Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae1

Family Sciaenidae

• Drums• Common species:

o Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

o Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)

o Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)

o Jackknife fish (Equetus lanceolatus)

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae2

Sciaenidae Characteristics

• Sciaenids are another family of noisy, bottom orientated fisheso Common in turbid estuaries, sounds, and bayso Deeply notched dorsal fin

Black Drum

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae3

Commercial Importance

• Commercially important species include:

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae4

Red Drum

• NC State fish, commonly sold as redfish, puppy drum, channel bass, or spottail drum oOcellus – eye-like spots used as a false eye

to avoid head attacks by predators

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae5

Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)

• One of the most commonly caught nearshore marine fishes

• Possess a convex caudal fin

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae6

Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)

• Found in coastal waters and usually possess 2 large canine teeth in the upper jawo Spawning occurs

nearshore in estuarine waters

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae7

Otoliths

• Otoliths are the inner ear bones of fishes which are used for hearing, equilibrium and balance

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae8

Otoliths in Age Determination

• As the fish grows dark and light bands are usually deposited (increments)

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae9

Investigation of Life Histories

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae10

Family Ephippidae (Spadefish)

• Spinous and soft dorsal are separate

• Adults associate in large aggregations in areas with vertical relief

• Characterized by a blunt face and small moutho Highly compressed body

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae11

Atlantic Spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae12

Family Chaetodontidae & Pomacanthidae

• Both families are extremely common on coral reefs

• Acutely compressed bodies, large dorsal and anal fins

• Colorful, with striking patterns of stripes and spots

• Both families have remarkable feeding habitso Small protractile

mouths with tiny teeth

o Feed at various depths on zooplankton, coral polyps, sponges, and polychaetes

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae13

Family Chaetodontidae

• Butterflyfish• Common species:

o Spotfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellatus)

o Foureye Butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus)

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae14

Chaetodontidae Characteristics

• Spine on preopercle absent

• Long term pair bonds (4-5 yrs.)

• Abundance and diversity of the family may be an indicator of the general health of a coral reef

Juvenile

Adult

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae16

Family Pomacanthidae

• Angelfish• Common species:

o Blue Angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis)

o French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)

o Queen Angelfish (Holocanthus ciliaris)

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae17

Pomacanthidae Characteristics

• Distinguished from Chaetodontids by the presence of a posteriorly projecting spine on the preopercleo Lacks a snout and reaches a much larger

size

• Undergo major ontogenetic changes from the juvenile to the adult stage

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae18

Pomacanthidae

Queen Angelfish

Blue Angelfish

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae19

Chaetodontidae & Pomacanthidae

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae20

Family Pomacentridae

• Damselfish• Common species:

o Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis)

o Dusky Damsel (Pomacentrus fuscus)

Usually territorial defending a small patch of reef where they feed and hide and reproduce

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae21

Damselfish Territoriality

Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae22

Pomacentridae Characteristics

• Clownfish and other species of Pomacentrids associate closely with sea anemones