Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae1
Family Sciaenidae
• Drums• Common species:
o Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
o Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)
o Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
o Jackknife fish (Equetus lanceolatus)
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae2
Sciaenidae Characteristics
• Sciaenids are another family of noisy, bottom orientated fisheso Common in turbid estuaries, sounds, and bayso Deeply notched dorsal fin
Black Drum
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae3
Commercial Importance
• Commercially important species include:
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae4
Red Drum
• NC State fish, commonly sold as redfish, puppy drum, channel bass, or spottail drum oOcellus – eye-like spots used as a false eye
to avoid head attacks by predators
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae5
Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)
• One of the most commonly caught nearshore marine fishes
• Possess a convex caudal fin
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae6
Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
• Found in coastal waters and usually possess 2 large canine teeth in the upper jawo Spawning occurs
nearshore in estuarine waters
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae7
Otoliths
• Otoliths are the inner ear bones of fishes which are used for hearing, equilibrium and balance
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae8
Otoliths in Age Determination
• As the fish grows dark and light bands are usually deposited (increments)
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae9
Investigation of Life Histories
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae10
Family Ephippidae (Spadefish)
• Spinous and soft dorsal are separate
• Adults associate in large aggregations in areas with vertical relief
• Characterized by a blunt face and small moutho Highly compressed body
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae11
Atlantic Spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae12
Family Chaetodontidae & Pomacanthidae
• Both families are extremely common on coral reefs
• Acutely compressed bodies, large dorsal and anal fins
• Colorful, with striking patterns of stripes and spots
• Both families have remarkable feeding habitso Small protractile
mouths with tiny teeth
o Feed at various depths on zooplankton, coral polyps, sponges, and polychaetes
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae13
Family Chaetodontidae
• Butterflyfish• Common species:
o Spotfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellatus)
o Foureye Butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus)
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae14
Chaetodontidae Characteristics
• Spine on preopercle absent
• Long term pair bonds (4-5 yrs.)
• Abundance and diversity of the family may be an indicator of the general health of a coral reef
Juvenile
Adult
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae16
Family Pomacanthidae
• Angelfish• Common species:
o Blue Angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis)
o French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
o Queen Angelfish (Holocanthus ciliaris)
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae17
Pomacanthidae Characteristics
• Distinguished from Chaetodontids by the presence of a posteriorly projecting spine on the preopercleo Lacks a snout and reaches a much larger
size
• Undergo major ontogenetic changes from the juvenile to the adult stage
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae18
Pomacanthidae
Queen Angelfish
Blue Angelfish
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae19
Chaetodontidae & Pomacanthidae
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae20
Family Pomacentridae
• Damselfish• Common species:
o Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis)
o Dusky Damsel (Pomacentrus fuscus)
Usually territorial defending a small patch of reef where they feed and hide and reproduce
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae21
Damselfish Territoriality
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae22
Pomacentridae Characteristics
• Clownfish and other species of Pomacentrids associate closely with sea anemones