top of the water and near coral reefs and sea grasses. Barracudas are targeted by sport-fishing enthusiasts.
The hogfish, also known as boquinete, doncella de pluma or pez perro in Mexico is a species of wrasse native to the Western Atlantic Ocean, living in a range from Nova Scotia, Canada, to northern South America, including the Gulf of Mexico. This species occurs around reefs, especially preferring areas with plentiful gorgonians. It is a carnivore which feeds on molluscs, as well as crabs and sea urchins. This species is currently the only known member of its genus.
The roosterfish is a fish found in the warmer shallow waters of the Pacific from Baja California to Peru. Roosterfish are a very popular sport fish admired for being strong fighters. They are also important targets of local artisanal and subsistence fisheries. It is the only species in the genus Nematistius and the family Nematistiidae. Their name comes from the "rooster comb", seven long spines on the dorsal fin. Roosterfish can reach over 1.6 m in length and over 50 kg (110 lb) in weight. Despite being a very popular sport fish, Roosterfish are an understudied species.
Canthigaster rostrata, commonly known as the Caribbean sharp-nose puffer, is a pufferfish from the Western Central Atlantic. The Caribbean sharp-nose puffer is a small fish with a maximum length of 12 cm or approximately 4.7 inches. It can be encountered from the coast of South Carolina to Venezuela, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Sea. They can live up to 10 years in the wild, females typically live longer due to aggressive male territory behavior. The Caribbean sharp-nose puffer is a highly toxic species of marine fish due to the presence of tetrodotoxin in its tissues and organs. Despite its toxicity, the sharp-nose pufferfish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Apogon maculatus, commonly known as flamefish, is a species of cardinalfish from the western Atlantic. Apogon maculatus is a nocturnal fish, and it usually hides in shadowy areas. This fish can be viewed with a red light in a dark room if needed to. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade because of its uniqueness. In captivity the fish's color tends to fade unless fed color enhancing vitamins. It grows to a size of 11 centimetres (4.3 in) in length. This fish can be aggressive towards other cardinalfish. Only one should be kept in a tank unless in mated pairs, or two can be placed in a 55 imperial gallons (250 L) or larger tank. Otherwise it does well with peaceful tank mates as long as it has caves and places to hide. The ideal water conditions are temperatures of 72–78 °F (22–26 °C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020–1.025, and dKH at 8 to 12.
The sleek unicornfish, also known as the blue-tail unicorn, Thorpe's unicornfish, blacktongue unicornfish or ʻopelu kala, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is of value in commercial fisheries and as a gamefish, and is also seen in aquaria.
Gymnothorax angusticeps is a moray eel found in the southeast Pacific Ocean, around Peru. It was first named by Hildebrand and Barton in 1949. It is colloquially known as the wrinkled moray.
Lucayablennius zingaro, the arrow blenny, is a species of chaenopsid blenny found in coral reefs around the Bahamas and the Caribbean, in the western central Atlantic Ocean. It can reach a maximum length of 5.7 cm. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Derilissus is a genus of clingfishes belonging to the family Gobiesocinae found in the western Atlantic Ocean. This family of fish is identified by their appearance as small fish with sucking discs which allow them to attach themselves to various surfaces. Derilissus differs from other genera due to its attached gill membranes.
The blackstripe herring is a species of tropical sardine found in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, first documented in a coastal lagoon near Sonora, Mexico. Its diet consists of pelagic crustaceans, zooplankton, fish larvae, and fish eggs. It is typically found in muddy or sandy shores and high-salinity estuaries at depths of 0–10 meters.
Kyphosus cinerascens is a species of marine ray-finned fish. It is a sea chub from the family Kyphosidae. Kyphosus Cinerascens has 11 dorsal fins and 12 anal fins. Kyphosus cinerascens are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. The Kyphosus cinerascens has a strict diet on phaeophytes, chlorophytes, and rhodophytes, making them herbivores.
Ptereleotris randalli, the Brazilian dartfish, is a fish belonging to the family Gobiidae and subfamily Ptereleotrinae. Like other dartfishes, it lives over sand and rubble bottoms, and quickly retreats into holes when approached. It was originally thought to be restricted to Brazil, south to Santa Catarina, but recently reported for the southern Caribbean, where it's found at depths of 8-60m.
Myripristis gildi, also known as the Clipperton cardinal soldierfish, is a species of soldierfish belonging to the genus Myripristis. First described in 1965 by Greenfield, it is endemic to Clipperton Island in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Its total length reaches at least 21.4cm.
Sphoeroides georgemilleri, known as the plaincheek puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is known only from the Caribbean Sea off of Colombia, where it occurs at a depth range of 1 to 151 m and is demersal, inhabiting soft bottoms. It is known to reach at least 12 cm in length.
Apogon dovii, also known by its common name tailspot cardinalfish, is a species from the genus Apogon. The species was originally described by Albert Günther in 1861.
Sphyraena lucasana is a species of barracuda found in the waters around southern Baja California and in the Gulf of California. Also known as the Lucas barracuda and the Cortez barracuda, this species can reach up to 76 cm in length. They are pelagic fish that hunt in open water and they themselves are often food for local fishing communities. This species also has a distinct protruding lower jaw that does not reach under the eye. Their color is silvery with around 20 on the upper side of the body with pale fins.
Entomacrodus marmoratus, also called marbled blenny or pāo'o in Hawaiian, is a species of blenny endemic to Hawaii. It is commonly found in rocky reefs around the coast of the Hawaiian Islands. It is also found in tide pools. It is recognized by an "eyelash". It has fins that are used to jump out of the water and to navigate the tide pools. Its maximum length is about 8 cm (3.1 in). They live down to a depth of 6 m (20 ft).
Chilomycterus spinosus, sometimes known as the brown burrfish, is a species of burrfish in the family Diodontidae. It is native to the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, where it ranges from Venezuela to Argentina, including the island of Trinidad. It is known to occur in both marine and brackish environments, where it is typically found at a depth of 70 to 190 m. The species reaches 28 cm in total length and can weigh up to at least 12.21 grams.
The polka-dot cusk-eel, is a species of ray-finned fish found in the Western Atlantic. It's found in subtropical waters around 10 to 50 m below the surface.
Haemulon melanurum, the cottonwick grunt, is a species of ray-finned fish within the family Haemulidae. The species is found inhabiting tropical waters in the western Atlantic near parts of North and South America. The species can grow to a maximum length of 43.5 centimeters, however individuals are most commonly found at lengths of 25 centimeters. The maximum published weight of the species was 550 grams. Adults are silver in coloration with narrow yellow stripes running along the body, with a bronze line in front of the eye. Adults also possess a black line running from the beginning of the dorsal fins to the caudal fins. It is an oviparous schooling fish that feeds on crustaceans.
