Yena Jeong Fish ID project

Title: Saltwater/ Marine Fishes Species #: 1

Common Name: California Sheephead

Scientific Name: Semicossyphus Pulcher

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii Order: perciformes

Family: labridae

Geography / Habitat: 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 forage during the day with harem members and the

dominant male. At night, they station themselves beneath rock overhangs or within

crevices, and like several other species of wrasse, they encase themselves in a protective

cocoon of mucus while quiescent. Males display aggressive tendencies, including territorial

behaviors during mating. Research suggests that catching and releasing these animals

causes stress and may alter their behavior.

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. Their large canine-like teeth are used to pry sessile invertebrates from rocks.

Body Form or Style: compressiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: subcarangiform

Mouth Position: terminal

Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Semicossyphus Pulcher: PICTURES. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Semicossyphus_pulcher/pictures/collecti

ons/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Labroidei/LabroideiII/Semicossyphus_pulcher/>.


Common Name: Blue Fish

Scientific Name: Pomatomus Saltatrix


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes

Family: Pomatomidae

Geography / Habitat: Pomatomus Saltatrix(s) are found in all oceanic coastal waters except

the eastern and northwest pacific. They are most common in clean, high-energy waters,

such as surf beaches and rock headlands. Smaller Pomatomus Saltatrix’s live nearly year

round in estuaries and bays along the coasts. As they mature, they begin annual migrations.

They can tolerate water temperatures as low as 14 degrees Celsius and can maintain a body

temperature up to 40 degrees Celsius.

Life Strategy: Pomatomus saltatrix are constantly moving, as they travel in schools that

can extend 6 to 8 km in length. As the schools move through the water, they will attack

other schools of fish, destroying large numbers of excess prey. Each year, beginning in

January, bluefish begin their annual migration northward. The cause for this migration is

unknown, but it is speculated that it is due to seasonal changes in light intensity and the

length of the day.

Food / Feed Strategy: Pomatomus Saltatrix are strictly carnivorous, eating squid, shrimp,

crabs, and fish, such as herring, atlantic mackerel, menhaden, spot, butterfish, and mullet.

They are visual feeders that hunt in schools and will attack anything that moves or slightly

resembles food. Bluefish will often first bite the tail off their prey, will then consume the

food, will regurgitate, and will again eat.

Body Form or Style: Fusiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform

Mouth Position: Terminal

Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pomatomus Saltatrix: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomatomus_saltatrix/>

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomatomus_saltatrix/

Title: Saltwater/ Marine fishes Species #: 3

Common Name: Oregon sturgeon

Scientific Name: Acipenser transmontanus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Acipenseridae

Geography / Habitat: The White Sturgeon is found on the Pacific slope of North America

from the Aleutian Islands, AK to Baja, CA. It is anadromous fish, spending most of its life

in sea near the shore and can be found in estuaries of large rivers. It migrates far inland in

large rivers to spawn. They are anadromous fish but may spend much or all of their lives in

fresh water if they cannot reach the sea.

Life Strategy: White sturgeon are slow growing, late maturing, anadromous fish. Adults

spend most of their time in sea near the shore, but they have been found in depths of 30

meters. Adults move into large rivers in early spring and spawn by May or June. They can

ascend far inland to spawn (Lee 1980). Landlocked fish also migrate. Tagging studies of

Kootemai river white sturgeon revealed that in spring, the fish were observed to have

moved upriver 16 to 114 river kilometers, and remained congregated in specific locations

through the summer.

Food / Feed Strategy: White Sturgeon have been described as opportunistic feeders,

feeding on the bottom with their long snouts and using their barbels to detect food. When

small they feed on clams, mussels, crayfish, worms, and fish eggs. At a larger size, they prey

on fish such as smelt, anchovies, lamprey, shad and salmon.

Body Form or Style: sagittiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: caragiform

Mouth Position: subterminal

Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Semicossyphus Pulcher: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Semicossyphus_pulcher/>.


Common Name: Somber surgeonfish

Scientific Name: Zebrasoma flavescens



Family: Acanthuridae

Geography / Habitat: Yellow tangs, Zebrasoma flavescens, are reef fish found in the

waters west of Hawaii and east of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. They mainly live off the coast

of Hawaii, but are also found in the more western ranges of their habitat, including the

islands Ryukyu, Mariana, Marshall, Marcus, and Wake. They prefer subtropical waters.

Life Strategy: Juvenile yellow tangs are often territorial. This trait usually diminishes as

the fish mature and start to roam wider areas of the reef. Adult tangs live singly or in

small, loose groups. These groups sometimes contain other species of fish, like sailfin tang

(Zebrasoma veliferum). Yellow tangs are diurnal. During the day, tangs move from place

to place, grazing on algae; at night, they generally rest alone in coral reef crevices.

Food / Feed Strategy: Yellow tangs have a long, down-turned mouth with small teeth that

are specialized for grazing on algae. Because they are mainly herbivores, they spend a large

amount of their time grazing either alone or in groups. A large portion of their diet consists

of uncalcified and filamentous algae that grows on coral reefs. In addition to smaller types

of algae, yellow tangs feed on macroalgae, such as seaweed. Yellow tangs will also eat some

types of zooplankton.

Body Form or Style: depressiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: ostraciiform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Zebrasoma Flavescens: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Zebrasoma_flavescens/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Zebrasoma_flavescens/


Common Name: Convict surgeonfish

Scientific Name: Acanthurus triostegus




Geography / Habitat: Convict tangs are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, as well

as the eastern Pacific Ocean from the lower Gulf of California to Panama. They are also

known as convict surgeonfish or Manini.

Life Strategy: Convict tangs are often found in schools (large and small) but may also be

found individually. While less territorial than other tangs, tank size is still an important

consideration for those keeping this species. Convict tangs have been observed in the wild

exhibiting tonic immobility (death feigning).

Food / Feed Strategy: Convict tangs are herbivores, grazing on algae found on rocks and

corals. Adaptations to their algivorous diet include mouths that are slightly downwardly-

directed and flexible, comb-like teeth.

Body Form or Style: globiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: carangiform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Acanthurus Triostegus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acanthurus_triostegus/>.


Common Name: Dorab

Scientific Name: Chirocentrus dorab


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Clupeiformes

Family: Chirocentridae

Geography / Habitat: Blackfin wolf-herrings, Chirocentrus dorab, are found throughout

the Indian Ocean, ranging from the eastern shores of Africa to the Solomon Islands. They

can be found as far north as southern Japan and as far south as northern Australia.

Life Strategy: Unlike most herring fishes, blackfin wolf-herrings are often found in small

groups rather than large schools. However, schooling maybe more prevalent in this species

during its larval stage to avoid predation.

Food / Feed Strategy: As a carnivorous fish, blackfin wolf-herrings prey mainly on other

members of the order Clupeiformes, as well as members of the class Cephalopoda (octopus

and squid). Sardines, however, are preferred prey of this species, particularly Sardinella

albella and Sardinella gibbosa. Juveniles also display this carnivorous behavior, feeding on

small shrimp, post-larvae, and early juvenile fish. The diet of blackfin wolf-herrings is

seasonally consistent. As they feed primarily during the day, members of this genus g.

Chirocentrus are thought to rely on sight to hunt.


Swim / Locomotion Style: caragiform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Chirocentrus Dorab: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chirocentrus_dorab/>.


Common Name: Pike

Scientific Name: Centropomus undecimalis



Family: Centropomidae

Geography / Habitat: Common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, range from the coastal

mid-Atlantic regions of the United States through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to

parts of Central and South America. Common snook have been documented as far north as

Pamlico Sound, North Carolina and as far south as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They are

particularly abundant around coastal Florida.

Life Strategy: Common snook, as amphidromous fish, often move between fresh and salt

water throughout their life. Common snook congregate seasonally in saltwater near the

mouths of rivers, inlets, and canals in order to spawn. Common snook are considered social

in that they are often found in groups, especially during times of spawning.

Food / Feed Strategy: Common snook are pelagic feeders. Daily feeding peaks occurrs 2

hours before sunrise and 2 to 3 hours after sunset. Their feeding behavior is affected by the

tidal cycle, and feeding activity noticeably increases with an increase in water flow

following a period of standing flood or ebb tides. Common snook are voracious predators

and opportunistic carnivores. They primarily feed on other pelagic fish, though diet varies

with habitat type. Juveniles generally inhabit freshwater habitats, and their diet primarily

consists of palaemonid shrimp, microcrustaceans, copepods and mosquitofish.


Swim / Locomotion Style: subcaragiform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Centropomus Undecimalis: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Centropomus_undecimalis/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Centropomus_undecimalis/


Common Name: Blue tang

Scientific Name: Paracanthurus hepatus




Geography / Habitat: Common surgeon, Paracanthurus hepatus, are strictly marine fish

that typically inhabit tropical coral reefs in waters with a strong current. They may move

seasonally, occurring at higher latitudes when water temperatures allow. Generally,

common surgeon range between 30° north and south latitude and 32° east to 170° west

longitude in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Individuals found in other areas are presumed

to have been released from aquaria.

Life Strategy: Although common surgeon are occasionally observed individually, most are

found in pairs or small groups. In the reef, they school for protection. A group of fish, each

possessing a sharp and venomous caudal spine is potentially problematic to predators; very

few predators swim into the middle of a school of surgeonfish to feed off the members of

the group. Common surgeon aggregate with other genera of surgeonfish,

includingAcanthurus, Ctenochaetus, Naso, Zebrasoma, and Prionurus.

Food / Feed Strategy: Common surgeon are herbivorous. Unlike many marine fish,

common surgeon rely only slightly on plankton. Instead, they graze on algae, using their

small teeth to pull algae from rocks and coral. Fish of this species also feed on microalgae,

other marine plants, and zooplankton.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Paracanthurus Hepatus: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paracanthurus_hepatus/>.


Common Name: Brown sucker; Common remora

Scientific Name: Remora remora



Family: Echeneidae

Geography / Habitat: Common in warmer parts of all oceans.Western Mediterranean and

Atlantic from the North Sea southwards. The Remora is a pelagic marine fish that is

usually found in the warmer parts of most oceans clinging on to large sharks, sea turtles,

bony fishes and other marine mammals.

Life Strategy: The Remora is most often found offshore in the warmer parts of all oceans

attached to sharks and other marine fishes and mammals (Unesco 1989). Based on

observations of the species in captivity, Remora remorarequires a swift passage of water

over the gills and cannot survive in still waters (Bohlke and Chaplin 1993).The Remora is

not considered to be a parasite, despite its being attached to the host. Instead they are

considered to have a commensal relationship with their host, since they do not hurt the host

and are just along for the ride.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Remora clings to a host, such as large sharks, sea turtles, bony

fishes, rays, and marine mammals.The Remora has long been thought to detach itself from

its host and dart around feeding on its scraps (Herald 1962). It was later felt that

ectoparasites on the host's body or gill chambers formed an important part of their diet.

Recently it was shown that both of these are utilized as food sources and that planktonic

organisms and fish may also be part of the Remora's diet.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Remora Remora: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Remora_remora/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Remora_remora/


Common Name: Anchovies

Scientific Name: Engraulis mordax



Family: Engraulidae

Geography / Habitat: Northern anchovy are found off the west coast of North America,

from Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, Canada, to Cabo San Lucas in Baja

California, Mexico, and in the Gulf of California.

Life Strategy: Northern anchovies create large schools, which aids in antipredator defense

and finding prey. Adult northern anchovies typically attack prey only once and rarely

make a second attempt. Swimming and feeding behavior is dependent on a number of

different factors including temperature, developmental stage, and where they are

distributed in the water column. Northern anchovies perform seasonal migrations, moving

to deeper, offshore waters during winter, and returning to shallow, coastal waters for

spring.

Food / Feed Strategy: Northern anchovies feed upon krill, copepods, and decapod larvae,

and collect food via filter feeding and active predation. When filter feeding, water and

zooplankton pass through its large gaping mouth as it swims. Water passing over the gills

is strained through long, finely-separated gill rakers, which collect particulate organic

matter, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. Apart from nonselective filter feeding, northern

anchovies have also been observed 'pecking' at larger prey.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Engraulis Mordax: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Engraulis_mordax/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Euphausiacea/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Decapoda/


Common Name: Common eel

Scientific Name: Anguilla anguilla


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 (Ringuet et al., 2002). Their range also encompasses the Baltic and North Seas,

as well as all accessible continental or coastal hydrosystems (Ringuet et al., 2002). 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. Silver

(juvenile) stage eels of Anguilla anguilla live in tributaries along the European coast.

Life Strategy: European eels are essentially a solitary species. Although numerous eels can

be found in a single location, there is no evidence that any form of schooling is present

(Suzuki et al, 2003). European eels migrate to various regions during different stages of

their life. They transport themselves by actively swimming with ocean currents (Deelder,

1970). European eels are active mainly during the day.

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 (Fisheries Global Information System, 2005). Glass eels consume

insect larvae, dead fish, and small crustaceans (Sinha and Jones, 1975). 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.

Body Form or Style: anguilliform

Swim / Locomotion Style: anguilliform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Anguilla Anguilla: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilla_anguilla/>.


Common Name: Banana fish

Scientific Name: Albula vulpes


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Albuliformes

Family: Albulidae

Geography / Habitat: Bonefish are found in warm tropical waters from the southern coast

of Florida, through the Bahamas and along the eastern coast of South America. Bonefish

can also be found in the Pacific Ocean from coastal California to Peru in South America.

This range is roughly from 35 degrees north to 15 degrees south of the equator. Although

bonefish are typically found in warmer climates, there have been reports of sightings into

northern portions of the Atlantic coast in the United States.

Life Strategy: Bonefish are a social species, often found in shallow water in small schools of

just a few fish, but have been found in much larger schools of over 75 individuals. Bonefish

do not have a defined home range.

Food / Feed Strategy: Bonefish are predators and consume a variety of prey. They feed on

many small mollusks and crustaceans in shallow water. The majority of their diet consists

of small crabs, fish, and shrimp, including xanthid and portunid crabs, toadfish,

and snapping and penaeid shrimp (Crabtree et al., 1998). Bonefish normally school, but

break into smaller groups to feed.

Body Form or Style: fusiform



Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Albula Vulpes: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Albula_vulpes/>.


Common Name: Common fangtooth

Scientific Name: Anoplogaster cornuta


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Beryciformes

Family: Anoplogastridae

Geography / Habitat: Anoplogaster cornuta is found worldwide in tropical to temperate

and subartctic seas, specifically within the range 65°N - 46°S, 180°W - 180°E. It is typically

reported as a temperate to tropical species, though it has also been documented in the

subarctic waters of the Pacific and Western Atlantic. It is native to at least 48 countries

across the globe, and is found in regions such as Azores Exclusive Economic Zone,

European waters, the Gulf of Mexico, Madagascar, Mozambique, New Zealand Exclusive

Economic Zone, the north West Atlantic, South Africa, and the Spanish Exclusive

Economic Zone.

Life Strategy: Anoplogaster cornuta is highly mobile and is an aggressive hunter relative to

other deep-sea species. They can either be found swimming alone or in schools. Many

teleost fish share the same general mechanism of gill ventilation, with a buccal force pump

and an opercular suction pump working together to maintain a consistent flow of water

through the mouth and over the gills.

Food / Feed Strategy: Anoplogaster cornuta is carnivorous. Juveniles feed on crustaceans,

while adults feed primarily on fish and shrimp. They have been observed to feed on fish

one-third their size, necessitating the mechanism of reversed direction ventilation when

feeding. Their large size allows them to swallow most prey whole. Due to their high

mobility relative to other pelagic teleosts, it has been speculated that they are aggressive

hunters.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Anoplogaster Cornuta:

INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anoplogaster_cornuta/>.


Common Name: Flounder

Scientific Name: Bothus lunatus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pleuronectiformes

Family: Bothidae

Geography / Habitat: Peacock flounders, Bothus lunatus, live in the West Atlantic Ocean

in both tropical and subtropical regions. They are found off the coasts of Florida,

Bermuda, and down the coast of South America to Brazil. They have also been recorded in

the Central Atlantic near the shelf of Ascension and the St. Helen Islands as well as in the

Eastern Atlantic in the Gulf of Guinea.

Life Strategy: Male flounders have distinct territories that do not overlap. Each male

defends its own territory and exhibits defensive behavior when other males enter their

claimed area. Males chase off intruders and display aggressive behavior toward other

males. Females, however, do not usually display aggressive behavior. Females do not have

the same types of territories, but rather have designated subunits that are smaller in area.

Daytime territories are not the same as night retirement sites for members of either sex.

Males retire closer to shore and females in deeper water, returning to their daytime

territories early in the morning.

Food / Feed Strategy: Adult peacock flounders are restricted to feeding on other benthic

organisms. They are active predators, mostly eating other fish; however, peacock flounders

can also feed on marine invertebrates, such as crustaceansand sometimes octopi.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Bothus Lunatus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Bothus_lunatus/>.


Common Name: Copper rockfish

Scientific Name: Sebastes caurinus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes

Family: Sebastidae

Geography / Habitat: Copper rockfish are found in waters along the Pacific coast

\\ranging from Baja, California up to Kehui, Alaska. They are common in the waters of

British Columbia and in Puget Sound. Copper rockfish are demersal, preferring the ocean

bottom near low-profile rocks and reefs. The range of water depths they inhabit is

relatively broad, from 10 to 183 meters, and the fish are found in shallower water during

upwelling.

Life Strategy: Adult copper rockfish are highly residential and remain near their home

site. Although they are a solitary species and usually seen alone, they are sometimes present

in mixed aggregates with other species. Individual fish display agnostic behavior to show

"protective territoriality".

Food / Feed Strategy: Copper rockfish are opportunistic carnivores that feed mainly on

organisms present near the ocean floor, usually crabs, mollusks and other fish. They feed

during the day as well as at night. Often the prey varies with the season with crabs eaten

more often in winter and early spring. Large copper rockfish tend to be aggressive feeders

and sometimes prey on Squalus acanthias, a small shark species.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Sebastes Caurinus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sebastes_caurinus/>.


Common Name: Blue cod

Scientific Name: Ophiodon elongatus



Family: Hexagrammidae

Geography / Habitat: Ophiodon elongatus is native to the west coast of North America,

from the Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Highest

densities are found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Lingcod are coastal fish that

occupy submerged banks with dense communities of algae, and channels with strong

currents flowing over and around rocky reefs. They avoid muddy and sandy bottoms, and

stagnant areas.

Life Strategy: Lingcod are solitary, benthic fish and spend most of their time resting within

holes or crevices amongst rocks. Lingcod's cryptic coloration helps it to blend into its rocky

surroundings, where it lies in wait to ambush any prey that swims by. Lingcod have also

been seen moving into shallower waters at night to feed.

Food / Feed Strategy: Lingcod are ambush predators that eat anything that can fit in their

mouths, especially fish and large invertebrates. Lingcod exhibit cannibalism and prey on

various species of salmon and rockfish as well as Pacific herring and octopus.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Ophiodon Elongatus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ophiodon_elongatus/>.


Common Name: Giant sunfish

Scientific Name: Mola mola


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes

Family: Molidae

Geography / Habitat: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola, are found in the temperate and tropical

regions of the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans (Wheeler, 1969; Sims

and Southall, 2002; Houghton et al., 2006). They are commonly observed off the coast of

Southern California, Indonesia, the British Isles, the Northern and Southern Isles of New

Zealand, the southern coasts of Africa, and in the Mediterranean and occasionally in the

North Sea.

Life Strategy: Ocean sunfish are generally solitary, although they are found in groups

when being cleaned by other fish. Ocean sunfish use their dorsal and anal fins as their

primary means of locomotion. They flap these fins in a synchronous motion, which also

allows them to swim on their side (Hutchins, 2004). They occasionally swim near the

surface, exposing their top fin, and may even jump out of the water in an apparent effort to

detach parasites. Ocean sunfish have been observed repeated diving below the thermocline

during the day, possibly to forage for zooplankton that migrate vertically

Food / Feed Strategy: Ocean sunfish primarily feed on jellyfish and gelatinous

zooplankton, such as ctenophores, salps, and medusae. They have also been known to eat

soft bodied invertebrates, crustaceans, mollusks, seaweed, eel larvae, and even flounder

(Wheeler, 1969). Ocean sunfish are thought to migrate to higher latitudes in response to

zooplankton migrations during the spring and summer

months.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Mola Mola:


<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mola_mol

a/>.


Common Name: Blackfinned clownfish

Scientific Name: Amphiprion percula



Family: Pomacentridae

Geography / Habitat: True clown anemonefishes (Amphiprion percula) are native only to

the Indo-Pacific Region (Rosenberg and Cruz, 1988). The species ranges from Northern

Queensland to Melanesia, which comprises New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, the

Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Life Strategy: In anemonefishes particular attention has been given to behavioral

components of the symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. Reliance on a host has effects

at every particular life stage. A. percula lays its eggs under the overhang of an anemone’s

tentacles (leeward side). Arvedlund et al. (2000) believed that this was a predator-

deterrence and an olfactory imprinting mechanism. The latter plays an important role in

directing juveniles to the appropriate sea anemone species later on. With a leeward

placement, a maximum amount of imprinting mucous can transfer between the tentacles

and eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: A. percula feeds mainly on zooplankton, such as copepods and larval

tunicates. Possibly, it consumes algae from the surrounding coral reef or even leftover food

portions from its host anemone. The former strategy is commonly used by A.

perideraion (Fautin and Allen, 1992). Frequently, A. percula will carry large pieces of food

to its host anemone, presumably to store it for later use. The anemone, however, devours

the accessible food item in most cases.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Amphiprion Percula: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amphiprion_percula/>.


Common Name: Mandarin-fish

Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus



Family: Callionymidae

Geography / Habitat: Synchiropus splendidus is found in much of the western Pacific

including the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Guinea (Delbeek,

1989). These fish are also found in the Ryukyu Islands (Randall et al. 1990). Outside of its

native range, S. splendidus is primarly a marine aquarium fish.

Life Strategy: Mandarin fish are slow, shy, and mostly passive. They have large fan-like

pelvic fins which are used often to walk along the bottom. Mandarin fish are found usually

in groups or in pairs on reefs. In captivity, mandarin fish are rather intolerant of

conspecifics. Two males will not survive together in an aquarium due to their agressive

behavior towards each other (Delbeek 1989). During daylight hours, mandarin fish move

along coral branches or hide in their home crevices.

Food / Feed Strategy: Mandarin fish feed on the bottom. They eat small crustaceans such

as amphipods and isopods, small worms and protozoans. Much of its food intake is found

living in the reefs and other live rock. If there is a substantial amount of live rock,

mandarin fish do not need any other outside source for food. In captivity, the fish usually

do not eat prepared food, therefore it becomes difficult to maintain them. They need a

great supply of live rock to feed. Mandarin fish have a relatively small mouth, therefore

they eat only small food items.

Body Form or Style:



Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Synchiropus Splendidus: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Synchiropus_splendidus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Perciformes/


Common Name: Banded lionfish

Scientific Name: Pterois antennata



Family: Scorpaenidae

Geography / Habitat: Broadbarred firefish (Bloch, 1787) are found in the Indo-West

Pacific region. This species ranges from east Africa to the Marquesan and Mangaréva

islands and from northern Japan to Queensland, Australia, and can also be found in the

waters surrounding the Kermadec and Austral islands.

Life Strategy: Broadbarred firefish are nocturnal fishes that swim by slowly undulating

their soft dorsal and anal fins. Although most of the lionfish’s feeding occurs within the

first hour of the night, it will remain active and out in the open until daylight. Once

daylight occurs, individuals retreat within the shelter of coral and rocks. In these areas the

species exhibits a nearly motionless posture, with the head tilted slightly downward, with

the venomous dorsal spines pointing towards the entrance of the crevice. This species

congregates in small schools as juveniles and while mating. However, they are solitary for

the majority of their adult life.

Food / Feed Strategy: Broadbarred firefish are important predators in many coral reef

environments, feeding mostly on crustaceans, as well as other invertebrates, and small

fishes, including juveniles of their own species. They are known to feed on juveniles of

many commercially fished species, like Lutjanus campechanus (red

snapper), Plectropomus leopardus (coral trout), and Stenopus hispidus (banded coral

shrimp).




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pterois Antennata: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 09 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pterois_antennata/>.


Common Name: Asian seabass

Scientific Name: Lates calcarifer



Family: Latidae

Geography / Habitat: Lates calcarifer, known as barramundi, barramundi perch, giant sea

perch, or Asian sea bass, is native to coastal areas in the Indian and Western Pacific

Oceans. This includes coastal Australia, Southeast and Eastern Asia, and India (Luna,

2008). According to Luna, this distribution is Indo-West Pacific.

Life Strategy: Catadromous barramundi populations move seasonally between breeding

and feeding grounds. Immediately after hatching as plankton, Lates calcarifer larvae make

their way from the mouths of estuaries into brackish or freshwater swamps or mangroves

where they are protected from predators. The developing fish tend to stay in the swamps

from February to April, before moving into permanent tidal creeks for another nine

months. After the nine months have past, juvenile barramundi make their way into

freshwater estuaries to further develop.

Food / Feed Strategy: Barramundi are opportunistic predators. They eat microcrustaceans

such as copepods and amphipods as juvenile fish under 40 mm. As larger juveniles they eat

macrocrustaceans like Penaeidae and Palaemonidae. These crustacean prey are found

mainly near the bottom of the water column, so this diet also protects juveniles from most

of their predators, which hunt closer to the water surface. Mollusks are consumed to a

lesser degree. When barramundi are around 80 mm, they begin to eat macrocrustaceans

and pelagic bony fishes.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lates Calcarifer: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lates_calcarifer/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lates_calcarifer/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amphipoda/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Penaeidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Palaemonidae/


Common Name: Atlantic thresher

Scientific Name: Alopias vulpinus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes

Family: Alopiidae

Geography / Habitat: Common thresher sharks, Alopias vulpinus, are found in tropical

and temperate 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. Although little is known

about the migration of this species, fishing records suggest that they move north, away

from the equator, during summer months and that they move south, toward the equator,

during winter months.

Life Strategy: Common thresher sharks are solitary. Because they are migratory animals,

common threshers are considered to be free-range predators. Little is known about their

exact migratory path, but evidence suggests they travel south (toward the equator) to

warmer waters during the winter and north (away from the equator) to cooler waters

during the summer.

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.


Swim / Locomotion Style: thunniform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Alopias Vulpinus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alopias_vulpinus/>.


Common Name: Blue ring angelfish

Scientific Name: Pomacanthus annularis



Family: Pomacanthidae

Geography / Habitat: Pomacanthus annularis live in the Indo-Pacific region ranging from

Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands and from the Philippines to the northern tip of Australia.

Normally this range is from 25 degrees north to 25 degrees south.

Life Strategy: Pomacanthus annularis live in the Indo-Pacific region ranging from Sri

Lanka to the Solomon Islands and from the Philippines to the northern tip of Australia.

Normally this range is from 25 degrees north to 25 degrees south.

Food / Feed Strategy: P. annularis are omnivorous, eating benthic invertebrates such as

zooplankton, sponges, tunicates and coral polyps. Also these fish eat ascidians, algae,

weeds, and nektonic fishes.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pomacanthus Annularis: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomacanthus_annularis/>.


Common Name: Sleepers

Scientific Name: Eleotridae



Family: Eleotridae

Geography / Habitat: Eleotrids can be found worldwide between the 40th parallels

(tropical and subtropical regions), reaching farther south in New Zealand. They occur on

five continents and are common in the islands of the Indo-Pacific.

Life Strategy: Eleotrids earned their common name, “sleeper,” for their habit of remaining

still on the bottom or positioned near an object in the water while they wait for prey. When

chasing prey, however, they can perform very quick movements. Some, such

as Hypseleotris klunzingeri, form dense schools in midwater. Many eleotrids occupy

habitats that can become low in oxygen (hypoxic), and some can breathe air through the

skin on the front of the head. When Dormitator latifrons encounters hypoxic waters, oxygen

begins to fill the gas bladder and the top surface of the head begins to fill with a thick bed

of capillaries.

Food / Feed Strategy: Eleotrids are carnivores that feed on crustaceans and other benthic

invertebrates, small fishes, and insects. Many species pass through a marine larval stage

during which they feed on plankton.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Eleotridae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 09

Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Eleotridae/>.


Common Name: Doctorfish

Scientific Name: Anarrhichthys ocellatus



Family: Anarhichadidae

Geography / Habitat: Wolf-eels are found in the temperate North Pacific in coastal waters

from the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan to the Aleutian islands and along the western

coast of North America to Baja California.

Life Strategy: Wolf-eels remain in their rock crevices during the day and emerge to forage

at night. They roam widely looking for fish and invertebrate prey, but have a great deal of

site fidelity - returning to the daytime dens and inhabiting them for long periods of time.

Vacated dens are rapidly inhabited by other wolf-eels, though, so they may patrol potential

den sites regularly. They seem to be territorial, aggressively defending their den area.

Wolf-eels are occasionally caught by hook and line anglers, so there may be some limited

daytime activity.

Food / Feed Strategy: Wolf-eels use their robust jaws and teeth to eat hard-shelled

invertebrates, such as crabs up to 114 mm in width, snails, sand dollars, sea

urchins, mussels, clams, and abalone, especially Haliotis kamtschatkana. In the Monterey

area the dominant food items are slender crabs (Cancer gracilis) and sand dollars

(Dendraster excentricus). Wolf-eels occasionally eat fish as well, although they seem best

able to capture slow-moving prey.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Anarrhichthys Ocellatus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anarrhichthys_ocellatus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Haliotis_kamtschatkana/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dendraster_excentricus/


Common Name: Gobies

Scientific Name: Gobiidae



Family: Gobiidae

Geography / Habitat: Gobies are found worldwide in fresh, brackish and saltwater. They

are concentrated in the tropics and subtropics, mainly of the Indo-Pacific, but some marine

species can be found in the subarctic streams of southern Siberia. Gobies have been

transported beyond their natural range via the intake pipes or ballast water of large ships.

Life Strategy: Nearly all gobies are benthic (bottom-dwelling) but in some groups

(Iglossus, Nemateleotris) individuals hover just above the bottom, seldom moving very far

from shelter. Many male gobies are extremely aggressive towards invading males but

exhibit a much more relaxed behavior in response to females entering their territory.

Pheromones are thought to play a pivotal role in this recognition. The various forms of

social hierarchies found in gobies are discussed in Reproduction above.

Food / Feed Strategy: Gobies are classified as zooplanktivores, omnivores, and carnivores,

as they feed on a wide variety of small organisms like crabs, shrimps, smaller crustaceans

(such as copepods, amphipods, and ostracods), mollusks, annelids, polychaetes,

formaninferans, sponges, small fishes, and eggs of various invertebrates and fishes.

Body Form or Style: taeniform



Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Gobiidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 12

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nemateleotris/


Common Name: Bullhead

Scientific Name: Heterodontus portusjacksoni


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Heterodontiformes

Family: Heterodontidae

Geography / Habitat: Heterodontus portusjacksoni is one of the better known species of

horn sharks (Heterodontus). It was named after Port Jackson in Sydney Harbour. They are

found from southern coastal Australia to the central coast of Western Australia. Some have

been found as far north as York Sound in Western Australia. According to studies of the

genetics of the Port Jackson sharks, there are two different populations found in different

regions that extend the length of the southern part of Australia.

Life Strategy: Port Jackson sharks segregate into same-sex groups. Males and females may

occupy different habitats during most parts of the year. Males and females encounter each

other only briefly during breeding. Port Jackson sharks are mainly active at night, when

their prey are active, and rest in crevices and under rock outcroppings during the day.

Food / Feed Strategy: Port Jackson sharks feed primarily on invertebrates,

mainly echinoderms. They eat sea urchins, starfish, polychaetes, large gastropods, prawns,

crabs, barnacles, and small fishes. Juveniles, with their smaller, more pointed teeth,

apparently take more soft-bodied prey than adults. Food items in stomachs are usually

broken into small pieces, which show how the powerful molar-like teeth grind the food.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Heterodontus Portusjacksoni: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Heterodontus_portusjacksoni/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Heterodontus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Echinodermata/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Echinoidea/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Asteroidea/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gastropoda/


Common Name: Banana

Scientific Name: Albula vulpes


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Albuliformes

Family: Albulidae

Geography / Habitat: Bonefish are found in warm tropical waters from the southern coast

of Florida, through the Bahamas and along the eastern coast of South America. Bonefish

can also be found in the Pacific ocean from coastal California to Peru in South America.

This range is roughly from 35 degrees north to 15 degrees south of the equator. Although

bonefish are typically found in warmer climates, there have been reports of sightings into

northern portions of the Atlantic coast in the United States.

Life Strategy: Bonefish are a social species, often found in shallow water in small schools of

just a few fish, but have been found in much larger schools of over 75 individuals.

Food / Feed Strategy: Bonefish are predators and consume a variety of prey. They feed on

many small mollusks and crustaceans in shallow water. The majority of their diet consists

of small crabs, fish, and shrimp, including xanthid andportunid crabs, toadfish,

and snapping and penaeid shrimp (Crabtree et al., 1998). Bonefish normally school, but

break into smaller groups to feed.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Albula Vulpes: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec.

2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Xanthidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Portunidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Batrachoididae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alpheidae/



Common Name: Elfin shark

Scientific Name: Mitsukurina owstoni


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. Though this probably encompasses the range of Mitsukurina owstoni,

sightings are so rare and widespread that the presence of goblin sharks could extend well

beyond these areas.

Life Strategy: Due to its morphology, it is assumed that Mitsukurina owstoni is rather

sluggish and accomplishes most of its hunting by swimming lazily or waiting for vertically

migrating animals to come within striking distance. The protruding jaws allow substantial

bites, but otherwise, Mitsukurina owstoni is not a fast or active predator.

Food / Feed Strategy: Mitsukurina owstoni 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.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Mitsukurina Owstoni: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mitsukurina_owstoni/




http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cephalopoda/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Actinopterygii/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ostracoda/



Common Name: Frill shark

Scientific Name: Chlamydoselachus anguineus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Hexanchiformes

Family: Chlamydoselachidae

Geography / Habitat: Frilled sharks are wide ranging. They have been found almost

worldwide, including the eastern Atlantic coast of northern Norway, the western Indian

Ocean near South Africa, the western Pacific near New Zealand, and the eastern Pacific

near the coast of Chile.

Life Strategy: Chlamydoselachus anguineus is a slow-moving, deep water shark. They are

among the slowest of shark species. Like most sharks, they are solitary.

Food / Feed Strategy: Because of their sharp, cuspidate teeth, it is thought that their

primary foods are small deep-water fishes, and squid (Taylor et al., 2002). Because frilled

sharks live on the ocean floor, they may also feed on carrion floating down from the surface.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Chlamydoselachus Anguineus: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chlamydoselachus_anguineus/


Common Name: Clinids

Scientific Name: Clinidae



Family: Clinidae

Geography / Habitat: Clinids primarily occur along temperate coasts in both northern and

southern hemispheres. Many species are found in the waters of southern Australia and

southern Africa, where they have in many regions become the dominant intertidal fishes.

They also inhabit areas of the Bahamas, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific coast of the

United States.

Life Strategy: Most clinids are territorial. They tend to be bottom dwellers and associate

with seaweed, moving within an environment to which their coloring is adapted. Their

coloring often changes during spawning. Males and females meet in order to spawn, with

the male serving an active role in chasing away other fish, and he may stimulate her to

continue spawning by touching her abdomen. In the Bahamas Hemiemblemaria swims

freely with schools of wrasse, mimicking them.

Food / Feed Strategy: Clinids are primarily carnivorous bottom-feeders who consume

small fishes and invertebrates from worms to crustaceans.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Clinidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 15

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hemiemblemaria/


Common Name: Black moray

Scientific Name: Gymnothorax funebris



Family: Muraenidae

Geography / Habitat: Gymnothorax funebris, 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.

Life Strategy: This species is solitary and nocturnal. Adults are rarely active outside of

feeding and spawning. Larvae, however, must migrate from the spawning site to a suitable

habitat. Adults activley hunt fish in caves and crevices along coral reefs or shorelines.

When an eel encounters a fish too large to swallow whole, it wraps itself around its prey in

a characteristic knot, allowing for leverage against the fish. It then tears its prey into

smaller pieces, which can be swallowed more easily. The larvae are also active predators of

zooplankton.

Food / Feed Strategy: Gymnothorax funebris 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 oncrustaceans and cephalopods.

Larvae prey on diatoms, smaller crustaceans, and other zooplankton.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Gymnothorax Funebris: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gymnothorax_funebris/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gymnothorax_funebris/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cephalopoda/


Common Name: Rabbitfishes

Scientific Name: Siganidae



Family: Siganidae

Geography / Habitat: Siganids are naturally confined to the tropical Indo-Pacific, but are

now found in the eastern Mediterranean as well. Siganus rivulatus is at least one species

that has been able to penetrate from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal to the

Mediterranean, where it is now locally common.

Life Strategy: Siganids are commonly known as rabbitfishes partly because of their

peaceful temperament. They are diurnal herbivores, hiding in reef crevices during

nighttime and browsing over reefs to feed during the day. Some species school while others

browse individually among corals.

Food / Feed Strategy: Most siganids are herbivorous and feed on phytoplankton or

attached algae.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Siganidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 15

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Siganus_rivulatus/


Common Name: South American lungfish

Scientific Name: Lepidosiren paradoxa


Class: Sarcopterygii Order: no order

Family: Lepidosirenidae

Geography / Habitat: Lepidosiren paradoxa is found in the neotropics of South America,

including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, and

Venezuela.

Life Strategy: Lepidosiren paradoxa is a solitary species. They live by themselves in

burrows that they construct in swamps or lakes (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). They are mostly

inactive, laying in the muddy or shallow water close to the surface in order to breathe.

Other behaviors, such as social structures and interaction with other species are largely

unknown due to the lack of research on this species.

Food / Feed Strategy: Lepidosiren paradoxa eat a variety of food items including some bony

fish, algae and weeds, terrestrial plants (stems), shrimp, insects, clams, and snails (Berra,

2001). They are primarily carnivorous. Juveniles, which are strictly aquatic, feed on larval

insects and snails.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lepidosiren Paradoxa: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/






Common Name: Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes

Scientific Name: Acanthuridae




Geography / Habitat: Acanthurids are exclusively marine-dwelling and can be found in

all tropical and subtropical seas but are absent from the Mediterranean.

Life Strategy: A key behavior in acanthurids is intraspecific competition between males

when defending harems or territory. Males circle each other warily with scalpels pointed

towards the opposing male during combat. As discussed above, acanthurids are organized

in a wide variety of social systems at different times. They may be found in monogamous

pairs, small foraging units, harems, or enormous spawning or feeding groups. During

feeding, hordes of acanthurids descend on the reef so that attempts by bottom-dwellers to

defend their territory are thwarted.

Food / Feed Strategy: Acanthurids have small mouths and incisor-like, lobate teeth used to

probe the reef for small animals (zooplankton) and plants. Acanthurids are diurnal fishes,

seeking cover at night, and most are herbivorous except one genus, Naso (unicornfish),

which is planktivorous. Some herbivorous species may have heavy-walled gizzard-like

stomachs as they pick up large quantities of coral and sand when feeding on short algal

growths on the sea bottom.




Citation: Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Acanthuridae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web.

15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Naso/


Common Name: Lemon sailfin





Geography / Habitat: Yellow tangs, Zebrasoma flavescens, are reef fish found in the waters

west of Hawaii and east of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. They mainly live off the coast of

Hawaii, but are also found in the more western ranges of their habitat, including the




small, loose groups. These groups sometimes contain other species of fish, like sailfin tang.

Yellow tangs are diurnal. During the day, tangs move from place to place, grazing on algae;

at night, they generally rest alone in coral reef crevices.



amount of their time grazing either alone or in groups. A large portion of their diet consists

of uncalcified and filamentous algae that grows on coral reefs. In addition to smaller types

of algae, yellow tangs feed on macroalgae, such as seaweed. Yellow tangs will also eat some

types of zooplankton.





n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.



Common Name: Bandang

Scientific Name: Chanos chanos


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gonorynchiformes

Family: Chanidae

Geography / Habitat: Milkfish are native to regions in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Their range spans from the east coast of Africa and Madagascar to the coasts of India and

Southeast Asia around Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, northward to the

southern tip of Japan, and eastward into the Pacific Islands.

Life Strategy: The behavior of milkfish is still one of the areas that has yet to be extensively

studied. Large schools of milkfish have been seen in nearshore waters with well-developed

reefs and in coastal lagoons, suggesting that they are social.

Food / Feed Strategy: Milkfish feed on a variety of foods depending on the type of

environment. As larvae they feed on zooplankton. As they develop into juveniles they start

to feed on benthic items. The most common food items for juveniles are cynobacteria,

diatoms, detritus, green algae, and invertebrates such as small crustaceans and worms.

Adults feed on similar items, and on planktonic and nektonic prey such as clupeid juveniles.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Chanos Chanos: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Clupeidae/


Common Name: Anchovies

Scientific Name: Engraulis mordax



Family: Engraulidae

Geography / Habitat: Northern anchovy are found off the west coast of North America,

from Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, Canada, to Cabo San Lucas in Baja

California, Mexico, and in the Gulf of California.

Life Strategy: Northern anchovies create large schools, which aids in antipredator defense

and finding prey. Adult northern anchovies typically attack prey only once and rarely

make a second attempt. Swimming and feeding behavior is dependent on a number of

different factors including temperature, developmental stage, and where they are

distributed in the water column. Northern anchovies perform seasonal migrations, moving

to deeper, offshore waters during winter, and returning to shallow, coastal waters for

spring.

Food / Feed Strategy: Northern anchovies feed upon krill, copepods, and decapod larvae,

and collect food via filter feeding and active predation. When filter feeding, water and

zooplankton pass through its large gaping mouth as it swims. Water passing over the gills

is strained through long, finely-separated gill rakers, which collect particulate organic

matter, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. Apart from nonselective filter feeding, northern

anchovies have also been observed 'pecking' at larger prey.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Engraulis Mordax: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Euphausiacea/



Common Name: Albacor0065

Scientific Name: Thunnus alalunga



Family: Scombridae

Geography / Habitat: Albacore reside in the subtropical regions of the North Pacific

Ocean, Indian Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea. In the North Pacific,

albacore are distributed throughout a region from 10 to 50 degrees north latitude, with

migration towards the tropical waters during spring and summer spawning months.

Albacore occupy similar latitudes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Life Strategy: Albacore tuna are highly migratory and move with current systems during

seasonal water movements. Albacore travel in large schools of mixed species that

include skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna. These schools are usually formed

round floating objects such as sargassum weeds.

Food / Feed Strategy: The primary diet of albacore includes pacific saury, northern

anchovy, crustacean zooplankton, gonatid squid, and Japanese anchovy. Albacore are

opportunistic piscivores and their diet varies seasonally depending on location. Anchovy

typically constitutes up to 96% of the stomach contents of albacore at any given time.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Thunnus Alalunga: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Thunnus_alalunga/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Katsuwonus_pelamis/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Thunnus_albacares/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Thunnus_maccoyii/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cololabis_saira/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Engraulis_mordax/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Engraulis_mordax/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Berryteuthis_anonychus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Engraulis_japonicus/




Common Name: False skunk striped clown

Scientific Name: Amphiprion perideraion




Geography / Habitat: Amphiprion perideraion are distributed throughout tropical regions

in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Their range includes the Gulf of Thailand, Cocos

Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. In the Indo-Australian

Archipelago in the Pacific, they are found from Samoa and Tongo, north to the Ryukyu

Islands, Fiji, and Micronesia, extending southward to the Great Barrier Reef and New

Caledonia.

Life Strategy: Amphiprion perideraion live in small social groups made up of a dominant

female and male, and accessory, non-reproductive males. They are sedentary as adults,

remaining within several meters of their host anemone. Juvenile fish rub against their host

anemone in order to develop immunity to the anemone toxin. After an immunity is built

up, A. perideraion live in the anemone as a source of protection from predators. Anemone

fish are active during the day.

Food / Feed Strategy: A. perideraion use suction feeding. The maxilla pushes the premaxilla

forward, which causes an area of low pressure inside the mouth, resulting in suction.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Amphiprion Perideraion: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amphiprion_perideraion/





Common Name: Bluntnose sevengill shark

Scientific Name: Notorynchus cepedianus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Hexanchiformes

Family: Hexanchidae

Geography / Habitat: With the exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean and the

Mediterranean Sea, broadnose sevengill sharks can be found in all oceans. The distribution

extends from Southern Brazil to Northern Argentina in the Southwestern region of the

Atlantic Ocean, from Nambia to South Africa in the Southeastern region of the Atlantic

Ocean, from Southern Japan to New Zealand in the Western Pacific zone, and from

Canada to Chile in the Eastern Pacific Region.

Life Strategy: Little is known about the migratory behaviors of N. cepedianus. They seem

to associate in groups with other individuals of the same sex and similar size. Their

movements in bays seems to be correlated with tides. In the spring and summer seasons, N.

cepedianus move into bays and estuaries to mate and give birth. They leave in the fall.

Food / Feed Strategy: An opportunistic predator, N. cepedianus feeds on many prey

including sharks, rays, chimeras, dolphins, porpoises, seals, bony fish such

as salmon, sturgeon, herring, anchovies and mammalian carrion, including rats and

humans. N. cepedianus has many adaptations and tactics to catch prey. They hunt in

groups and ambush prey by sneaking up on them and attacking at high speed.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Notorynchus Cepedianus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notorynchus_cepedianus/




http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chondrichthyes/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Delphinidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Phocoenidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Phocidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salmonidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acipenseridae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Clupeiformes/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rodentia/



Common Name: Convict surgeon

Scientific Name: Acanthurus triostegus




Geography / Habitat: Convict tangs are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, as well

as the eastern Pacific Ocean from the lower Gulf of California to Panama. They are also

known as convict surgeonfish or Manini.

Life Strategy: Convict tangs are often found in schools (large and small) but may also be

found individually. While less territorial than other tangs, tank size is still an important

consideration for those keeping this species. Convict tangs have been observed in the wild

exhibiting tonic immobility (death feigning).

Food / Feed Strategy: Convict tangs are herbivores, grazing on algae found on rocks and

corals. Adaptations to their algivorous diet include mouths that are slightly downwardly-

directed and flexible, comb-like teeth.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Acanthurus Triostegus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: American shad

Scientific Name: Alosa sapidissima



Family: Clupeidae

Geography / Habitat: American shad, Alosa sapidissima, are restricted to temperate

climates and spend the majority of their life in coastal areas of the Atlantic or Pacific

Ocean. During spawning season, American shad travel to the rivers of the United States,

Canada, and Mexico to lay their eggs. American shad are native to the Atlantic Ocean

ranging from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the St. Lawrence River in the north to areas

of coastal central Florida in the south.

Life Strategy: American shad are social animals that swim in schools. As juveniles travel

toward the ocrean, they avoid larger species of fish which may prey on them. As they grow

larger and reach the ocean, American shad live in closer proximity to other fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: Juvenile American shad are omnivores with a diet consisting of

mostly zooplankton and insect larvae. Juveniles eat more once they have left spawning

areas. As they get older, American shad broaden their diet to include small fish,

crustaceans, plankton, worms, and occasionally fish eggs. During migration in the late

months of winter, American shad eat very little food if any. However, as water

temperatures increase in spring, their diet returns to normal.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Alosa Sapidissima: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_sapidissima/


Common Name: Atlantic bluefin tuna

Scientific Name: Thunnus thynnus



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

Life Strategy: Bluefin tuna display schooling behavior based on size not species. It is not

uncommon to see many different species of similarly sized tuna in a school together.

Schools migrate north during summer months along the coast of Japan and the west coast

of the United States. Trans Pacific migrations have been observed. Bluefin tuna have been

known to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 60 days. Recent tagging data has shown that

individual bluefin tuna frequently make several migrations from the eastern Atlantic to the

western Atlantic and back again during the course of a year.

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. Very little feeding

occurs during spawning season.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Thunnus Thynnus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Combtooth blennies

Scientific Name: Blenniidae



Family: Blenniidae

Geography / Habitat: Blennies can be found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, in

tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters throughout the world.

Life Strategy: Blennies tend to be secretive, remaining near the bottom and hiding their

eggs in crevices. Some hide in holes and dart out at their prey. Blennies may eat

invertebrates or algae, or survive by nipping the skin, scales, or fins of other fish. Some

blennies, known as “rock-hoppers,” are able to leap out of the water to cross the rocks

between pools. A number of blenniids engage in mimicry. One saber-toothed

blenny, Aspidontus taeniatus, mimics the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus. The blenny is

able to approach and take a nip out of large fish that are accustomed to being cleaned by

the nearly identical-looking wrasse.

Food / Feed Strategy: Primarily bottom-dwellers, blennies tend to feed on other benthic

organisms, both algae and invertebrates. Some are planktivores, some carnivores; others

scrape algae off coral and rocks and in the process may be feeding on small organisms that

live in association with the algae. Some blennies nip pieces of skin, scales, or fins from

larger fish.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Blenniidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 15

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aspidontus_taeniatus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Labroides_dimidiatus/


Common Name: Mackerels, tunas, bonitos

Scientific Name: Scombridae



Family: Scombridae

Geography / Habitat: Tunas, mackerels, and bonitos can be found worldwide in tropical

and subtropical seas, with many species traveling periodically into cool temperate waters.

Life Strategy: Most scombrids are schooling fishes, but some can be found singly. They

follow a nomadic lifestyle, sometimes making migrations of huge distances. For some

groups, migrations are seasonal and may be determined by water temperature. Scombrids

are continuous swimmers, and tunas in particular have a unique, efficient swimming style

(called thunniform), in which the body remains stiff while the thin tail oscillates quickly.

Some species of bonito (in the genus Sarda) habitually leap clear of the water when

pursuing prey.

Food / Feed Strategy: Scombrids are active predators that feed on a wide range of

organisms. The diet of a single species may include crabs, shrimps, squids, crustaceans, the

larvae of fishes and invertebrates, and fishes several feet long. Some smaller species strain

zooplankton through their gill rakers. Tunas feed on a variety of mid-water and surface

fishes, with mackerel providing a favorite meal.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Scombridae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 15

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sarda/


Common Name: Blunt-head shark

Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes

Family: Carcharhinidae

Geography / Habitat: The whitetip reef shark in found in both the Indian and Pacific

oceans. They exist as far west as the coasts of South Africa and Sri Lanka in the Indian

Ocean and can be seen as far east as the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama in the Pacific

Ocean. They are most prominent in the Indo-Pacific seas and around the southern coast of

the Indian sub-continent. Fossils have been found in North Carolina from the Miocene

epoch indicating that the shark existed in the Atlantic Ocean several million years ago;

however they not currently found in the Atlantic Ocean.

Life Strategy: The whitetip reef shark is a docile, non-aggressive shark. It has the ability to

pump water across its gills without moving forward, so it can sit motionless on the sea

floor. However the shark prefers the safety and seclusion of caves. They will return to the

same cave day after day for several months. Whitetip reef sharks remain in a relatively

small area throughout their life. The longest recorded travel over the coarse of a year by an

individual is 3 km.

Food / Feed Strategy: Despite the docile nature of this shark during the day, during feeding

at night they become very aggressive. It will thrash through coral reefs looking for food.

The whitetip reef shark usually hunts alone but will work with other sharks to pursue prey

throughout the coral reefs.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Triaenodon Obesus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Gold stripe clown

Scientific Name: Premnas biaculeatus




Geography / Habitat: Spinecheek anemonefish, Premnas biaculeatus, are found in the

Indo-West Pacific, including the coasts of India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia,

Philippines, New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and northern

Queensland.

Life Strategy: Spinecheek anemonefish have a social hierarchy in which fish that occupy

the same patch of anemones are ordered in status by size. Generally there is a breeding

pair and then 0 to 4 non-breeders. The largest is the female of the group (highest rank),

followed by the largest male, who is part of the breeding pair. In the case of the death of the

female, the second largest changes from male to female.

Food / Feed Strategy: Spinecheek anemonefish have a diet rich in copepods and planktonic,

larval tunicates. They also eat other kinds of plankton and algae.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Premnas Biaculeatus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Premnas_biaculeatus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Urochordata/


Common Name: Arctic bonito

Scientific Name: Katsuwonus pelamis



Family: Scombridae

Geography / Habitat: Skipjack tuna, 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.

Life Strategy: Skipjack tuna are schooling migratory fishes (Collette and Nauen 1983).

They tend to school with each other, other tuna, whales or sharks. They also tend to shoal

under objects floating on the surface of the water (World Wide Fund For Nature 1996).

Skipjacks are thought to have a north to south migratory seasonal pattern but there is still

some question as to whether or not these tuna migrate with a purpose or use advective

movements (Gauldie and Sharp 1996).

Food / Feed Strategy: Katsuwonus pelamis 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 (Collette and Nauen 1983). Blackburn and Serventy (1981) found that the major

food items in stomachs of skipjacks in Australian waters were euphausids, with various

fishes and squid making up a smaller percentage of the stomach contents. Ankenbrandt

(1985) also studied the food habits of skipjack tuna.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Katsuwonus Pelamis: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.




Common Name: American pollack

Scientific Name: Pollachius virens


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gadiformes

Family: Gadidae

Geography / Habitat: Pollachius virens occurs on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the

western Atlantic, their distribution is centered between Cape Cod and the Strait of Canso,

while in the eastern Atlantic they are mainly found around Iceland, in the North Sea, and

off the northern coast of Norway (Steele 1963). Specimens have been found as far south as

North Carolina (Coles 1926), although their abundance is very low at the southern edge of

their range.

Life Strategy: Pollachius virens occurs on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the western

Atlantic, their distribution is centered between Cape Cod and the Strait of Canso, while in

the eastern Atlantic they are mainly found around Iceland, in the North Sea, and off the

northern coast of Norway (Steele 1963). Specimens have been found as far south as North

Carolina (Coles 1926), although their abundance is very low at the southern edge of their

range.

Food / Feed Strategy: Food sources differ between life history stages. Larval pollock subsist

initially on yolk contained in egg sacks. Small larvae consume larval copepods, while larger

larvae consume adult copepods (Steele 1963). Juvenile pollock subsist mainly on

crustaceans, particularly the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica, and to a lesser degree

on fish and mollusks.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pollachius Virens: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pollachius_virens/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pollachius_virens/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Meganyctiphanes_norvegica/

Title: Freshwater Fishes Species #: 51

Common Name: Freshwater drum

Scientific Name: Aplodinotus grunniens



Family: Sciaenidae

Geography / Habitat: Freshwater drum are the only members of the

family Sciaenidae that inhabit freshwater. They have a vast distribution range that extends

from as far north as the Hudson Bay to their extreme southern range in the Rio

Usumacinata Basin of Guatemala. They are found as far east as the western banks of the

Appalachian Mountain range in the eastern U.S. and extending as far west as Texas,

Oklahoma and Kansas. They are considered to be one of the most wide-ranging fish species

in North America.

Life Strategy: Freshwater drum congregate in large schools to feed and breed. They are

primarily active in feeding at night.

Food / Feed Strategy: Freshwater drum feed on prey at all hours of the night. They peruse

the bottom in schools in search of many different items. They generally root around and

move rocks and other substrates to flush their prey. Adults feed primarily on aquatic

insects such as mayflies, small fish (in particular shad (Alosa) and immature drum) and

mollusks. During the early larval stage freshwater drum feed primarily on the larval stages

of other fishes. After reaching 12 mm they begin to feed on zooplankton.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Aplodinotus Grunniens: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aplodinotus_grunniens/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sciaenidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa/


Common Name: Longtail knifefish

Scientific Name: Longtail knifefish


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gymnotiformes

Family: Sternopygidae

Geography / Habitat: Sternopygus macrurus occurs in many freshwater bodies in South

America. It is known to inhabit the area from the Magdalena River to the Sao Francisco

River and western Ecuador. It is also found in the Catatumbo River and the Amazon in

Peru.

Life Strategy: After four days, the Sternopygus macrurus embryos hatch from the eggs.

Seven days later, the larvae make their first feeding. The fish reaches sexual maturity at

the age of one year. Mature males are territorial. The species is considered harmless to

humans.

Food / Feed Strategy: Sternopygus macrurus is a predator of small invertebrates. Its diet is

mainly composed of aquatic insect larvae.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Sternopygus Macrurus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sternopygus_macrurus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sternopygus_macrurus/




Common Name: Sleepers

Scientific Name: Eleotridae



Family: Eleotridae

Geography / Habitat: Eleotrids can be found worldwide between the 40th parallels

(tropical and subtropical regions), reaching farther south in New Zealand. They occur on

five continents and are common in the islands of the Indo-Pacific.

Life Strategy: Eleotrids earned their common name, “sleeper,” for their habit of remaining

still on the bottom or positioned near an object in the water while they wait for prey. When

chasing prey, however, they can perform very quick movements. Some, such

as Hypseleotris klunzingeri, form dense schools in midwater. Many eleotrids occupy

habitats that can become low in oxygen (hypoxic), and some can breathe air through the

skin on the front of the head. When Dormitator latifrons encounters hypoxic waters, oxygen

begins to fill the gas bladder and the top surface of the head begins to fill with a thick bed

of capillaries.

Food / Feed Strategy: Eleotrids are carnivores that feed on crustaceans and other benthic

invertebrates, small fishes, and insects. Many species pass through a marine larval stage

during which they feed on plankton.


Swim / Locomotion Style: subcaragiforn


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Eleotridae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 18

Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Eleotridae/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hypseleotris_klunzingeri/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dormitator_latifrons/


Common Name: Gobies




Family: Gobiidae





One species, Neogobius melanostomus, a native of the Black and Caspian Seas, was

introduced into one of the Great Lakes in North America around 1990 and has since

spread into all five. Between 1960 and 1963 two marine gobies native to Japan, Korea, and

China had established populations along the California coastline and by 1980 they were

established in several parts of Australia.





Pheromones are thought to play a pivotal role in this recognition. The various forms of

social hierarchies found in gobies are discussed in Reproduction above. Some gobies engage

in symbiotic relationships with sponges, branched corals, or other fishes in the form of

cleaners Gobiosoma.




formaninferans, sponges, small fishes, and eggs of various invertebrates and fishes. Many

gobies are quite selective in their feeding habits, favoring an individual prey item, such as a

minute algae or small invertebrate. Others have evolved unusual adaptations to allowing

feeding in habitats formerly off-limits to fish.





Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gobiidae/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Neogobius_melanostomus/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gobiosoma/


Common Name: Alligator gar

Scientific Name: Atractosteus spatula


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Lepisosteiformes

Family: Lepisosteidae

Geography / Habitat: Atractosteus spatula 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.

Life Strategy: Little is known about alligator gar behavior. They are not known to be

extensively social or to migrate.

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.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Atractosteus Spatula: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Atractosteus_spatula/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Atractosteus_spatula/


Common Name: Stonecat

Scientific Name: Noturus flavus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes

Family: Ictaluridae

Geography / Habitat: Stonecats (Noturus flavus) are native to the Neartic region. They

occur throughout the upper Mississippi Basin, much of the Great Lakes drainage, and in

the Hudson Bay drainage in the Red River. Their range extends north into some Canadian

provinces such as Ontario and Alberta.

Life Strategy: Both adult and juvenile stonecats exhibit nocturnal behavior. They spend

their days under rocks and woody structure where it is dark. They come out at night to

feed in the shallows.

Food / Feed Strategy: Stonecats are primarily invertivores. The young will feed upon the

larvae of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera) caddisflies (Trichoptera), and

midges (Chironomidae). Adult stonecats will feed on mainly mayfly larvae and crayfish

(Astacoidea), but they will also take small darters and minnows.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Noturus Flavus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Noturus_flavus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Noturus_flavus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ephemeroptera/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Trichoptera/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Astacoidea/


Common Name: American gizzard shad

Scientific Name: Dorosoma cepedianum



Family: Clupeidae

Geography / Habitat: Dorosoma cepedianum thrives in rivers, streams, reservoirs and

lakes in the mid to eastern region of the United States and the middle and south of Canada

around the Great Lakes. It can also be found all the way down to central Mexico and

Florida.

Life Strategy: During the first year of D. cepedianum's life, the juveniles live in a school

together, making the shad more susceptible to larger prey. After this year, the group

separates and live solitary lives until it is spawning season again. This fish tends to migrate

towards brackish waters sometimes, but is not nomadic for the most part. It will, however,

move according to environmental conditions. Also, throughout its life, D. cepedianum is

nocturnal. As an adult, there are not a lot of predators of D. cepedianum, but there are bird

predators and larger fish predators of the larval and juvenile stage gizzard shad.

Food / Feed Strategy: An adult D. cepedianum is primarily an omnivore. It is a filter feeder

using the 190 rakers on the first gill arch's lower limb. It feeds mostly on phytoplankton

and zooplankton, such as perphyton, chrysophyta, and rotifera. Since this fish filters the

surrounding water and sediment for food, it also ingests and digests detritus. The substance

on the freshwater bed is known as ausfwulchs assemblage, which is what gizzard shad feed

on. Sediment and sand are also ingested by the gizzard shad that helps it to digest food in

its muscular gizzard.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Dorosoma Cepedianum: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dorosoma_cepedianum/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dorosoma_cepedianum/






Common Name: American shad

Scientific Name: Alosa sapidissima



Family: Clupeidae

Geography / Habitat: American shad, Alosa sapidissima, are restricted to temperate

climates and spend the majority of their life in coastal areas of the Atlantic or Pacific

Ocean. During spawning season, American shad travel to the rivers of the United States,

Canada, and Mexico to lay their eggs. American shad are native to the Atlantic Ocean

ranging from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the St. Lawrence River in the north to areas

of coastal central Florida in the south. In the late 1800's, humans introduced American

shad to the Pacific Ocean. Today, American shad can be found as far north as Cook Inlet,

Alaska and the Kamchatka Peninsula and south to Baja California, Mexico.

Life Strategy: American shad are social animals that swim in schools. As juveniles travel

toward the ocrean, they avoid larger species of fish which may prey on them. As they grow

larger and reach the ocean, American shad live in closer proximity to other fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: Juvenile American shad are omnivores with a diet consisting of

mostly zooplankton and insect larvae. Juveniles eat more once they have left spawning

areas. As they get older, American shad broaden their diet to include small fish,

crustaceans, plankton, worms, and occasionally fish eggs. During migration in the late

months of winter, American shad eat very little food if any. However, as water

temperatures increase in spring, their diet returns to normal.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Alosa Sapidissima: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_sapidissima/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_sapidissima/


Common Name: American black bass

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides



Family: Centrarchidae

Geography / Habitat: Micropterus salmoides 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. Since the beginning of the twentieth century

largemouth bass have been introduced successfully all over the world.

Life Strategy: In the morning, largemouth bass tend to be very mobile and remain in deep

waters (>2.5 m). In the afternoon, bass are sedentary and are usually found near a larger

structure in deeper water. As the sun goes down largemouth bass become very mobile and

move into shallow water. They remain active throughout the night with a slight decrease in

mobility. Movement of bass usually correlates to movement of prey species. The home

ranges of largemouth bass are relatively small and overlap with each other.

Food / Feed Strategy: Immature Micropterus salmoides feed on zooplankton and

aquatic insects. As they grow their diet shifts to crayfish and other fish species. Sunfish are

the food of choice for most adult largemouth bass.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Micropterus Salmoides: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Micropterus_salmoides/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Micropterus_salmoides/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Insecta/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Astacoidea/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis/


Common Name: Bass

Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu




Geography / Habitat: The native range of Micropterus dolomieu encompasses the Great

Lakes and the St. Lawrence seaway drainages from southern Quebec and New Hampshire

to North Dakota, and the Mississippi River drainage as far south as Alabama (Page and

Burr, 1998). It shares most of its range with the largemouth bass, Micropterus

salmoides (Near et al., 2003). Beginning in 1873 with introduction to Belgium, the

smallmouth bass has been introduced to South Africa, Scandinavia, the British Isles,

France, Germany, The Czech Republic, Mexico, Belize, Austria, Slovakia, Vietnam, Guam,

Fiji, and Hawaii.

Life Strategy: Smallmouth bass, like other black basses, may congregate around structural

elements such as fallen logs or other large debris.

Food / Feed Strategy: Fry and juvenile diets consist primarily of zooplankton and insect

larvae. Adults have a more diverse palate, subsisting on such varied foods as crayfish,

amphibians, insects, and other fish. Adults also cannibalize young of other parents.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Micropterus Dolomieu: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Micropterus_dolomieu/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Micropterus_dolomieu/



http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Micropterus/


Common Name: American eel

Scientific Name: Anguilla rostrata



Family: Anguillidae

Geography / Habitat: Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur) is a catadromous species that spawns in

the Atlantic Ocean and ascends streams and rivers in North and South America. Found in

Atlantic, Great Lakes, Mississippi, the Gulf Basin, and south to South America. This

species is more common near the sea rather than inland streams and lakes.

Life Strategy: The catadromous behavior of A. rostrata leads to a diverse range of

behaviors linked to the life cycle stage of the animal. The leptocephalus larvae drift toward

coastal waters of North America for up to 18 months, developing into more avid

carnivorous elvers upon reaching the coastal estuarine waters. All stages beyond the

leptocephalus are voracious feeders, and aggressive swimmers, primarily active at night. A.

rostrata exudes a prominent layer of slime over its entire body, making capture by hand

very difficult. Large eels will actively bite with their fully toothed jaws when caught on

hook and line. A. rostrata is capable of breathing through its skin along with its gills, and

can endure several hours outside of water

Food / Feed Strategy: Feeding habits of A. rostrata vary with level of maturity. The

leptocephalus is planktivorous as it drifts to coastal waters and develops into an elver,

which feeds on aquatic insects, small crustaceans, and dead fish. Yellow and Silver eels are

primarily nocturnal carnivorous feeders, consuming insects, crustaceans, clams, worms,

fish and frogs. Eels at this stage will also eat dead animal matter. Adult eels use rotational

feeding to tear portions from prey by causing a twist in their bodies and spinning to

generate force to remove pieces of food




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Anguilla Rostrata: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilla_rostrata/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilla_rostrata/







Common Name: Australian bass

Scientific Name: Macquaria australasica



Family: Percichthyidae

Geography / Habitat: Macquaria australasica is only found in Australia. (Paxton et. al.,

1989). In it's native range, this species occurs in highest abundance in the Murray-Darling

basin in New South Wales. Macquaria australasica was introduced in the Wannon, Barwon,

and Yarra Rivers in Victoria, Australia, as well as the Nepean and Shoalhaven Rivers, in

New South Wales. Within these areas, there are three different population areas that this

species inhabits including; west of the Great Dividing Range, the Hawkesbury River, and

the lower Shoalhaven River.

Life Strategy: Macquarie perch are schooling fish. They make small, seasonal migrations

upstream to spawning sites.

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.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Macquaria Australasica: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macquaria_australasica/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macquaria_australasica/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macquaria_australasica/


Common Name: African catfish

Scientific Name: Clarias gariepinus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: chordata


Family: Clariidae

Geography / Habitat: North African catfish have been widely introduced around the

world. They are found as far south as South Africa and north into northern Africa. They

have also been introduced in Europe, the Middle East, and in parts of Asia. They are

potamodromous, which means they migrate within streams and rivers.

Life Strategy: North African catfish are relatively poor swimmers that spends most of the

time on the bottom of lakes and rivers. They are, however, able to move across land to

another water source during damp conditions. They simply extend their strong pectoral

fins and spines and begin crawling through shallow pathways.

Food / Feed Strategy: North African catfish are omnivores. They are not specific in their

food requirements. They are known to feed on insects, plankton, snails, crabs, shrimp, and

other invertebrates. They are also capable of eating dead

animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, other fishes, eggs, and plant matter

such as fruit and seeds. Because they are mobile on land, they are able to prey on

terrestrial organisms. This species may also hunt in packs on occasion by herding and

trapping smaller fish. They are also refered to as sharptooth catfish because of fine, pointed

bands of teeth.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Clarias Gariepinus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Clarias_gariepinus/>.





http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aves/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Reptilia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amphibia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mammalia/


Common Name: Black-head minnow

Scientific Name: Pimephales promelas


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: Fathead minnows are native to the Nearctic region. The northern

limits of their geographic ranges extends from Quebec to Alberta and Northwest

Territories, Canada. Their southern limites of their geographic range extends as far

southward as Alabama, Texas, and New Mexico. Fathead minnows are most abundant in

the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains. Bait-bucket introductions have

also occurred in the Mobile Bay drainage, Colorado River drainage, Alabama, Arizona,

New Mexico, and Mexico. They are generally absent in mountainous regions as well as on

the Atlantic Slope of Delaware River. They have also been introduced in Europe.

Life Strategy: Fathead minnows are strictly aquatic and stay within schools of familiar

individuals, which allows them to act as a more cooperative, cohesive unit in comparison to

schools with unfamiliar individuals. Chemical cues allow minnows to discriminate between

familiar and unfamiliar individuals and may also play a significant role in courtship

behaviors and the degree to which reproduction is successful.

Food / Feed Strategy: Fathead minnows are opportunistic omnivores that can be

characterized as benthic filter feeders, sifting through mud and silt in order to find food.

Freshwater sediments often contain a large abundance of algae andprotozoans, which

represent a significant proportion of the fathead minnow diet. Secondary prey items

include diatoms, filamentous algae, small crustaceans, and insect larvae. In addition, brook

sticklebacks represent one of few species also common within the Prairie Pothole Region

that also prey heavily on zooplankton, placing a high probability of interspecific

competition between brook sticklebacks and fathead minnows.



Mouth Position: termainal

Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pimephales Promelas: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pimephales_promelas/>.


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Culaea_inconstans/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Culaea_inconstans/


Common Name: Black crappie

Scientific Name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus




Geography / Habitat: The native range of Pomoxis nigromaculatus is the freshwaters of

central and eastern North America. It has further been introduced to freshwater lakes of

the Pacific coast and Canada due to its popularity as a sport-fish and its durability.

Life Strategy: Pomoxis nigromaculatus are schooling fish. During the day, they can be

found in deep water around fallen trees, weed beds, and other submerged structure. They

move toward shore to feed several times a day, mainly at dusk and dawn. During the

spawning period, they concentrate in shallow, warm water. In the winter, black crappie do

not go into semi-hibernation, however they may move to deeper water.

Food / Feed Strategy: As a juvenile, Pomoxis nigromaculatus feeds mainly on microscopic

prey such as Cyclops, Cladocera, and Daphnia. As an adult, Pomoxis nigromaculatus is a

mid-water omnivore that feeds in vegetation and open water. Its numerous gill rakers allow

it to consume planktonic crustaceans; however aquatic insects, minnows, and fingerlings of

other species comprise its main diet. Dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight are peak times for

black crappie feeding.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pomoxis Nigromaculatus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomoxis_nigromaculatus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomoxis_nigromaculatus/





Common Name: Three-lined pencilfish

Scientific Name: Nannostomus trifasciatus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes

Family: Lebiasinidae

Geography / Habitat: Nannostomus trifasciatus is a freshwater fish native to Guyana, the

Rio Negro, and the middle portion of the Amazon River.

Life Strategy: This species is active during the day, resting at night in the upper layers of

the water. It swims with its body in a horizontal position. The fact that its daytime

coloration may be an aposematic signal to members of its own species suggests that it may

exhibit some degree of territoriality or dominance hierarchy in the wild. N. trifasciatus may

also be migratory, as it moves from the main river channels to flooded forest during the

rainy season.

Food / Feed Strategy: N. trifasciatus spends much of its time near the water surface, where

it feeds primarily on insects. It has also been reported to eat detritus and algae. In

captivity, it will eat just about any type of standard fish food.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Nannostomus Trifasciatus: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nannostomus_trifasciatus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nannostomus_trifasciatus/




Common Name: Black mullet

Scientific Name: Mugil cephalus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Mugiliformes

Family: Mugilidae

Geography / Habitat: Mugil cephalus occurs in the coastal waters of the tropical and

subtropical zones of all seas. Striped mullet are found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from

Nova Scotia, Canada south to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. They are absent in the

Bahamas and the Caribbean Sea. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, striped mullet occur from

the Bay of Biscay (France) to South Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Black

Sea. The eastern Pacific Ocean range includes southern California south to Chile

Life Strategy: Striped mullet tend to school for protection from predators in the daylight

hours, although they feed around the clock (Texas Parks 2005). Striped mullet leap out of

the water frequently. Biologists aren't sure why these fish leap so often, but it could be to

avoid predators. Another possibility is that the fish spend much of their time in areas that

are low in dissolved oxygen. They may quickly exit the water in order to clear their gills

and be exposed to higher levels of oxygen

Food / Feed Strategy: Mullet are diurnal feeders, consuming mainly zooplankton, dead

plant matter, and detritus. Mullet have thick-walled gizzard-like segments in their stomach

along with a long gastrointestinal tract that enables them to feed on detritus.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Mugil Cephalus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mugil_cephalus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mugil_cephalus/


Common Name: Golden shiner

Scientific Name: Notemigonus crysoleucas



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: Golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas, are widely distributed

throughout North America. Their native range includes the Atlantic drainage basin from

Nova Scotia south to southern Texas, the Great Lakes basin, and the Mississipi River

drainage basin from Alberta Canada, to Wyoming, Montana and Oklahoma.

Life Strategy: Golden shiners are social and are found in groups (schools) thougout life.

These fish feed in the littoral (nearshore) zone within one hour of sunset. As the sun sets,

schools break up and individuals move into open water.

Food / Feed Strategy: Golden shiners are omnivorous and crepuscular planktivores. Their

diet mainly consists of zooplankton, phytoplankton, and microcrustaceans. They pick off

plankton one at at time and generally occupy slower moving waters.

Additionally, Odonata nymphs form a minor portion of their diet.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Notemigonus Crysoleucas: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notemigonus_crysoleucas/>

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notemigonus_crysoleucas/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Odonata/


Common Name: Asian seabass

Scientific Name: Lates calcarifer



Family: Latidae

Geography / Habitat: Lates calcarifer, known as barramundi, barramundi perch, giant sea

perch, or Asian sea bass, is native to coastal areas in the Indian and Western Pacific

Oceans. This includes coastal Australia, Southeast and Eastern Asia, and India.

Life Strategy: Catadromous barramundi populations move seasonally between breeding

and feeding grounds. Immediately after hatching as plankton, Lates calcarifer larvae make

their way from the mouths of estuaries into brackish or freshwater swamps or mangroves

where they are protected from predators. The developing fish tend to stay in the swamps

from February to April, before moving into permanent tidal creeks for another nine

months. After the nine months have past, juvenile barramundi make their way into

freshwater estuaries to further develop (Russel, 1985). Barramundi return to the mouths of

the estuaries to breed (Moore, 1982). Barramundi are found alone or in small groups, they

may school in feeding aggregations when feeding on schools of smaller bait fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: Barramundi are opportunistic predators. They eat microcrustaceans

such as copepods and amphipods as juvenile fish under 40 mm. As larger juveniles they eat

macrocrustaceans like Penaeidae and Palaemonidae. These crustacean prey are found

mainly near the bottom of the water column, so this diet also protects juveniles from most

of their predators, which hunt closer to the water surface. Mollusks are consumed to a

lesser degree.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lates Calcarifer: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lates_calcarifer/>.





http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Palaemonidae/


Common Name: American brook charr

Scientific Name: Salvelinus fontinalis


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes

Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: Brook 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. The fish has been

introduced, very successfully in some areas, into many parts of the world including western

North America, South America, New Zealand, Asia, and many parts of Europe.

Life Strategy: Behavior varies greatly in brook trout depending on their habitat; for

example, some populations in streams draining into marine environments have individuals

that take to living in the marine environment, only returning to the river in order to spawn

(Mills, 1971). Brook trout that take to the sea are called sea-run trout, salters, or coasters

and are considered anadromous, similar to salmon.

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 (Everhart, 1961). In general a brook trout's diet can be likened to a

smorgasbord of organisms with prey ranging from mayflies to salamanders (Wittman,

2001). 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




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Salvelinus Fontinalis: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_fontinalis/>.


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Caudata/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Trichoptera/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Simuliidae/


Common Name: Alewife

Scientific Name: Alosa pseudoharengus



Family: Clupeidae

Geography / Habitat: Alosa pseudoharengus (Wilson, 1811) is an anadromous species,

native to the Atlantic Ocean and the lakes and streams that drain to it from Newfoundland

to North Carolina (Scott and Crossman, 1998). This includes the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the

outer coast of Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy, and the Gulf of Maine (Scott and Scott,

1988). It is also present, although non-native, in all of the Great Lakes (USA), and many

lakes in northern New York. In the Great Lakes, A. pseudoharengus was first caught in

Lake Erie in 1931 off the coast of Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada.

Life Strategy: There is little published research on their social behavior except for

spawning behaviors and feeding patterns. They migrate up streams or to shallow waters to

spawn. They are vertical daily migrators, following plankton populations

Food / Feed Strategy: Little is known about the feeding habits of anadromous alewives.

Adult land-locked fish eat mostly zooplankton, especially larger varieties such

as copepods, cladocerans, mysids, and ostracods. When they grow larger than 11.9 cm, they

feed mostly on the benthic amphipod Pontoporeia. Some spawning adults eat small fish or

fish eggs when in shallow waters. Larval alewives eat mainly cladocerans and copepods.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Alosa Pseudoharengus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_pseudoharengus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_pseudoharengus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_pseudoharengus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ostracoda/


Common Name: Bluntnose minnow

Scientific Name: Pimephales notatus



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: The bluntnose minnow is widely distributed in small and medium-

sized streams in North America. They occur from southern Quebec and Manitoba south to

Louisiana, west to the Mississipi River drainage (but not the Mississippi River itself).

Life Strategy: The maximimum recorded age for a bluntnose minnow is five years. It is

unclear whether this was a captive or wild individual.

Food / Feed Strategy: Bluntnose minnows eat algae, aquatic insect larvae, diatoms, and

small crustaceans called entomostracans. Occasionally they will eat fish eggs or small fish.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pimephales Notatus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pimephales_notatus/>.


Common Name: Lake Sturgeon

Scientific Name: Acipenser fulvescens




Geography / Habitat: Acipenser fulvescens occurs in the freshwaters of North America

from the Hudson Bay through the Mississippi River drainages to Alabama. It is found

along the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River drainage and in large lakes in New York and

Vermont, including Cayuga Lake and Lake Champlain.

Life Strategy: Lake sturgeon are slow moving fish, spending most of their time grubbing on

the bottom for food. They migrate up rivers during spawning season.

Food / Feed Strategy: The name sturgeon in several European languages means "the

stirrer", from the way the fish rummages among the mud for food. It finds its food largely

by touch, using its sensitive barbels. As the lake sturgeon cruises over the bottom, the

sensitivity of the fleshy whiskers trailing in the sand makes up, to some extent, for the fish's

poor eye sight. As soon as the whiskers pass over food, the protrusible mouth drops down

with an elevator-like motion and rapidly sucks in its meal. Acipenser fulvescens are one of

the few fishes to have taste buds on the outside of their mouth. In other fish, they are

normally found on the tongue or inside the mouth. The taste buds of the lake sturgeon

protrude from the toothless mouth and are used to help in the selection of food.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Acipenser Fulvescens: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acipenser_fulvescens/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acipenser_fulvescens/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acipenser_fulvescens/


Common Name: Pirate perch

Scientific Name: Aphredoderus sayanus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Percopsiformes

Family: Aphredoderidae

Geography / Habitat: Aphredoderus sayanus is found only in North America and is

believed to have occupied the Mississippi Valley before the ancestors of most modern-day

fishes had migrated into the region. Today pirate perch are found throughout the lowlands

and surrounding areas of the southeastern Ozarks, in lakes and pools east of the

Mississippi River and as far south as eastern Texas.

Life Strategy: Pirate perch are solitary fish. They are carnivorous, feeding mostly at night.

Indeed, pirate perch got their name from C.C. Abbott, who observed that these fish eat all

other suitably sized fish when confined in an aquarium. Pirate perch appear to have a life

history strategy similar to those of sunfishes, moving into the limnetic zone immediately

after hatching and remaining there for several weeks before returning to the littoral zone

Food / Feed Strategy: This carnivorous fish eats primarily immature aquatic insects, small

crustaceans and sometimes small fish




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Aphredoderus Sayanus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aphredoderus_sayanus/>.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aphredoderus_sayanus/


Common Name: Bleeding heart

Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma



Family: Characidae

Geography / Habitat: Bleeding heart tetras are native to the neotropical region. The

distribution is described as the Upper Amazon River basin. Bleeding heart tetras are found

in the Rio Negro of Brazil as well as other regional rivers. Aquarists have known about this

species since 1943 and they have since become a popular aquarium fish.

Life Strategy: Bleeding heart tetras, in the aquarium environment, do best in small schools

of at least five individuals. Their peaceful demeanor makes an environment composed of

larger groups possible without conflict. There is otherwise very little known about the

behavior of these fish in the wild.

Food / Feed Strategy: In captivity, bleeding heart tetras eat a variety of foods. It is likely

that their wild diet is similar, being made up of small crustaceans, insects, zooplankton,

and other organic matter.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Hyphessobrycon Erythrostigma:


<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hyphessobrycon_erythrostigma/>.


Common Name: Log perch

Scientific Name: Percina caprodes



Family: Percidae

Geography / Habitat: Percina caprodes (logperch) is found in North America as far north

as the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River basin areas to as far

south as Gulf of Mexico drainages. Logperch are found rarely in the Great Plains and

areas west of the Mississippi, but extensively along Atlantic drainages in the United States.

Life Strategy: Logperch, like all darters, are not schooling fish. Instead, logperch can be

found either traveling alone or in small groups (Burkhead, 2005). They are mobile fish,

usually foraging long stretches of river or streambed for food. Logperch have a foraging

behavior that makes them unique, compared to other darters: the ability to use their

conical snouts and heads to flip stones and sand in search of food. Researchers are not sure

how early this foraging behavior develops, but it is present in all juvenile logperches.

Food / Feed Strategy: Juvenile logperch have a diet consisting of rotifers, copepods,

and waterfleas. As they grow, logperch incorporate a greater variety of small aquatic

creatures. They feed on primarily aquatic insects (especially mayfly (Ephemeroptera) and

midge larvae (Chironomidae)), but also young snails, waterfleas, leeches, and fish eggs

(including their own) when available.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Percina Caprodes: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Percina_caprodes/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Percidae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rotifera/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Daphnia/



http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Daphnia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hirudinidae/


Common Name: Piranha

Scientific Name: Pygocentrus nattereri



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.

Life Strategy: little is none about their life strategies.

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.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pygocentrus Nattereri: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pygocentrus_nattereri/









Common Name: False neon tetra

Scientific Name: Paracheirodon simulans



Family: Characidae

Geography / Habitat: Paracheirodon simulans is native to the neotropical region. These

fish, which are commonly called green neon tetras, are found in northwest Brazil to

Colombia in the River Negro, and in Venezuela in the upper Orinoco River basin.

Life Strategy: There is little information on the behavior of P. simulans. They are typically

found in schools of 6 fish or more. These are also thought to be the schools within which

they mate. Small localized migrations may take place in response to changing water levels.

Food / Feed Strategy: Paracheirodon simulans is omnivorous. These fish tend to eat small

live foods such as crustaceans, fish larvae, and insects.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Paracheirodon Simulans: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paracheirodon_simulans/



Title: Freshwater fishes Species #: 79

Common Name: Catfish

Scientific Name: Ictalurus punctatus



Family: Ictaluridae

Geography / Habitat: The native range of Ictalurus punctatus is the Neartic in lower

Canada and throughout the midwest of the United States. Channel catfish have been

introduced in the Palearctic in Cyprus, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain

(Elvira, 2001) as well as Malaysia.

Life Strategy: Ictalurus punctatus are solitary except during mating courtship and

protection of young. They are active during the night, moving around and finding food

after dusk. During the day they will be most likely found in deep water with little activity.

There is no clear cut home range for channel catfish. Like many river fish, channel catfish

will migrate up and down stream.

Food / Feed Strategy: Ictalurus punctatus can be thought of as one large mouth because

there are taste buds located all over their body. The olfactory system is used mostly in

consumption of food. Adult channel catfish, over 45 cm, consume fishes such as yellow

perch and sunfish. The diet of adults consists of snails, algae, snakes, frogs, insects, aquatic

plants, and even birds occasionally. Younger channel catfish are more consistently

omnivorous, eating a large variety of plants and animals.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Ictalurus Punctatus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ictalurus_punctatus/



http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Perca_flavescens/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Perca_flavescens/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Centrarchidae/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anura/


Common Name: Sand Sturgeon

Scientific Name: Scaphirhynchus platorynchus




Geography / Habitat: Shovelnose sturgeons are a freshwater species historically found in

most portions of the Mississippi and Missouri river basins. This area ranges from Montana

south to Louisiana, and from Pennsylvania west to New Mexico. However, shovelnose

sturgeons are no longer found in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and large parts of Kansas,

Kentucky, and Tennessee where they were once abundant. The main cause for the

restriction of range is the construction of dams on many of their native waterways.

Life Strategy: Eggs are deposited on rocky substrates, providing protection for young

shovelnose sturgeons to develop in safety. As the young mature they begin to travel greater

distances away from their natal habitat. Females grow significantly faster than males,

enabling them to travel further earlier.

Food / Feed Strategy: Scaphirhynchus platorynchus are opportunistic feeders, eating mostly

aquatic insects, mussels, worms and crustaceans. Altered stream flow can affect the

sturgeon’s ability to find food and also influences the abundance of prey organisms. The

barbels detect prey, and then the sucker type mouth easily picks up the food organisms.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Scaphirhynchus Platorynchus: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Scaphirhynchus_platorynchus/


Common Name: Alabama Cavefish

Scientific Name: Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Percopsiformes

Family: Amblyopsidae

Geography / Habitat: Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni is a cavefish whose range is limited solely

to Key Cave, Lauderdale County, Alabama, north of the Tennessee River.

Life Strategy: There is little to nothing known about behavior in Alabama cavefish. They

are likely to be active at any time of the day or night since there is no difference between

day and night in these environments.

Food / Feed Strategy: No invasive studies have been done due to the species extremely

endangered status and the fragility of their cave habitat. It is thought that the diet consists

of copepods, isopods, amphipods, and small cavefish. In any case S. poulsoni sits at the top

of a food chain that begins with incident grey bat (Myotis grisescens) droppings, or guano.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Speoplatyrhinus Poulsoni: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Speoplatyrhinus_poulsoni/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Isopoda/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Speoplatyrhinus_poulsoni/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Myotis_grisescens/


Common Name: Baiser

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: Oncorhynchus mykiss 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. There are two forms: freshwater resident

and anadromous. The resident form is commonly called rainbow trout while the

anadromous form is called steelhead.

Life Strategy: Steelhead and rainbow trout are solitary fish, leaving the group of juveniles

once they have hatched from eggs. As adults, they compete with all kinds of trout and

salmon for food and habitat. The largest trout tend to get the best habitat. Adult steelhead

have a remarkable homing instinct and consistently return to their natal stream to spawn.

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.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Oncorhynchus Mykiss: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Oncorhynchus_mykiss/




Common Name: Bloater

Scientific Name: Coregonus hoyi



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: Coregonus hoyi is endemic to the Great Lakes basin of North

America where it inhabited all lakes except Lake Erie. This species was probably

extirpated from Lakes Ontario and Nipigon and is threatened in Lake Michigan and

declining in Lakes Superior and Huron.

Life Strategy: Coregonus hoyi spends daylight hours on or near the bottom, and rise into

the water column to feed at night. Nighttime densities in the water column have been

observed at up to 6.61 fish/m^3. These nocturnal migrations are variable with water

temperature, light levels, and individual size. Migration patterns allow C. hoyi to maximize

growth through increased consumption of Mysis relicta, which also migrates.

Food / Feed Strategy: Coregonus hoyi is primarily a pelagic feeder, with occasional bottom

feeding, but habits and diet appear to be variable between bodies of water. Analysis of

stomach contents revealed primarily Mysis relicta and Pontoporeia affinis, both near

bottom dwelling plankton.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Coregonus Hoyi: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/



http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mysis_relicta/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mysis_relicta/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pontoporeia_affinis/


Common Name: Bull shark

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes

Family: Carcharhinidae

Geography / Habitat: The Bull Shark inhabits coastal waters in tropical and subtropical

seas worldwide.

Life Strategy: The Bull Shark is a solitary species that hunts by itself. Most individuals are

not migratory, however many Bull Sharks in South America have been known to migrate

thousands of miles from the Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean. The largest threat to the

shark is the large number of humans who fish for it commercially. It also is preyed upon by

other large sharks especially in its juvenile stage. One interesting behavior is the Bull

Shark's willingness to enter freshwater areas. The shark has been found far up the

Mississippi and Amazon Rivers and also in Lake Nicaragua.

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. Remains of everything from humans to

hippopotami have been found in Bull Sharks' stomachs.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Carcharhinus Leucas: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: American burbot

Scientific Name: Lota lota



Family: Lotidae

Geography / Habitat: Burbot, Lota lota, are a holarctic species native to the cold fresh

waters of the Nearctic and Palearctic regions found between 40 and 70 degrees North

latitudes.

Life Strategy: Burbot are opportunistic piscivores with a diverse diet. They hide amongst

available refugia in their epibenthic habitat such as rocks and fallen logs, and use ambush

tactics to capture prey (Kahilainen and Lehtonen 2003). They are crepuscular or nocturnal

and seek shallow water to feed. During times of low activity, they congregate in deep holes.

In the winter, these fish migrate upstream and form spawning aggregations.

Food / Feed Strategy: Newly hatched burbot are completely planktivorous, and remain so

even when they are no longer gape limited (Ghan and Sprules 1993). Diet of larval burbot

is dominated by rotifer species for the first two weeks. Diet then shifts to slightly larger

nauplii, changing further during week four to cycloid copepods, daphnia, and

calanoid copepods (Ghan and Sprules 1993). Juveniles have a diet

of molluscs and insect larvae.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lota Lota: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 16

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lota_lota/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mollusca/



Common Name: Gar

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus osseus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Lepisosteiformes

Family: Lepisosteidae

Geography / Habitat: Lepisosteus osseus is widely distributed throughout the eastern

United States. L. osseus can be found along the eastern seaboard from the Delaware River,

N.J. to central Florida and in the upper Midwest in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec and all

of the Great Lakes except Superior. It lives throughout the entire Mississippi River basin

and can be found as far south as the Rio Grande drainages of Texas and Mexico.

Life Strategy: A unique behavior of the longnose gar is its ability to survive in low-oxygen

waters. L. osseus has a highly vascularized swimbladder, which connects to the pharynx by

a pneumatic duct, to breath air. Under normal oxygen levels, both aquatic and aerial

respiration occurs. However, as oxygen becomes limited, L. osseus will close its gill covers

and can survive indefinitely on aerial respiration alone

Food / Feed Strategy: By 10-11 days after hatching, young gar begin feeding on small

crustaceans, such as cladocerans and copepods, and insects, including various dipterans

such as chironomids. L. osseus quickly switch to a diet of primarily fish. Gars are active

night feeders and much of the feeding is surface-oriented




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lepisosteus Osseus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 16

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_osseus/






Common Name: Eel sucker

Scientific Name: Petromyzon marinus


Class: no specific class Order: Petromyzontiformes

Family: Petromyzontidae

Geography / Habitat: Sea lampreys are native to the Atlantic Ocean. Between the months

of March and October, they can be found along the coast of the United States as far north

as Massachusetts and as far south as South Carolina. In October, North American

lampreys migrate south along the Atlantic coast to warmer climates, some travelling as far

south as Florida.

Life Strategy: Sea lampreys are a very motile and live their adult life as parasitic

organisms. Specific behavioral patterns of this species, however, are not well studied.

Although individuals are not known to interact as larvae, adults are predominantly found

in groups or colonies while attached to a host. During spawning, sea lampreys interact

using pheromones. Due to morphological and physiological changes necessary to reach the

spawning phase, including disintegration of the digestive system, sea lampreys cease

feeding when spawning.

Food / Feed Strategy: Newly hatched larval sea lampreys are freshwater filter-feeders that

consume detritus, algae, and other organic material found at river bottoms. Once in a

saline environment (or in the Great Lakes), sea lampreys develop parasitic abilities, attach

themselves to a fish and ingest their blood and skin.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Petromyzon Marinus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Common snook

Scientific Name: centropomus undecimalis



Family: Centropomidae

Geography / Habitat: Common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, range from the coastal

mid-Atlantic regions of the United States through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to

parts of Central and South America. Common snook have been documented as far north as

Pamlico Sound, North Carolina and as far south as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They are

particularly abundant around coastal Florida.

Life Strategy: Common snook, as amphidromous fish, often move between fresh and salt

water throughout their life. Common snook congregate seasonally in saltwater near the

mouths of rivers, inlets, and canals in order to spawn. Common snook are considered social

in that they are often found in groups, especially during times of spawning.

Food / Feed Strategy: Common snook are pelagic feeders. Daily feeding peaks occurrs 2

hours before sunrise and 2 to 3 hours after sunset. Their feeding behavior is affected by the

tidal cycle, and feeding activity noticeably increases with an increase in water flow

following a period of standing flood or ebb tides.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Centropomus Undecimalis: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Centropomus_undecimalis/


Common Name: Marble cichlid

Scientific Name: Astronotus ocellatus



Family: Cichlidae

Geography / Habitat: These fish are found in the Amazon River basin, from the Orinoco

River to the Rio Paraguay, throughout Venezuela, Guyana, and Paraguay.

Life Strategy: In captivity, A. ocellatus is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium

fishes, largely because of its coloring and distinguishing personalities. They are said to be

able to recognize their owners from other people, and can even be trained to perform

simple tricks for food, like jumping out of the water. Astronotus ocellatus, like many

Cichlids, often exhibit changes in color darkness.

Food / Feed Strategy: Although these predators are not at all choosy, they feed mostly on

insect larvae and smaller fish. Their feeding habits require that Oscars have excellent

eyesight. Because of this, they have been the subject of numerous studies concerning

eyesight in fish.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Astronotus Ocellatus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Astronotus_ocellatus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Astronotus_ocellatus/


Common Name: Electric eel

Scientific Name: Electrophorus electricus



Family: Gymnotidae

Geography / Habitat: Electrophorus electricus, more commonly known as 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.

Life Strategy: Although electric eels have the potential to be fairly aggressive animals, they

are not. They really only use their strong electric organ discharges for predation and

defensive purposes. Weak electric organ discharges are used for electrolocation as well as

identification of foreign objects. This is especially important because of their poor eyesight.

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.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Electrophorus Electricus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Electrophorus_electricus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Electrophorus_electricus/


Common Name: Rainbow darter

Scientific Name: Etheostoma caeruleum



Family: Percidae

Geography / Habitat: The rainbow darter is found in North America, throughout the

Great Lakes region and the Ohio River valley extending into northern Alabama and as far

west as Missouri and Arkansas (Kuehne and Barbour, 1983). Distinct populations of

rainbow darters have also been discovered in the tributaries of the lower Mississippi river

in southwest Mississippi and eastern Louisiana.

Life Strategy: There is no life strategies known about Rainbow darters.

Food / Feed Strategy: Rainbow darters feed on a variety of aquatic insect larvae, small

snails, and crayfish. They will also feed on various fish eggs, typically either minnow or

lamprey eggs (Kuehne and Barbour, 1983). Rainbow darters are known to have a special

preference for caddis fly larvae. However, it is important to note that the feeding habits of

rainbow darters differ according to the time of day and also the time of year




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Etheostoma Caeruleum: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Greenside darter

Scientific Name: Etheostoma blennioides



Family: Percidae

Geography / Habitat: Etheostoma blennioides, the greenside darter, is restricted to a few

major watersheds of North America. Its range extends from New York and the Potomac

River drainage west to Kansas and south to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and

Alabama, mostly within the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Etheostoma blennioides is

also found in the Lake St. Clair and Thames River system in Southwestern Ontario,

Canada. Greenside darters are most common in creeks and rivers in east-central North

America.

Life Strategy: Greenside darters lack a swimbladder and are therefore a benthic-dwelling

organism. Fairly reclusive, they spend much of their time hovering directly above the

substrate or hiding in overhanging rock caves.

Food / Feed Strategy: In general, greenside darters feed on immature benthic insects in the

1-6 mm range, although this diet varies with season and prey

availability. Chironomid larvae (midges/flies) are the major prey taxon

consumed, Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Plecoptera (stoneflies) larvae are also common

prey items




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Etheostoma Blennioides: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Etheostoma_blennioides/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Etheostoma_blennioides/



Common Name: Redear

Scientific Name: Lepomis microlophus




Geography / Habitat: Redear sunfish are native to the central and southern United States

and can be found in the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi River drainages, as well

as the Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages. Redear sunfish have been introduced as game

fish throughout the United States, as well as in Morocco, South Africa, Panama, and Puerto

Rico.

Life Strategy: Redear sunfish that share habitat with largemouth bass (Micropterus

salmoides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) are forced to compete for food as fry and

juveniles. They eat insect larvae until their jaws are strong enough to crush the shells of

their primary prey, aquatic snails.

Food / Feed Strategy: Redear sunfish are mainly bottom feeders. Fry stay in benthic waters

and feed on algae and microcrustaceans. Juveniles eat insects, insect larvae, and small

snails. Once their jaws fully develop, usually at about 1 year old, they begin to feed

exclusively on snails. Adults feed on snails, aquatic insects, copepods, and organisms with

hard shells, such as crustaceans.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lepomis Microlophus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.



http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_macrochirus/


Common Name: Banded sculpin

Scientific Name: Cottus carolinae



Family: Cottidae

Geography / Habitat: Cottus carolinae (banded sculpin) is distributed in fourteen states

within the southeastern and midwestern United States. The species occupies upland

streams within the Mississippi River basin from the New River drainage in West Virginia

and Virginia, west to Ozark Mountain drainages in southern Missouri and Kansas, and

from southern Indiana and Illinois, south to northern Arkansas, Alabama, and northeast

Georgia.

Life Strategy: Banded sculpins are primarily nocturnal (NatureServe, 2005). They reside

under rocks during the day and on top of rocks at night. A study conducted along the Little

River of eastern Tennessee illustrated that sculpins moved from beneath rocks to the tops

of rocks at dusk, and they returned under the rocks at dawn.

Food / Feed Strategy: Both adults and immature banded sculpins are invertivores and

piscivores. They are nocturnal feeders and make effective use of their cryptic coloration

when they stalk or ambush prey. Young banded sculpins consume aquatic insect

immatures, including caddisflies (especially hydropsychids), mayflies (Ephemeroptera),

and midge larvae (Chironomidae).




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Cottus Carolinae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cottus_carolinae/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hydropsychoidea/



Common Name: Arawana

Scientific Name: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Osteoglossiformes

Family: Osteoglossidae

Geography / Habitat: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum are native to the Amazon drainage

system, the western Orinoco and the Rupununi and Essequibo systems of the Guianas.

When found in other locations it is because of introduction by man. For example, they have

been introduced in secluded areas of California and Nevada. It is also thought that the fish

have not distributed themselves further up river because they cannot pass through rapids

successfully.

Life Strategy: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum have a unique predatory behavior. They stay close

to shore and wait for prey to swim by. They usually keep lateral with a downed tree, to

hide. Then they attack their prey, which usually involves jumping out of the water, to

either catch large insects, other fish, or small birds in low hanging branches.

Food / Feed Strategy: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum are not picky eaters. In a study of their

stomach contents, the majority of food items included insects and spiders, most of which

were beetles. Also found in the stomachs were crabs, snails, fish, birds, snakes, monkey

feces and plant material.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Osteoglossum Bicirrhosum: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Osteoglossum_bicirrhosum/




Common Name: Green sunfish

Scientific Name: Lepomis cyanellus




Geography / Habitat: Lepomis cyanellus occurs in central North America, from the plains

east of the Rocky Mountain range and west of the Appalachian mountain range, including

northeastern Mexico and southeastern Canada. L. cyanellus have been introduced and

established in a majority of the continental United States, with the exception of Florida and

a few northeastern states.

Life Strategy: Lepomis cyanellus is an aggressive species that outcompetes native species

where they have been introduced. They are mainly solitary, but occur in loose

aggregations, especially in breeding seasons. They are active during the day.

Food / Feed Strategy: Green sunfish are dietary generalists. Green sunfish larvae consume

various types of zooplankton and, as they grow, they expand their diets to include insect

larvae and small snails. As juveniles and adults their diets expand to add small crayfish,

fish eggs, insects, and small fish. It should be noted that, as competition decreases, their

average prey size increases.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lepomis Cyanellus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_cyanellus/




Common Name: Candiru

Scientific Name: Vandellia cirrhosa



Family: Trichomycteridae

Geography / Habitat: The Candiru is native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in

northern South America.

Life Strategy: This fish is normally a parasite of other fish. It locates its hosts by following

the stream of nitrogenous waste normally excreted from the gills. The Candiru swims up

the ammonia gradient, and under the gill covers of the host and extends the spines on its

own small gill covers to hold itself in place. It then feeds on the host gill. Unfortunately the

Candiru can't distinguish between one nitrogen- emitting opening and another, so it has

been known to swim up the urethra of humans and other animals who urinate in the water

Food / Feed Strategy: The Candiru enters the gills of various large fish, where it then acts

as a parasite by feeding on blood and gill tissue




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Vandellia Cirrhosa: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Cachama

Scientific Name: Piaractus brachypomus



Family: Characidae

Geography / Habitat: The natural range of red-bellied pacu extends from 23°N to 11°S

latitude, in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins/flood plains. Common names for this

species vary by region. It is known as pirapitinga in Brazil, paco in Peru and cachama

blanca in Colombia. Introductions of red-bellied pacu populations have been reported in

many regions around the globe, in places as unlikely as Vancouver, British Columbia.

Life Strategy: In native environments, red-bellied pacu are shoaling fish that may become

more independent with age. A pacu’s entire life is characterized by annual cycles

corresponding to the rainy and dry seasons. They migrate upstream during the months of

June through October and then, in response to the first rains of the wet season, start to

spawn from November to February.

Food / Feed Strategy: The dietary composition of red-bellied pacu (and a number of closely

related species) shifts depending on the season. During the wet season, they rely heavily on

seed predation from the newly dropped fruit of riparian trees and plants.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Piaractus Brachypomus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Common sunfish

Scientific Name: Lepomis gibbosus




Geography / Habitat: Pumpkinseeds, Lepomis gibbosus, are found natively in the Atlantic

Slope drainages from New Brunswick to the Edisto River in South Carolina and also in the

Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and upper Mississippi basins from Quebec and New York west

to southeastern Manitoba and North Dakota, and south to northern Kentucky and

Missouri.

Life Strategy: Pumpkinseeds are active during the day and rest at night near the bottom or

in protected areas in dense vegetation, near rocks or submerged logs.

Food / Feed Strategy: Pumpkinseeds consume a diverse diet of small prey including insects,

insect larvae, mollusks, snails, crustaceans, leeches, and small fish. They are effective at

destroying mosquito larvae and also consume detritus and small amounts of aquatic

vegetation.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lepomis Gibbosus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_gibbosus/

Title: Freshwater fishes Species #: 100

Common Name: Central stoneroller

Scientific Name: Campostoma anomalum



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: Central stonerollers are found from New York west through the

Great Lakes to Wisconsin and Minnesota and south through the Mississippi valley to

Mexico (Miller, 1981). Though not listed as threatened in any U.S. state, this species is

uncommon in the Great Plains states.

Life Strategy: Little is known about the behavior of central stonerollers, aside from

reproduction. Some fish undergo migrations during spawning season to find suitable

habitat, whereas some individuals spend an entire year in the same pool.

Food / Feed Strategy: Power and Matthews (1983) described central stonerollers as

voracious feeders, with a diet largely consisting of filamentous algae. A group of central

stonerollers introduced into a stream significantly reduced the algae present in one hour,

from 22.0 to 6.3 mg ash free dry weight per square cm. Matthews et al.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Campostoma Anomalum: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

Title: Saltwater Invertebrates Species #: 101

Common Name: Chinese mitten crab

Scientific Name: Eriocheir sinensis


Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda

Family: Varunidae

Geography / Habitat: Chinese mitten crabs are found on coasts from Japan to the

mainland of China, Korean Peninsula, and along the Yellow Sea; they are also found on the

coasts of northern and eastern Europe and the United States.

Life Strategy: Eriocheir sinensis is catadromous: adult Mitten Crabs live in fresh water,

but migrate to salt water for reproduction. It is not clear how the crabs communicate

during their migration, but it is speculated that there is an environmental cue, which

triggers the migration. They are adept walkers and during migration are able to walk on

banks and over other obstacles when needed.

Food / Feed Strategy: Mitten Crabs are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants

and animals as its primary food source. As juveniles they mostly eat vegetation but also

prey on small invertebrates.

Body Form or Style: not related to fishes

Swim / Locomotion Style: walks


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Eriocheir Sinensis: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Eriocheir_sinensis/


Common Name: Sand stargazers

Scientific Name: Dactyloscopidae



Family: Dactyloscopidae

Geography / Habitat: Dactyloscopids, or sand stargazers, are found in tropical and warm

temperate waters of the western hemisphere. The Atlantic Ocean (from the United States to

Brazil) contains 17 species, and the Pacific Ocean (from the Gulf of California to Chile)

contains 24.

Life Strategy: Sand stargazers burrow in the sand and remain there most of the time lying

in wait for their prey. They delve into the sand using sinuous body and anal fin motions,

and swimming movements of the pectoral fins. They may bury themselves completely or

leave the eyes, snout or top of the head uncovered. One behavior engaged in by males is

egg-guarding, accomplished by carrying a ball of eggs under each pectoral fin.

Food / Feed Strategy: Sand stargazers are carnivorous, lying in wait under the sand to

attack small fishes and invertebrates.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Dactyloscopidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Threefin blennies

Scientific Name: Tripterygiidae



Family: Tripterygiidae

Geography / Habitat: Triplefin blennies are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian

Oceans, and one species has been identified in the Antarctic Peninsula. There are five

species known to be from the Bahamas, all of which are located in the Bahamas. Blennies

are generally not found on most of the Atlantic coasts of Africa and South America. New

Zealand is thought to be the area with greatest diversity of triplefin blennies.

Life Strategy: Most recorded behavior of triplefin blennies has to do with their

reproductive habits (see Reproduction: Mating Systems and General Behavior). Otherwise,

they frequent hidden, shadowy areas, darting to and fro with intermittent pauses. One

species, Bellapiscis medius, can crawl out of low-oxygen tidepools to breathe air, although it

does not have a specialized air-breathing organ.

Food / Feed Strategy: Triplefin blennies feed on algae and tiny invertebrates.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Tripterygiidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web.

17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Bellapiscis_medius/


Common Name: Dungeness crab

Scientific Name: Cancer magister



Family: Cancridae

Geography / Habitat: Cancer magister, commonly known as Dungeness crab, is found in

the costal waters from Point Concepcion, California, to the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. The

Dungeness crabs inhabit the estuaries from Morro Bay, California, to Puget Sound,

Washington.

Life Strategy: Dungeness crabs bury themselves almost completely with sand. While

covered, they are able to keep from suffocating due to hairs located above water intakes at

the bases of their claws. These hairs keep the gill chamber free of sand grains.

Food / Feed Strategy: Cancer magister eat a variety of marine invertebrates and fish. As

juveniles, the Dungeness crabs feed on fish, shrimp, molluscs and crustaceans. Adults feed

on bivalves, crustaceans and fishes. The crabs are able to open shells by chipping away at

them with their heavy pinching claws.


Swim / Locomotion Style: walks


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Cancer Magister: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cancer_magister/


Common Name: Blue ring angelfish

Scientific Name: Pomacanthus annularis



Family: Pomacanthidae

Geography / Habitat: Pomacanthus annularis live in the Indo-Pacific region ranging from

Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands and from the Philippines to the northern tip of Australia.

Normally this range is from 25 degrees north to 25 degrees south

Life Strategy: Almost all angelfish, and probably the bluering angelfish, are haremic,

which means there is one male defending a territory with two to five females. This territory

can be from the size of a bathroom to the size of a two-car garage (Tullock, 1996). They can

often be found in caves at night or swimming for food during the day in pairs or alone.

Food / Feed Strategy: P. annularis are omnivorous, eating benthic invertebrates such as

zooplankton, sponges, tunicates and coral polyps. Also these fish eat ascidians, algae,

weeds, and nektonic fishes




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Pomacanthus Annularis: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomacanthus_annularis/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pomacanthus_annularis/


Common Name: Alaska pollack

Scientific Name: Theragra chalcogramma



Family: Gadidae

Geography / Habitat: Theragra chalcogramma (Alaska pollock) occupies a wide

geographic range and is found in a polar climate across the northern Pacific Ocean, from

68° north to 34° north, and from 129° east to 120° west (Kooka 1998). Alaska pollock

inhabit a broad niche spanning the North Pacific, from the eastern Paleartic region to the

western Neartic.

Life Strategy: Theragra chalcogramma is a mobile species that is social and travels in

schools. Dense schools of Theragra chalcogramma form during the spawning season. Depth,

temperature, and cold fronts contribute to the vertical distribution of juvenile Alaska

pollock.

Food / Feed Strategy: Theragra chalcogramma feeds on both fish and invertebrates (Bailey

1999). The diet of this fish varies by developmental stage, season, and body size. Larvae

tend to consume zooplankton such as larval copepods, while older T. chalcogramma tend to

eat larger food items such as adult Acartia and Pseudocalanus.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Theragra Chalcogramma: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Theragra_chalcogramma/





http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acartia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pseudocalanus/


Common Name: Garibaldi

Scientific Name: Hypsypops rubicundus




Geography / Habitat: Hypsypops rubicundus (common name: garibaldi) are primarily

found off the coast of California. They have a home range from Monterey Bay down to the

Baja California peninsula, and around the Channel Islands

Life Strategy: One of the most interesting behaviors of H. rubicundus is its premating

behavior. Once the male has created an inviting nest it must next attract a female with

which to breed. The male will swim loops in and around its nest in a behavior called

“dipping” in order to attract the female. This dipping behavior is often accompanied by a

loud “thumping” noise.

Food / Feed Strategy: H. rubicundus feeds primarily on small sessile sponges, bryozoans,

and plankton that are found in and around the kelp forests that serve as its home




Citation: Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Hypsypops Rubicundus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hypsypops_rubicundus/


Common Name: Bullhead

Scientific Name: Heterodontus portusjacksoni


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Heterodontiformes

Family: Heterodontidae

Geography / Habitat: Heterodontus portusjacksoni is one of the better known species of

horn sharks (Heterodontus). It was named after Port Jackson in Sydney Harbour. They are

found from southern coastal Australia to the central coast of Western Australia. Some have

been found as far north as York Sound in Western Australia. According to studies of the

genetics of the Port Jackson sharks, there are two different populations found in different

regions that extend the length of the southern part of Australia.

Life Strategy: Port Jackson sharks segregate into same-sex groups. Males and females may

occupy different habitats during most parts of the year. Males and females encounter each

other only briefly during breeding. Port Jackson sharks are mainly active at night, when

their prey are active, and rest in crevices and under rock outcroppings during the day.

Food / Feed Strategy: Port Jackson sharks feed primarily on invertebrates,

mainly echinoderms. They eat sea urchins, starfish, polychaetes, large gastropods, prawns,

crabs, barnacles, and small fishes.


Swim / Locomotion Style: subsarangiform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Heterodontus Portusjacksoni: INFORMATION.

N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Heterodontus_portusjacksoni/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Heterodontus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Echinodermata/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Echinoidea/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Asteroidea/



Common Name: Clinids

Scientific Name: Clinidae



Family: Clinidae

Geography / Habitat: Clinids primarily occur along temperate coasts in both northern

and southern hemispheres. Many species are found in the waters of southern Australia and

southern Africa, where they have in many regions become the dominant intertidal fishes.

Life Strategy: Most clinids are territorial. They tend to be bottom dwellers and associate

with seaweed, moving within an environment to which their coloring is adapted. Their

coloring often changes during spawning. Males and females meet in order to spawn, with

the male serving an active role in chasing away other fish, and he may stimulate her to

continue spawning by touching her abdomen.

Food / Feed Strategy: Clinids are primarily carnivorous bottom-feeders who consume

small fishes and invertebrates from worms to crustaceans.


Swim / Locomotion Style: carangifom


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Clinidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 17

Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Butterflyfishes

Scientific Name: Chaetodontidae



Family: Chaetodontidae

Geography / Habitat: Butterflyfishes are primarily tropical, although some species can be

found in temperate regions. Most species occur in the Indo- West Pacific, from Australia to

Taiwan. Only four species occur in the eastern Pacific, and 13 species in the Atlantic.

Life Strategy: Butterflyfishes are usually seen in stable heterosexual pairs, although some

species move in schools or foraging groups. Sometimes a single species will school in one

geographic region, and only occur in pairs elsewhere. Juveniles are typically solitary, and

some act as cleaner fishes. Butterflyfishes are active during the day and move

conspicuously around the reef.

Food / Feed Strategy: Generally benthic feeders, many butterflyfishes eat small

invertebrates, sponges or polychaete worms. Some feed on zooplankton, and others exist

exclusively on coral polyps. Another feeding method is scraping the surface of live coral to

obtain algae, attached invertebrates, and mucus from the coral.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Chaetodontidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Blue spotted lagoon ray

Scientific Name: Taeniura lymma


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes

Family: Dasyatidae

Geography / Habitat: Taeniura lymma, commonly known as blue-spotted stingrays, is

found primarily in the Indo-west Pacific. They may be found in shallow continental shelf

waters ranging from temperate to tropical seas. They prefer areas with sandy or

sedimentary substrates in which they bury themselves. Sightings of Taeniura lymma have

been recorded in Australia in shallow tropical marine waters from Ningaloo Reef, Western

Australia to Bundaberg, Queensland.

Life Strategy: Blue-spotted stingrays may be found alone or in small groups, mostly in

shallow waters over reef flats. they are rather shy and will usually swim away rapidly if

disturbed by divers. When threatened, blue-spotted stingrays will use their venomous tail

to inject poison.

Food / Feed Strategy: Taeniura lymma has very distinct feeding behaviors. During high

tide, it migrates in groups into shallow sandy areas of tidal flats to feed on sand

worms, shrimps, hermit crabs, and small fishes. At low tide it recedes back into the ocean,

usually alone to hide in the coral crevices of the reef.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Taeniura Lymma: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Taeniura_lymma/






Common Name: Leopard shark

Scientific Name: Stegostoma fasciatum


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Orectolobiformes

Family: Stegostomatidae

Geography / Habitat: Zebra sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum) live in the central, western and

Indian Pacific oceans. This species is abundant in Australian coastal waters. It lives mainly

over continental and insular shelves and is very common around coral reefs and sandy

bottoms. It generally resides around 62 m below the surface of the ocean, but it has

occasionally been found in fresh water also.

Life Strategy: Stegostoma fasciatum is mostly solitary. It is a nocturnal hunter, so most of

its day is spent lazily swimming around the reef. Like other bottom dwelling sharks, it can

pump water across its gills through its mouth, which allows the shark to respire while

stationary. It is a powerful swimmer with a tail that is as long as, if not longer than, its

body.

Food / Feed Strategy: Natural foods include gastropod and bivalve mollusks with smaller

amounts of crabs, shrimp, and small fish.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Stegostoma Fasciatum: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Stegostoma_fasciatum/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Stegostoma_fasciatum/


Common Name: Combtooth blennies

Scientific Name: Blenniidae



Family: Blenniidae

Geography / Habitat: Blennies can be found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, in

tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters throughout the world.

Life Strategy: Blennies tend to be secretive, remaining near the bottom and hiding their

eggs in crevices. Some hide in holes and dart out at their prey. Blennies may eat

invertebrates or algae, or survive by nipping the skin, scales, or fins of other fish. Some

blennies, known as “rock-hoppers,” are able to leap out of the water to cross the rocks

between pools.

Food / Feed Strategy: Primarily bottom-dwellers, blennies tend to feed on other benthic

organisms, both algae and invertebrates. Some are planktivores, some carnivores; others

scrape algae off coral and rocks and in the process may be feeding on small organisms that

live in association with the algae. Some blennies nip pieces of skin, scales, or fins from

larger fish.

Body Form or Style: filifom

Swim / Locomotion Style:anguiliform


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Blenniidae: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 17

Dec. 2012.


Common Name: California spiny lobster

Scientific Name: Panulirus interruptus



Family: Palinuridae

Geography / Habitat: California spiny lobsters are found on the Pacific coast of North

America from Monterey Bay, California (though rarely found north of Point Conception)

to Baja California, Mexico. They are occasionally found within the Gulf of California.

Life Strategy: California spiny lobsters are nocturnal, hiding in crevices and dens during

the day to avoid predators. They are semi-social, sharing dens with conspecifics. At night,

spiny lobsters emerge to forage, traveling up to 600 m in search of food.

Food / Feed Strategy: California spiny lobsters are omnivorous bottom feeders that

scavenge dead animals, algae, and detritus. They also consume invertebrates such as the

species of mussel Mytilus californianus and urchins Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and S.

purpuratus.


Swim / Locomotion Style: walks/ swims


Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Panulirus Interruptus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mytilus_californianus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Strongylocentrotus_franciscanus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Strongylocentrotus_purpuratus/



Common Name: Lemon sailfin





Geography / Habitat: Yellow tangs, Zebrasoma flavescens, are reef fish found in the waters

west of Hawaii and east of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. They mainly live off the coast of

Hawaii, but are also found in the more western ranges of their habitat, including the




small, loose groups. These groups sometimes contain other species of fish, like sailfin tang

(Zebrasoma veliferum). Yellow tangs are diurnal. During the day, tangs move from place to

place, grazing on algae;



amount of their time grazing either alone or in groups.





n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Zebrasoma_veliferum/


Common Name: Copper rockfish

Scientific Name: Sebastes caurinus



Family: Sebastidae

Geography / Habitat: Copper rockfish are found in waters along the Pacific coast ranging

from Baja, California up to Kehui, Alaska. They are common in the waters of British

Columbia and in Puget Sound.

Life Strategy: Adult copper rockfish are highly residential and remain near their home

site. Although they are a solitary species and usually seen alone, they are sometimes present

in mixed aggregates with other species. Individual fish display agnostic behavior to show

"protective territoriality".

Food / Feed Strategy: Copper rockfish are opportunistic carnivores that feed mainly on

organisms present near the ocean floor, usually crabs, mollusks and other fish. They feed

during the day as well as at night. Often the prey varies with the season with crabs eaten

more often in winter and early spring. Large copper rockfish tend to be aggressive feeders

and sometimes prey on Squalus acanthias, a small shark species.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Sebastes Caurinus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.



http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Squalus_acanthias/


Common Name: California sheephead

Scientific Name: Semicossyphus pulcher



Family: Labridae

Geography / Habitat: 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 forage during the day with harem members and the

dominant male. At night, they station themeselves beneath rock overhangs or within

crevices, and like several other species of wrasse, they encase themselves in a protective

cocoon of mucus while quiescent. Males display aggressive tendencies, including territorial

behaviors during mating.

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:globiform



Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Semicossyphus Pulcher: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Semicossyphus_pulcher/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Labridae/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cancer_antennarius/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Bivalvia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Bryozoa/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Teuthida/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Echinarachnius_parma/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dendraster_excentricus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Holothuroidea/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Holothuroidea/


Common Name: Giant sunfish

Scientific Name: Mola mola


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes

Family: Molidae

Geography / Habitat: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola, are found in the temperate and tropical

regions of the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans (Wheeler, 1969; Sims

and Southall, 2002; Houghton et al., 2006). They are commonly observed off the coast of

Southern California, Indonesia, the British Isles, the Northern and Southern Isles of New

Zealand, the southern coasts of Africa, and in the Mediterranean and occasionally in the

North Sea

Life Strategy: Ocean sunfish are generally solitary, although they are found in groups

when being cleaned by other fish (Hutchins, 2004; Konow et al., 2006). Ocean sunfish use

their dorsal and anal fins as their primary means of locomotion. They flap these fins in a

synchronous motion, which also allows them to swim on their side

Food / Feed Strategy: Ocean sunfish primarily feed on jellyfish and gelatinous

zooplankton, such as ctenophores, salps, and medusae. They have also been known to eat

soft bodied invertebrates, crustaceans, mollusks, seaweed, eel larvae, and even flounder




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Mola Mola: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 17

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mola_mola/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ctenophora/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salpidae/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilliformes/


Common Name: Blue cod

Scientific Name: Ophiodon elongatus



Family: Hexagrammidae

Geography / Habitat: Ophiodon elongatus is native to the west coast of North America,

from the Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Highest

densities are found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Life Strategy: Lingcod are solitary, benthic fish and spend most of their time resting within

holes or crevices amongst rocks. Lingcod's cryptic coloration helps it to blend into its rocky

surroundings, where it lies in wait to ambush any prey that swims by. Lingcod have also

been seen moving into shallower waters at night to feed.

Food / Feed Strategy: Lingcod are ambush predators that eat anything that can fit in their

mouths, especially fish and large invertebrates. Lingcod exhibit cannibalism and prey on

various species of salmon and rockfish as well as Pacific herring and octopus.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Ophiodon Elongatus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ophiodon_elongatus/


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sebastes/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Clupea_pallasii/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Octopus_bimaculoides/


Common Name: Gobies




Family: Gobiidae












formaninferans, sponges, small fishes, and eggs of various invertebrates and fishes.





Dec. 2012.


Title: Freshwater Invertebrates Species #: 121

Common Name: Longtail knifefish

Scientific Name: Sternopygus macrurus



Family: Sternopygidae

Geography / Habitat: Sternopygus macrurus occurs in many freshwater bodies in South

America. It is known to inhabit the area from the Magdalena River to the Sao Francisco

River and western Ecuador. It is also found in the Catatumbo River and the Amazon in

Peru.

Life Strategy: After four days, the Sternopygus macrurus embryos hatch from the eggs.

Seven days later, the larvae make their first feeding. The fish reaches sexual maturity at

the age of one year. Mature males are territorial. The species is considered harmless to

humans.

Food / Feed Strategy: Sternopygus macrurus is a predator of small invertebrates. Its diet is

mainly composed of aquatic insect larvae.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Sternopygus Macrurus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.





Common Name: African catfish

Scientific Name: Clarias gariepinus



Family: Clariidae

Geography / Habitat: North African catfish have been widely introduced around the

world. They are found as far south as South Africa and north into northern Africa. They

have also been introduced in Europe, the Middle East, and in parts of Asia. They are

potamodromous, which means they migrate within streams and rivers.

Life Strategy: North African catfish are relatively poor swimmers that spends most of the

time on the bottom of lakes and rivers (Pienaar 1968). They are, however, able to move

across land to another water source during damp conditions (Skelton 1993). They simply

extend their strong pectoral fins and spines and begin crawling through shallow pathways.

Food / Feed Strategy: North African catfish are omnivores. They are not specific in their

food requirements. They are known to feed on insects, plankton, snails, crabs, shrimp, and

other invertebrates. They are also capable of eating dead

animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, other fishes, eggs, and plant matter

such as fruit and seeds.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Clarias Gariepinus: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Dec. 2012.





http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aves/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Reptilia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amphibia/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mammalia/


Common Name: American burbot

Scientific Name: Lota lota



Family: Lotidae

Geography / Habitat: Burbot, Lota lota, are a holarctic species native to the cold fresh

waters of the Nearctic and Palearctic regions found between 40 and 70 degrees North

latitudes.

Life Strategy: Burbot are opportunistic piscivores with a diverse diet. They hide amongst

available refugia in their epibenthic habitat such as rocks and fallen logs, and use ambush

tactics to capture prey (Kahilainen and Lehtonen 2003). They are crepuscular or nocturnal

and seek shallow water to feed. During times of low activity, they congregate in deep holes

(Riede 2004; Morrow 1980; Scott and Crossman 1973). In the winter, these fish migrate

upstream and form spawning aggregations.

Food / Feed Strategy: Newly hatched burbot are completely planktivorous, and remain so

even when they are no longer gape limited (Ghan and Sprules 1993). Diet of larval burbot

is dominated by rotifer species for the first two weeks. Diet then shifts to slightly larger

nauplii, changing further during week four to cycloid copepods, daphnia, and

calanoid copepods (Ghan and Sprules 1993). Juveniles have a diet

of molluscs and insect larvae.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lota Lota: INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 17

Dec. 2012.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lota_lota/




Common Name: Bluegill

Scientific Name: Lepomis macrochirus




Geography / Habitat: This species is native to lakes and streams in the St. Lawrence, Great

Lakes, and Mississippi River systems. Thus, it ranges from Quebec to northern Mexico.

However, it has been introduced widely in places such as Hawaii, Africa, Asia, South

America, and Europe.

Life Strategy: Bluegill are most active at dawn. During the day they stay hidden under

cover, and they move to shallow water to spend the night. Schools may contain 10 to 20

fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: The very small mouth of this fish is an adaptation to eating small

animals. Bluegills are carnivores, primarily eating invertebrates such as snails, worms,

shrimp, aquatic insects, small crayfish, and zooplankton. They can also consume small fish

such as minnows and plant material such as algae. Young bluegill eat worms and

zooplankton, staying under cover while adults feed more in the open.




Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Lepomis Macrochirus: INFORMATION. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.


Common Name: Bleeding heart

Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma



Family: Characidae

Geography / Habitat: Bleeding heart tetras are native to the neotropical region. The

distribution is described as the Upper Amazon River basin. Bleeding heart tetras are found

in the Rio Negro of Brazil as well as other regional rivers. Aquarists have known about this

species since 1943 and they have since become a popular aquarium fish.

Life Strategy: Bleeding heart tetras, in the aquarium environment, do best in small schools

of at least five individuals. Their peaceful demeanor makes an environment composed of

larger groups possible without conflict. There is otherwise very little known about the

behavior of these fish in the wild.

Food / Feed Strategy: In captivity, bleeding heart tetras eat a variety of foods. It is likely

that their wild diet is similar, being made up of small crustaceans, insects, zooplankton,

and other organic matter.



Mouth Position: termina;

Citation: "Animal Diversity Web." ADW: Hyphessobrycon Erythrostigma:

INFORMATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

Documents

Yena Jeong Fish ID project