fish i.d. project
DESCRIPTION
Bio of 90 freshwater and saltwater fish species.TRANSCRIPT
Table of Contents
1. Bicolor Foxface Rabbitfish
2. Picasso Triggerfish
3. Blue Tang Surgeonfish
4. Mandarin Fish
5. Clown Anemone Fish
6. Atlantic Cod
7. Atlantic Tarpon
8. California Sheephead
9. Yellow Tang
10. Peacock Flounder
11. Blackfin Wolf Herring
12. Bonefish
13. Thresher Shark
14. Copper Rockfish
15. American Shad
16. Skipjack Tuna
17. Bluefin Tuna
18. Whitetip Reef Shark
19. Lingcod
20. Wolf-eel
21. Commerson’s Dolphin
22. Atlantic Blue Marlin
23. Sailfin Tang
24. Grey Whale
25. Tiger Shark
26. Great White Shark
27. Spotted Eagle Ray
28. Leatherback Turtle
29. Bluering Angelfish
30. Bluntnose Sevengil Shark
31. Chain Catshark
32. Albacore
33. Pacific Angel Shark
34. Dogtooth Tuna
35. Porbeagle
36. Bottlenosed Dolphin
Table of Contents Continued
37. Whale Shark
38. Moray Eel
39. Heavised’s Dolphin
40. Californian Anchoveta
41. Long-Finned Pilot Whale
42. Spotted Seahorse
43. Beluga Whale
44. Goblin Shark
45. Loggerhead Sea Turtle
46. Rough-toothed Dolphin
47. Redthroated Rainbowfish
48. Roghtailed Stingray
49. Greenland Shark
50. Zebra Shark
51. Freshwater Drum
52. River Blackfish
53. Longear Sunfish
54. Razorback Sucker
55. Shovelnose Sturgeon
56. Greenside Darter
57. Ganges River Dolphin
58. Fathead Minnow
59. Macquarie Perch
60. Longnose Dace
61. Smallmouth Bass
62. Burbot
63. Brook Trout
64. Channel Catfish
65. Brown Bullhead
66. White Bass
67. North African Catfish
68. Pirate Perch
69. Logperch
70. Largemouth Bass
71. Brook Stickleback
72. American Paddlefish
73. South American Lungfish
Table of Contents Continued
74. Alligator Gar
75. Alligator Snapping Turtle
76. Golden shiner
77. Banded Sculpin
78. Silver Carp
79. Amazon River Dolphin
80. Redear Sunfish
81. Sheatfish
82. Bloater
83. Electric Eel
84. Florida Gar
85. Rianbow Darter
86. Bleeding Heart Tetra
87. Spotted Gar
88. Bowfin
89. Northern Pike
90. Quillback Carosucker
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 1
Common Name: Bicolor Foxface Rabbitfish
Scientific Name: Siganus uspi
Kingdom: Aniamlia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Siganidae
Geography / Habitat: The Bicolor Foxface Rabbitfish lives in the Western Pacific and is
considered indigenous to the waters of Fiji. This fish lives in hard coral reefs on the faces of drop-
offs and in deep pools inside reef crests.
Life Strategy: Rabbitfish are named for their peaceful demeanor, but they have strong spines on
their dorsal and anal fins that contain a painful toxin. When Rabbitfish are young they school in
small and large groups. When they get into adulthood or shortly after spawning begins, they
break off into pairs or small units. Individual pairs are usually monogamous and act aggressively
towards others, therefore they there is wide ranges between pairs. To fend off predators, the
Rabbitfish has sharp, strong spines along its back. They are coated with a mucous that contains
toxin, inflicting painful wounds if startled. They do not have this when they are larvae and
juveniles, so few juveniles make it to adulthood.
Food / Feed Strategy: The Bicolor Foxface Rabbitfish is an omnivore. Due to the way the mouth
is positioned and shaped, it gets its food by plucking it from the reef it inhabits. Mainly it eats
algae, but it also eats small plankton and brine-shrimp that also live on the reefs.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Jonna, R. 2003. "Siganidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 28,
2011 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Siganidae.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 2
Common Name: Picasso Triggerfish
Scientific Name: Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Balistidae
Geography / Habitat: The Picasso Triggerfish inhabits the waters around Australia and
oceanic islands, the Indian Ocean, the East Indies (Philippines), Pacific Ocean, and the Red Sea
south of South Africa. You can find triggerfish near surge-swept reefs.
Life Strategy: In the wild, the male Picasso Triggerfish protects its own territory with several
females in it. Each female has its own piece of territory within the males. When spawning season
comes about, the female will dig a pit in which they spawn.
Food / Feed Strategy: The triggerfish is an omnivore and its diet consists mainly of
invertebrates, fish, and algae. The triggerfish will feed on a wide variety of crustaceans,
mollusks, and fish. They obtain their food by rooting through sand and rocks and scraping off
algae from coral with their teeth.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Schaffer, K. 2000. "Rhinecanthus aculeatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed November 26, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rhinecanthus_aculeatus.html
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 3
Common Name: Blue Tang Surgeonfish
Scientific Name: Acanthurus coeruleus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Geography / Habitat: Blue Tangs live on shallow marine reefs throughout the western Atlantic
Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Blue Tangs go from New York to the Amazon
Delta in Brazil. Primarily Blue Tangs live on hard-coral reefs, but they can also be found near soft
corals, sea grass beds, and algal beds. Juveniles prefer a place with plenty of cover while mating
couples gather at flat, sandy areas between reefs. They tend to shelter in coral holes and crevices.
Life Strategy: Blue Tangs usually mate in large groups over sandy patches and prefer a spot with a
strong current in order to carry the fertilized eggs out to sea. Courting females and a small number
of males break off from the group to release gametes at the surface in a behavior called “spawn
rush”. Often this technique is unsuccessful and stopped by the female.
Food / Feed Strategy: Blue Tangs are herbivores. They feed mainly on algae. They avoid eating
calcareous, calcium carbonate, like coral because they do not have the gizzard-like stomachs that
other surgeonfish have. They feed alone, in small groups, and in fairly large groups of over 100.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Subterminal
Citation: Woodruff, G. and L. Wollerman. 2006. "Acanthurus coeruleus" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed November 28, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Acanthurus_coeruleus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 4
Common Name: Mandarin Fish
Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Callionymidae
Geography / Habitat: The Mandarin Fish can be found in the western Pacific Ocean including
the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia and New Guinea. It is also known to live in the
Ryukyu Islands. Mandarin Fish are bottom dwellers and are found in coral reefs and shallow
lagoons.
Life Strategy: Mandarin fish spawn in reefs when small groups of males and females meet during
the night. When the male and female align themselves above the reef, they then release the eggs
and sperm. To scare away predators, Mandarin fish secrete mucous that might repel them. The
intense color also acts as a signal to predators that the prey is toxic.
Food / Feed Strategy: Mandarin fish feed from the bottom. Much of its food is found living in
reefs and other live rock. They eat small crustaceans such as amphipods and isopods. They have
small mouths so they eat small food.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Subterminal
Citation: Patel, K. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Synchiropus splendidus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed November 29, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Synchiropus_splendidus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 5
Common Name: Clown Anemone Fish
Scientific Name: Amphiprion ocellaris
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae
Geography / Habitat: The Clown fish ranges from Northwest Australia, Southeast Asia, and
the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Clownfish live in coral reefs and sheltered lagoons. It is mainly
found in or near the anemones as part of a symbiotic relationship.
Life Strategy: Males are territorial of the anemone they inhabit and are monogamous. Nest
preparation is done by the male on bare rock once the substrate is cleared. Males attract
females by extending fins, biting, and chasing. When spawning is about to occur, the male will
coral the female into the anemone but the actual process is started by the female. Once the
female has laid the eggs, the male will pass over them while fertilizing them. The only way
Clown fish can defend themselves from predators is by living in anemones because they have
tentacles that sting.
Food / Feed Strategy: Clown fish are considered omnivores though their diet is primarily
planktonic foods, but they do feed on alga occasionally. They are also known to eat parasites off
of the anemone they inhabit.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Newcomb, D. and W. Fink. 2004. "Amphiprion ocellaris" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed November 29, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Amphiprion_ocellaris.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 6
Common Name: Atlantic Cod
Scientific Name: Gadus morhua
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gadiformes
Family: Gadidae
Geography / Habitat: The Cod can be found along the eastern and northern coasts of North
America, the coast of Greenland, Iceland, the North Sea, and the Barents Sea. Cod live in the
open ocean and near the bottom. They can be found from the shoreline to the continental shelf.
Life Strategy: There is not much information on the reproduction of Cod, but research does show
that sound production is used by males on females. The female listens to the sound and if she
likes, she will choose that male. Atlantic cod are considered “batch-spawners”, which means they
release a small amount off eggs at any given time. Unfortunately, Cod have no real defense
against predators. The predators that eat them are harp and harbor seals, sharks, and humans.
Luckily, in some places the cod inhabit, the population of these predators is diminishing (except
humans of course).
Food / Feed Strategy: The Atlantic Cod is an opportunistic eater, which means it will eat anything
it is capable of capturing. What the Atlantic diets on depends on what stage of life it’s in. When it
is a larva, they eat zooplankton. When they are juveniles, they eat shrimp and other small
crustaceans. When they are mature, they eat much bigger animals such as squid, mussels, clams,
sea cucumbers, and even other cod.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Wilmot, C. and K. Wehrly. 2005. "Gadus morhua" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed November 29, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Gadus_morhua.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 7
Common Name: Atlantic Tarpon
Scientific Name: Megalops atlanticus
Kingdom: Aniamlia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Elopiformes
Family: Megalopidae
Geography / Habitat: The Atlantic Tarpon can be found mainly warm, shallow, coastal regions
of the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. They are range from as far north as Nova Scotia and
as far south as Argentina. Tarpon live in estuaries, bays, lagoons, and have even been known to
travel up freshwater rivers.
Life Strategy: Tarpons will gather in groups of a few to a few hundred offshore between May
and August to spawn. Females have a very high birthrate, producing more than 12 million eggs.
Tarpon spawn in the deeper water so that the currents can carry their eggs to inshore nurseries
to develop. Tarpon use countershading to prevent predation. The dorsal surface is a dark color
that blends in to the dark deep water when a predator looks at it from above. The ventral
surface is a lighter color that blends with the surface water when a predator is looking at the
tarpon from below.
Food / Feed Strategy: The tarpon’s diet changes as it develops. In the larval stage, they rely
solely on the water for nutrients. As juveniles they feed on zooplankton, small fish, and insects.
When tarpon are full grown, they only eat fish and crustaceans. Due to their small teeth, tarpon
swallow their food whole.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Supraterminal
Citation: Burnham, J. and K. Wehrly. 2005. "Megalops atlanticus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed November 30, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megalops_atlanticus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 8
Common Name: California Sheephead
Scientific Name: Semicossyphus pulcher
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Geography / Habitat: Sheephead are found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean along the California
coast from Monterey Bay to the Gulf of California. Sheepheads live in rocky shoreline reefs, in
and around kelp beds.
Life Strategy: Sheepheads are polygamous. Sheepheads are broadcast spawners. Once eggs and
sperm are released, they drift out to sea. Parental care is non-existing in this species.
Sheepheads have no ability to prevent predation. They are commercially fished along with
being prey of harbor seals, sea lions, and sea birds.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sheepheads feed on benthic invertebrates such as purple sea urchins,
Pacific rock crabs, mussels, clams, and bryozoans. They also eat snails, squids, sand dollars,
and sea cucumbers. They have large canine-like teeth that they use to pry invertebrates off of
rocks with. Sheepheads are equipped with a special pharyngeal plate to crush calcareous
skeletal materials into small pieces so that the prey’s tissues can be separated and digested.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Ostraciiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Doan, T., L. Graves, S. Graves, I. Perez and M. Pineda. 2011."Semicossyphuspulcher"
(On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 30, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Semicossyphus_pulcher.html
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 9
Common Name: Yellow Tang
Scientific Name: Zebrasoma flavescens
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Geography / Habitat: Yellow tangs are found in the Pacific Ocean. They mainly live off the
coast of Hawaii, but are also found in the more western ranges like the Ryukyu Islands. They
inhabit coral reefs in subtropical waters. They do not like much wave activity so they live in the
sub-surge zone.
Life Strategy: Yellow tangs spawn can spawn in pairs or in groups. When in groups, females
will release eggs and males sperm into the open water to allow fertilization to occur. When in a
pair, the male will court the female by changing colors. The pair then swims upward and
release eggs and sperm simultaneously. Yellow tangs main predators are larger fish and
predatory invertebrates such as the crab and octopus. Their only strategies against predation
are their camouflage and scalpel-like fins.
Food / Feed Strategy: Yellow tangs have long, down-turned mouths filled with small teeth for
grazing on algae. They are mainly herbivores and eat uncalcified and filamentous algae from
the coral reef they inhabit alone or in groups. They also eat seaweed and some types of
zooplankton.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Zabetakis, K. and K. Omland. 2008. "Zebrasoma flavescens" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 06, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Zebrasoma_flavescens.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 10
Common Name: Peacock Flounder
Scientific Name: Bothus lunatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pleuronectiformes
Family: Bothidae
Geography / Habitat: Peacock flounder live in the West Atlantic Ocean. They are found off the
coasts of Florida, Bermuda, and all the way down to Brazil. They live a benthic style on sand
and rock bottoms, including coral reef environments.
Life Strategy: Peaconk flounder use the “harem” mating system in which one male mate with
several females. The females have their own territory within a male’s. When mating begins
between a male and female, they will rise and fall together several times. Researchers believe
they do this to have better dispersal of gametes and predator avoidance. As a result of Peacock
flounder’s practice of broadcast spawning, many small eggs are produced at once, which means
there is no parental care for the eggs and survival rate is low. Predators of the Peacock flounder
include sharks, rays, and large fish. Flounders have several ways to avoid predation, these
include: being able to change color, bury themselves in the substrate, and spawning at dusk to
reduce chances of being seen.
Food / Feed Strategy: Peacock flounders eat other benthic organisms. They are predators and
feed on other fish. They do, however, occasionally eat invertebrates such as crabs and even
octopi. Peacock flounder have been documented to eat the Caribbean sharpnose puffer, which
suggests that flounders have a unique feeding behavior to effectively stun prey.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Otterbein, K. 2011. "Bothus lunatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 06, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Bothus_lunatus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 11
Common Name: Blackfin Wolf Herring
Scientific Name: Chirocentrus dorab
Kingdom: Aniamlia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Chirocentridae
Geography / Habitat: Blackfins are found in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. They range from
the eastern shores of Africa to the Solomon Islands. They also range from as far north as
southern Japan and south as northern Australia. Blackfins prefer warm, coastal waters, often
in inland areas. Blackfins frequent coral reefs which they find as potential hunting grounds.
Life Strategy: Blackfins reproduce by spawning and are thought to have the same mating
system as the suborder Clupeoidei. It is believed that Blackfins spawn annually, producing
many offspring. Blackfins are not so much as prey as they are predators. They prey on sardines
mostly. They are, however, susceptible to marine leeches.
Food / Feed Strategy: Blackfins are carnivorous and eat other fish, crustaceans, and squid.
Their preferred food is sardines. As juvenilles, they also display this behavior by preying on
small fish, small shrimp, and post-larvae.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Herring, M. 2011. "Chirocentrus dorab" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 06, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chirocentrus_dorab.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 12
Common Name: Bonefish
Scientific Name: Albula vulpes
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Albuliformes
Family: Albulidae
Geography / Habitat: Bonefish are found from the southern coast of Florida, throught the
Bahamas and along the coast of South America. When Bonefish begin to hunt, they hunt in
shallow waters, but once they are through, they go back in to deeper waters.
Life Strategy: Bonefish reproduce seasonally. Bonefish are polygynandrous and randomly
mate. During spawning, females release their eggs and males externally fertilize them in the
immediate area they’re released. Spawning occurs in deep water in currents and in groups for a
high success rate. After eggs are fertilized, there is not parental care that follows. Bonefish,
being a large fish, only has e few predators. Mainly barracudas, sharks, and humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bonefish are carnivorous and have a variety of prey. They diet on
mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and shrimp. Bonefish live in schools but will break off into smaller
groups to eat.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Reeves, S. 2011. "Albula vulpes" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 06, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Albula_vulpes.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 13
Common Name: Thresher Shark
Scientific Name: Alopius vulpinus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes
Family: Alopiidae
Geography / Habitat: Threshers are found in almost every major ocean. They are found along
the west and east coasts of North America. They are common around Asia and occasionally in
the central and western Pacific Ocean. Threshers live just beyond the continental shelf
Life Strategy: Threshers breed yearlong in most parts of the world. Research suggests they
breed in northern waters during spring and summer and release their pups into nurseries along
the coast as they travel south for the winter months. Pups are born independent but will remain
near the nurseries for a few years for safety reasons. Threshers don’t have a line of defense
against predators because they are at the top of the food chain. The only predators Threshers
have are bigger sharks and their own kind when they are juvenilles.
Food / Feed Strategy: Like most sharks, Threshers are carnivorous and feed mainly on small
fish. Threshers use their large caudal fin to pack schools of fish into tight, packed balls to
maximize strike success. Threshers diet on different varieties of marine life depending on the
time of the year.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Lewis, J. 2011. "Alopias vulpinus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 06, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Alopias_vulpinus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 14
Common Name: Copper Rockfish
Scientific Name: Sebastes caurinus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Geography / Habitat: Rockfish are found in waters along the Pacific coast ranging from Baja,
California to Kehui, Alaksa. They are also found in the waters of British Columbia and
Puget Sound. Rockfish are demersal, preferring the ocean bottom near low-profile rocks and
reefs. Tagged experiments show that mature fish do not stray too far from their home.
Life Strategy: Spawning in Rockfish occurs once a year during Spring that varies
geographically. Fertilization occurs internally. Females move inshore to release their young and
are capable of regulating where and when larvae are released. The females provide
nourishment to the embryos internally until they are released but are completely independent
once they are born. Juvenilles fall prey to predators that reside in kelp beds and adult Rockfish
to lingcod and other large predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Rockfish are opportunistic carnivores that feed on organisms near the
ocean floor, usually crabs, mollusks, and other fish. Rockfish tend to be aggressive eaters and
have even been known to prey on a small shark species, the Squalus acanthias.
Body Form or Style: Globiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Ostraciiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Gumerson, J. and W. Fink. 2004. "Sebastes caurinus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 06, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sebastes_caurinus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 15
Common Name: American Shad
Scientific Name: Alosa sapidissima
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cluepeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
Geography / Habitat: American shad can be found along the coastal areas of the Pacific and
Atlantic oceans. The only time they are not here is when they move to the rivers of America,
Canada, and Mexico to lay their eggs. American shad generally live in the deep ocean away
from the shore except during spawning season. They are a migratory species.
Life Strategy: American shad will move into freshwater rivers during the late months of
Winter to spawn. One or more males will chase a female and try to get her to lay her eggs.
Once she has done so, he will immediately fertilize the eggs. The eggs separate and drift away
in the current. This raises the survival rate because eggs are more likely to fall prey to other
predators if they were to be discovered in a cluster. The American shad has many predators:
bass, walleye, channel catfish, bears, birds, dolphins, and humans. American shad have two
types of defense against predation; the first is darkening their color when entering rivers to
blend into their environment. The second is the ability to detect ultrasound use of predators
such as the dolphin. Whenever they detect it, they flee and hide.
Food / Feed Strategy: As juveniles, American shad are omnivores and their diet consists of
mostly zooplankton and insect larvae. When American shad grow to adult size they begin to
include small fish, crustaceans, plankton, worms, and occasionally fish eggs into their diet.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Kessler, S. 2011. "Alosa sapidissima" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 07, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Alosa_sapidissima.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 16
Common Name: Skipjack Tuna
Scientific Name: Katsuwonus pelamis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Skipjack are found almost all over the world. Skipjacks tend to be
associated with regions of upwelling and areas where cold and warm water mix. In short, areas
with high productivity. They live in the deep ocean.
Life Strategy: Skipjack reproduce throughout the year. How Skipjacks reproduce is unknown
but we do know that they like to spawn in the tropical regions of the world’s oceans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Skipjacks are opportunistic feeders and diet mostly on other fish,
mollusks, and crustaceans. Due to their opportunistic habits, they are believed to be
cannibalistic.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Ivan, L. 2000. "Katsuwonus pelamis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 07, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Katsuwonus_pelamis.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 17
Common Name: Bluefin Tuna
Scientific Name: Thunnus thynnus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Bluefins can be found throughout the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the
western Atlantic they range from Labrador to northern Brazil. In the eastern Atlantic they
range from Norway to the Canary Islands. In the western Pacific they range from Japan to the
Philippines. In the eastern Pacific they range from the southern coast of Alaska to Baja
California, Mexico. Bluefins live in both coastal and pelagic waters.
Life Strategy: Bluefins spawn in aggregations, which can also be called broadcast spawning.
During the spawning season, Bluefins will migrate to either the Gulf of Mexico or the
Mediterranean and form spawning aggregations. Bluefins do not care for their young once
they’re born. Predators of Bluefins include sharks, large predatory fish, humans, and killer
whales. Bluefins use their speed to get away from predators. They also live in schools. Their
countershaded coloration allows them to blend in with the aquatic environment around them.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bluefins use their ability to swim at high speeds to catch prey. They diet
on smaller fish, squid, eels, and crustaceans. They can also use modified filter feeding to catch
small, slow-moving organisms. They have also been known to eat kelp. Larvae feed on brine
shrimp, other fish larvae, and rotifers. Juveniles feed on smaller organisms.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Johnson, M. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Thunnus thynnus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 07, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thunnus_thynnus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 18
Common Name: Whitetip Reef Shark
Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhiniformes
Geography / Habitat: The whitetip can be found in both the Indian and Pacific oceans. They range from
the coasts of South Africa and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean to the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama in the
Pacific. They are found mostly in the Indo-Pacific seas. The Whitetip, as its name suggests, lives in and
around coral reefs. These reefs are found in tropical, coastal waters. Whitetips are nocturnal animals and
hide in coral reef crevices and caves during the day. Whitetips share their shelter with other reef sharks;
however, each species keeps to its own territory among the reef community. Life Strategy: Male Whitetips have been known to school in groups of nearly a hundred in pursuit of a
female ready to mate. This species mates in autumn and winter. Once the female is pregnant, she carries the
pups for another five months. The female gives birth to an average of two to three live pups. Once the pups
are born they are immediately independent, but, the mother continues to care for them making her slower,
less maneuverable, and much more vulnerable to predators. The whitetip has no special defense against
predatrion, and its worst predator is humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Whitetips are docile during the day, but when night falls, they become very aggressive
hunters. The whitetip thrashes through the coral to find prey. It uses another technique, it will wedge the
front half of its body into a crevice to catch prey and will stay there until the prey is caught. It is considered
a pelagic predator, but is quite clumsy and slow out in the open. It is a much better hunter in reefs, and
specializes in bottom-feeding. Its ventrally located mouth allows it to pick up crustaceans and octopi off the
sea floor.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Biology of Fishes, A. Feldkamp and W. Fink. 2005. "Triaenodon obesus" (On-line),
Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 08, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Triaenodon_obesus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 19
Common Name: Lingcod
Scientific Name: Ophiodon elongatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Hexagrammidae
Geography / Habitat: The Lingcod can be found in the west coast of North America. They range
from the Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Lingcod live in
banks with dense communities of algae and channels with strong currents flowing around and
over rocky reefs. They do not like and try to avoid muddy or sandy bottoms with non-flowing
currents.
Life Strategy: Lingcod reproduce sexually and fertilize externally. The spawning season begins
in late winter. Males will attract one or more females to his nesting place, once there, females
deposit 40 to 500 thousand eggs within crevices or cavities. A single male fertilizes the egg
masses of multiple females. Females will soon leave the nesting site, and the male will then be
out in charge. Male lingcods are very territorial and will defend the nest and eggs with
aggression. There have even been reports of them attacking humans who come too close.
Food / Feed Strategy: Lingcod are ambush predators that will eat anything that will fit into
their mouths. Lingcod focus mainly on other fish and large invertebrates. They have been
known to eat their own kind and various species of salmon and rockfish, as well as Pacific
herring and octopus.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Adam, C., B. Reilly, K. Shannon and A. Stuart. 2011. "Ophiodon elongatus" (On-
line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 08, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ophiodon_elongatus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 20
Common Name: Wolf-eel
Scientific Name: Anarrhichthys ocellatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Anarhichadidae
Geography / Habitat: Wolf-eels can be found in the North Pacific. They range 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. Wolf-eels are strictly marine and live in cold, shallow, coastal
waters. They are demersal in their habitats; they live exclusively in sheltered, rocky, sub-tidal
areas or near rocky structures in areas with sandy bottoms.
Life Strategy: Males and females form monogamous pairs for mating. Some evidence shows that
they mate for life. The male and female will wrap their body around the egg mass to protect
them until they hatch. They aggressively protect their batch in rocky dens until they hatch. Wolf-
eels biggest predators are the rockfish and kelp greenlings. The only defense wolf-eels have
against predation is their teeth. When threatened, they’ll open their mouths wide to predators
and bare their teeth to try and scare away danger.
Food / Feed Strategy: Wolf-eels have robust jaws and teeth; these allow them to break hard-
shelled invertebrates such as crabs, snails, mussels, and clams. Wolf-eels occasionally eat fish but
are better at catching slow-moving organisms.
Body Form or Style: Anguilliform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Dewey, T. 2009. "Anarrhichthys ocellatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 08, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Anarrhichthys_ocellatus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 21
Common Name: Commerson’s Dolphin
Scientific Name: Cephalorhynchus commersonii
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Geography / Habitat: Commerson’s dolphin can be found in the coastal waters of the southwest
Atlantic Ocean. They are most commonly seen along the eastern coast of South America.
Commerson’s dolphins live in cold, shallow, inshore waters along coastlines, harbors, bays, and
river mouths. They are also frequently found in kelp beds and narrow passages like those in the
Strait of Magellan.
Life Strategy: Commerson’s dolphins breed between September and November. After carrying the
calf for 12 months, the female gives birth to one baby dolphin. Female Commersons take care of
their young; they are attentive and protective of their baby. Commersons have no defense against
predation. Killer whales, sharks, and leopard seals are classified as predators of the Commeron
because they live in the same geographical region; however, no attack has been documented. The
only predator Commersons must worry about are humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Commersons are carnivorous, opportunistic feeders. Their diet consists
mainly of shrimp, small fish, squid, octopus, and even algae.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Peterson, L. and A. Salemi. 2011. “Cephalorhymchus commersonii” (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 10, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cephalorhynchus_commersonii.
html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 22
Common Name: Atlantic Blue Marlin
Scientific Name: Makaira nigricans
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Istiophoridae
Geography / Habitat: The marlin can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.
Larvae are found primarily in the western and central Pacific Ocean. They range from south of
the Maldives Islands, around the Mascaline Islands, and off of the south coasts of Java and
Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. They are found in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean off of
Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Jamaica, Bahamas, Arecibo, and Brazil. Marlins live out in
the open ocean except for where the continental shelf is narrow.
Life Strategy: The spawning season extends from July through October in the North Atlantic,
when the temperature is right in the South Atlantic, from December to January during the
southern hemisphere’s summer. When a female releases her eggs, they float to the surface of the
water doe to their buoyancy and drift in the water until they hatch. They have no parental care.
The only predator of the marlin is humans. The only defense marlins have is their elongated bill
that comes to a point at the end.
Food / Feed Strategy: The marlin catches its prey by approaching a school of fish at full speed,
slashes through with its bill, and returns to devour any stunned or dead prey. It is considered a
specialized but opportunistic feeder. Marlins diet on mainly fish but also eat squid.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Tung, L. 2003. "Makaira nigricans" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 10, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Makaira_nigricans.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 23
Common Name: Sailfin Tang
Scientific Name: Zebrasoma veliferum
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Geography / Habitat: Sailfin tangs are found on the Pacific Ocean. They range from Indonesia
and Christmas Island to the Hawaiinand Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, and south
to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Sailfins live in lagoons and seaward reefs from the lower
surge zone.
Life Strategy: Sailfins have been documented spawning in pairs and in groups, although group
spawning is more common. Reproduction is polygynandrous. The Sialfin has a one strategy
and one defense against predation. The Sailfin’s strategy is eating during the day and hiding at
night in the coral reef. It’s one defense is a sharp caudal spine that has a bright yellow
coloration to deter predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: The sailfin is primarily an herbivore and feeds on benthic algae. They
also feed on zooplankton when there is abundance.
Body Form or Style: Labriform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Compressiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Cater, K. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Zebrasoma veliferum" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 10, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Zebrasoma_veliferum.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 24
Common Name: Gray Whale
Scientific Name: Eschrichtius robustus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Eschrichtiidae
Geography / Habitat: Gray whales can be found in the eastern and western north Pacific.
Eastern north Pacific whales use shallow arctic feeding grounds during the summer, which are
located in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. During the fall, they migrate south along the west coast
of North America to their breeding grounds. Gray whales live in coastal waters with muddy or
sandy bottoms. They are a migratory species and rely on many coastal habitats.
Life Strategy: Gray whales mate throughout the year, although more commonly on the fall.
Once a female is pregnant, she carries the calf for 13 to 14 months before giving birth to a single
calf. Calving grounds are normally in shallow lagoons. Females care for their young after they
are born and are extremely protective of them, especially against such predators as orcas and
whalers.
Food / Feed Strategy: Gray whales are filter feeders and are the only cetacean known primarily
as a bottom feeder. They feed in shallow water with muddy or sandy bottoms or in kelp beds.
They dive to the ocean floor, fill their mouths with sediment, and filter out anything to eat. Gray
whales are considered opportunistic feeders and so in groups.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Kidd, T. 2011. "Eschrichtius robustus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 11, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Eschrichtius_robustus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 25
Common Name: Tiger Shark
Scientific Name: Galeocerdo cuvier
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Geography / Habitat: The Tiger shark can be found along the coasts of eastern North America,
eastern Brazil, China, India, Africa, Japan, and many islands of the Pacific. Tiger sharks prefer
sea grass ecosystems. For some strange reason, females have been found more often in shallow
waters than males. Both genders have been documented in river estuaries and harbors.
Life Strategy: Tiger sharks are polygynandrous. Breeding seasons differ in the northern and
southern hemispheres. In the northern, females delay fertilization until March or May so they
may give birth in May or June of the following year. A female can give birth to 10 to 80 pups
after carrying them for about 16 months. Unfortunately many of them won’t survive to
adulthood. The pups are born in a nursery and once they have, they are completely
independent.
Food / Feed Strategy: Tiger sharks are carnivores and prey on fish, mollusks, birds, snakes,
crustaceans, sea turtles, and dugongs. They have saw-like teeth that are able to penetrate turtle
shells. They rely on stealth more so than speed.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Sagittiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Draper, K. 2011. "Galeocerdo cuvier" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 11, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Galeocerdo_cuvier.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 26
Common Name: Great White Shark
Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes
Family: Lamnidae
Geography / Habitat: Great Whites have a very wide geographical range. They can be found in
all cold temperate and tropical coastal waters. The range from the coastal waters of California to
the western cape of South Africa. They have even been reported in North American coastal
waters from Newfoundland to Florida and from Alaska to Southern Mexico. Great Whites live
primarily offshore around islands and continental shelves.
Life Strategy: Researchers believe male Great Whites use a “pattern breach” to attract female
partners. They will propel two-thirds of their body out of the water and flat against the surface to
make a big splash. When a female is pregnant, she carries the pups for about 12 months. Once
she gives birth in the nursery, the pups are entirely independent. These sharks have no predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Juvenile sharks eat smaller species such as squid and stingrays. As they
develop their diet changes. They feed more on seals, sealions, dolphins, and whale carcasses. The
strategy used for feeding is swimming vertically up from below the prey and biting.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Chewning, D., M. Hall and S. Baker. 2009. "Carcharodon carcharias" (On-line),
Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 11, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Carcharodon_carcharias.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 27
Common Name: Spotted Eagle Ray
Scientific Name: Aetobatus narinari
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes
Family: Myliobatidae
Geography / Habitat: The Eagle Ray can be found in any water that is warm temperate and
tropical. They range from as far as North Carolina to as far south as Brazil. They have also
been known to live in the Red Sea and around the Hawaiian Islands. The Eagle Ray lives in and
around reef edges and prefers the ones with soft bottoms. It is often seen in beach areas and
estuaries and mangroves.
Life Strategy: The breeding season is typically during the summer. Multiple males will chase
one female. Once one of the males wins over the female, she becomes pregnant for eight to
twelve months. A female can have one to four pups but the average is two. There is no
information on parental care after birth. The biggest predators are silvertip sharks and great
hammerheads. Rays have electro sensory organs in their snouts to detect potential predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: The Eagle Ray is a carnivore. They feed mainly on crustaceans, mollusks,
and aquatic worms. They also eat smaller fish occasionally.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Rajiform
Mouth Position: Subterminal
Citation: Pederson, t. 2011. "Aetobatus narinari" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 11, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aetobatus_narinari.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 28
Common Name: Lathherback Turtle
Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines
Family: Dermochelyidae
Geography / Habitat: Leatherbacks live in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean. They range
from Nova Scotia, Labrador, and Newfoundland to Argentina and South Africa. Leatherbacks
live in tropical, temperate and even some subarctic oceans.
Life Strategy: Males and females com offshore between April and November to breed. If males
are successful, they will continue to return to the same location as the year before. Once a
female is ready to give birth, she will swim ashore and make a nest. She then lays about 50 to
179 eggs; however, the majority is yolkless and will not develop further. Other than the female
making a nest and covering a batch of eggs with sand, there is no parental care from either
parent. Almost all organisms, whether from land or aquatic, seem to be predators of this turtle.
Countershading and aggressiveness are the only things that prevent predation on this animal.
Food / Feed Strategy: Leatherbacks are carnivores. They feed in open water on gelatinous
invertebrates such as jellyfish and salps. They also eat crustaceans, fish, cephalopods, sea
urchins, and snails. Leatherbacks have sharp-edged jaws designed for eating soft-bodies prey.
Body Form or Style: N/A
Swim / Locomotion Style: N/A
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Farmer, A., A. Roszko, S. Flore, K. Hatton, V. Combos, A. Helton, K. Francl and F.
Fontanes. 2007. "Dermochelys coriacea" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December
13, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dermochelys_coriacea.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 29
Common Name: Bluering Angelfish
Scientific Name: Pomacanthus annularis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Geography / Habitat: The Bluering can be found in the Indo-Pacific region. They range from
Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands and from the Philippines to the northern tip of Australia.
Bleurings live around rocky coral reefs and other hard bottom coastal areas.
Life Strategy: Multiple females have their own territory within one male’s. The mating ritual
consists of one female and male swimming slowly toward the surface while releasing eggs and
sperm. Spawning is thought to occur between one female and male but it is suspected that the
male will mate with all females in his territory.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bluerings are omnivores and diet on benthic invertebrates such as
zooplankton, sponges, tunicates, and coral polyps. They also eat ascidians, algae, weeds, and
nektonic fish.
Body Form or Style: Labriform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Compressiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Brackney, A. 2003. "Pomacanthus annularis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 11, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pomacanthus_annularis.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 30
Common Name: Bluntnose Sevengill Shark
Scientific Name: Notorynchus cepedianus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Hexanchiformes
Family: Hexanchidae
Geography / Habitat: The Sevengill shark can be found in all oceans except the Atlantic Ocean
and Mediterranean Sea. They range from Southern Brazil to Northern Argentina in the SW
region of the Atlantic Ocean, from Nambia to South Africa in the SE region of the Atlantic
Ocean, from Southern Japan to new Zealand in the Western Pacific Ocean, and from Canada to
Chile in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. There have been reported sightings in the Indian Ocean as
well. The larger sharks live near continental shelves. Smaller sharks live in shallow coastal
waters.
Life Strategy: Breeding season occurs once every two years. Breeding occurs between spring and
early summer months. When a female is pregnant, she carries the pups for twelve months before
giving birth. Females birth eighty-two to ninety-five young in a single litter. There is no parental
care after birth; to survive, pups remain in shallow bays until they are mature enough to migrate
to offshore environments. These sharks have few predators and besides their intimidating size
and jagged teeth filled mouths.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sevengills are carnivorous, opportunistic feeders. They hunt in groups and
ambush prey by sneaking up on them and attacking at high speeds.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Yilmaz, Z. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Notorynchus cepedianus" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 11, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Notorynchus_cepedianus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 31
Common Name: Chain Catshark
Scientific Name: Scyliorhinus retifer
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Geography / Habitat: The Catshark can be found in the northwest and western Central
Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the continental shelf along the
northeastern U.S. They live along the outer continental shelf and upper slope of the western
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. They favor hard bottom habitats.
Life Strategy: There is little known on how Catsharks breed in the wild. They are thought to be
polygynandrous; they are not live-bearers. The female finds sponges, gorgonians, or man-made
structures that the embryo case can wrap itself around. She then lets it go and leaves it. The
eggs emerge from the egg case about 250 days later. Naturally, the only known predators of
Catsharks are larger sharks and piscivorous fish.
Food / Feed Strategy: Catsharks are carnivores. Juveniles and adults prey on fish, squid,
annelids, and crustaceans.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation:Bond, M. and K. Francl. 2006. "Scyliorhinus retifer" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 11, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scyliorhinus_retifer.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 32
Common Name: Albacore
Scientific Name: Thunnus alalunga
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Albacore can be found in the North Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, North
Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea. The Albacore lives in the open water; the larger
bodied Albacore tend to live in deeper water while the smaller bodied ones live closer to the
surface.
Life Strategy: Albacore breed seasonally and are polygynandrous. They breed from July to
September in the Northern Hemisphere, while the Southern Hemisphere breeds from October
to March. Females lay their eggs and the males externally fertilize them. Sharks, rays, large
tuna, and billfishes are the biggest predators for Albacore. Humans also fall under the category.
Food / Feed Strategy: Albacore are opportunistic carnivores. Their diet consists mainly of
smaller fishes, crustacean zooplankton, gonatid squid, and Japanese anchovy. Due to the fact
anchovy are the most common organism found in the stomachs of Albacore, this presents the
possibility that Albacore follow their prey throughout the water column.
Body Form or Style: Subcarangiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Compressiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Hwang, M. and K. Wehrly. 2005. "Thunnus alalunga" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 11, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thunnus_alalunga.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 33
Common Name: Pacific Angel Shark
Scientific Name: Squatina californica
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Squatiniformes
Family: Squatinidae
Geography / Habitat: Angel shark can be found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They range from
Costa Rica to Southern Chile and also from Southeast Alaska to the Gulf of California. Angel
sharks live in shallow waters with soft bottoms. They also live on continental shelves of western
North and South America.
Life Strategy: The Angel shark breed annually with the female being pregnant for about ten
months. The breeding period is from May to August. A female can have one to thirteen pups
but the average is eight. The pups are believed to be completely independent once they are born.
Food / Feed Strategy: Angel sharks are carnivores that diet mainly on bony fish and
cephalopods such as squid and octopus. They also diet on, though not as common, crustaceans
and other mollusks. Angel sharks main predators are sharks that are larger in size and humans.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Rajiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: De Craene, L. and W. Fink. 2004. "Squatina californica" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 11, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Squatina_californica.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 34
Common Name: Dogtooth Tuna
Scientific Name: Gymnosarda unicolor
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Geography / Habitat: Dogtooth Tuna can be found in the Indo West Pacific. They range from
Australia to East Africa and the Red Sea. They are also found off the coast of Japan and the
Philippines, New Guinea, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tuamotus, Pitcairn, and Oeno Islands. They are
considered pelagic, but come inshore and are found around coral reefs and atolls
Life Strategy: Spawning takes place from December to February. Dogtooth tuna are classified as
open water substratum eggs scatterers. The eggs are small and float near the surface, hatching
within a couple of days. The biggest predator of this fish is humans. They are commercially
fished.
Food / Feed Strategy: Dogtooth tuna are carnivores. They eat shoaling fish like herring, mackerel,
and cuttlefish. They also eat squid occasionally.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Samuels, K. 2001. "Gymnosarda unicolor" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 13, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Gymnosarda_unicolor.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 35
Common Name: Porbeagle
Scientific Name: Lamna nasus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes
Family: Lamnidae
Geography / Habitat: The Porbeagle can be found in the northern hemisphere of the Atlantic
Ocean. They range from South Carolina as far north as Norway. They can also be found in the
Mediterranean Sea and from Morocco to the arctic waters off of northwestern Russia. In the
southern hemisphere they can be found along, primarily, the western, southern, and eastern
coasts of South America, Africa, and Australia. They prefer to live in pelagic and littoral zones
and prefer cold waters.
Life Strategy: Porbeagles are ovoviviparous, meaning they retain the eggs until they hatch, and
breed from September to November. Females will carry pups for eight to nine months. They
can give birth to one to five pups with the average being four. Parental care is unknown but is
usually uncommon in shark species anyway. The only possible predators of Poebeagles are
white sharks and orcas, and there have been no accounts of attack.
Food / Feed Strategy: Porbeagles are carnivores. They diet on many kinds of fish, other sharks,
and even snails and sea urchins which suggests they forage at the bottom of the water column.
Even though they are considered opportunistic feeders, they have preferred foods at different
times of the year.
Body Form or Style: Thunniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Fusiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Edmunds, J. and R. Meredith. 2011. "Lamna nasus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 13, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lamna_nasus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 36
Common Name: Bottlenosed Dolphin
Scientific Name: Tursiops truncatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Geography / Habitat: Bottlenosed dolphins can be found in the Pacfic, Atlantic, and Indian
Ocean, along with the Red Sea. Bottlenose dolphins live in bays, estuaries, open shorelines, and
large estuarine rivers.
Life Strategy: Bottlenosed dolphins are polygamous. They will breed once every 3 to 6 years and
during that year, they will breed at any time. When a male finally attracts a female and gets her
pregnant, she carries the calf for about a year. Females will give birth to one calf. Females care
for their calf for five years; a group of females will help care for all the calves. Sharks are the
only predators dolphins must be wary of, though stingrays have causing an increase in deaths.
Food / Feed Strategy: What Bottlenosed dolphins eat depends on where they live, referring to
habitat and the geographical location. They usually hunt individually but will get into groups to
feed, especially when there is a large school of fish involved. They have quite a few strategies for
catching prey. One is “strand feeding.” The second is echolocation. The third is passive listening.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Jenkins, J. and P. Myers. 2009. "Tursiops truncatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 13, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tursiops_truncatus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 37
Common Name: Whale Shark
Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Rhincodontidae
Geography / Habitat: Whale sharks can be found in the Oriental, Ethiopian, Australian,
Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Ocean. Whale sharks live in moderate temperature water in the
deep sea.
Life Strategy: Little is known about the reproduction of Whale sharks. We do know they are
ovoviviparous. There have been reports of adult Whale sharks swimming with younger ones,
this suggests that Whale sharks care for their young after they’re born. Juveniles carcasses have
been found in blue sharks, blue marlin, and killer whales; but other than that, the only predator
of an adult are humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Whale sharks are one of three species of filter-feeding sharks. Whale
sharks use their gigantic mouths to suck in water that might carry food. They are considered
planktivores but eat fish, cnidarians, and zooplankton. Once the shark has the mixture in its
mouth, it pushes it through a filter in the gills to allow the water leave and the food to stay.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: French, H. 2011. "Rhincodon typus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 13, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rhincodon_typus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 38
Common Name: Moray Eel
Scientific Name: Gymnothorax funebris
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Geography / Habitat: Morays can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf
of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. They range from New Jersey to Brazil. They are most common
in Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. Morays live in rocky,
intertidal areas, coral reefs, mangroves, tidal creeks, harbors, sea grass, and other areas over
soft-bottoms.
Life Strategy: We know that fertilization occurs externally and at a specific spawning site. It is
not known when Morays spawn, but their close relatives spawn in the early months of the year.
When a spawning site is chosen, millions of eggs are released. There is no parental care after the
eggs are laid. Anything that eats zooplankton will eat Morays as larvae. When they become full
grown, they don’t have nearly as many predators as before.
Food / Feed Strategy: morays are carnivores. It diets on almost any species of fish as long as
they are not too big to eat. They also eat cephalopods and crustaceans. Morays gulp their food
down or, if the prey is a little too big, will tear it apart.
Body Form or Style: Anguilliform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Wilson, K. and A. Fraser. 2006. "Gymnothorax funebris" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Gymnothorax_funebris.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 39
Common Name: Heaviside’s Dolphin
Scientific Name: Cephalorhynchus heavisidii
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Geography / Habitat: Heaviside’s dolphin can be found in coastal waters off of Africa’s southwestern coast.
They range from central Angola to the southern-most tip of South Africa. They live exclusively in the
Atlantic Ocean. Most sightings have been in the Benguela current.
Life Strategy: There is little information on the breeding system for Heaviside’s dolphin, but most other
dolphins are promiscuous. They breed once every 2 to 4 years from spring to late summer. They usually give
birth to a single calf after carrying it for almost a year. Females are thought to care for their young after
they’re born; due to the lack of space in the womb, a calves tail and fins are folded, so when it is born, the
mother must help it build its’ muscles and learn to swim. Humans are the biggest potential predator for
these dolphins due to accidental death by fish nets; however, the Japanese culture finds their meat a
delicacy.
Food / Feed Strategy: Heaviside’s dolphins are carnivores. Their primarily feed on hake and kingclip. They
also feed on Octopods, kingfish, gobies, and squid. They have torpedo shaped bodies that allow them to
swim at high speeds to catch prey.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Blanken, S. 2011. "Cephalorhynchus heavisidii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cephalorhynchus_heavisidii.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 40
Common Name: Californian anchoveta
Scientific Name: Engraulis mordax
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Engraulidae
Geography / Habitat: The Northern anchovies can be found off the west coast of North
America. They range from Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, Canada, to Cabo San
Lucas in Baja California, Mexico, and in the Gulf of California. This is and epipelagic and
reritic species.
Life Strategy: Northern anchovies are promiscuous. They breed during late winter through
spring; however, research shows that they breed year round with peak being in February to
April. These anchovies are broadcast spawners, therefore, parental care is nonexistent. Almost
everything in the ocean is a predator to Northern anchovies, including humans. They form large
schools for protection.
Food / Feed Strategy: Anchovies are filter feeders. They diet on krill, copepod, and decapod
larvae. They assume an S-shaped posture when prey is in sight, and when the prey is within
striking distance, they straighten their body which projects them forward and the prey caught.
Water that passes over the gills goes through long, finely separated gill rakers that catch and
food particles.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Davis, T., E. DelaTorre and A. Raub. 2011. "Engraulis mordax" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 14, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Engraulis_mordax.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 41
Common Name: Long-finned Pilot Whale
Scientific Name: Globicephala melas
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Geography / Habitat: The northern group of Pilot whales can be found in the Atlantic Ocean.
They range from Greenland, Iceland, the Barents and the North Seas into the north-east coast
of the United States and east into the Mediterranean Sea. The south group can be found in the
Indian and South Pacific Oceans. They range from New Zealand to Australia. They live in cold,
saltwater water.
Life Strategy: Females mate every 4 years. Breeding season begins in spring and early summer,
from April to June. When a female becomes pregnant, she carries her calf for 16 months and
will have a single baby. Females will from a large pod and help take care of any calves within it.
Females will care for the young for a little over two years, and then they leave them. Humans
are the only predators of this species.
Food / Feed Strategy: Pilot whales are carnivorous. They feed mainly on mollusks and fish.
They also eat squid, mackerel, Atlantic herring, cod, and turbot. They use human’s commercial
fishing to easily catch prey.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Preston, J. 2011. "Globicephala melas" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Globicephala_melas.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 42
Common Name: Spotted Seahorse
Scientific Name: Hippocampus kuda
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Geography / Habitat: The Spotted seahorse can be found in the Indo-Pacific region. They
range from Australia to China. Spotted seahorses live in shallow inshore areas. They also live in
mangroves, coastal seagrass beds, estuaries, coastal bays and lagoons, harbors, and sandy
sediments in rocky littoral zones.
Life Strategy: Spotted seahorses breed all year long and spawn every 20 to 28 days. Females can
lay 20 to 1000 fertilized eggs. 100 to 200 will actually survive to become juveniles. The unusual
thing about seahorse reproduction is that females produce the eggs but the male births and
cares for them. Once the babies are born, they are completely independent. Spotted seahorses
use camouflage to prevent predation. Even so, humans are their biggest predators. Their
natural predators are loggerhead turtles, tunas, skates, rays, and crabs also feed on seahorses.
Food / Feed Strategy: Seahorses are carnivorous ambush predators and use their thick snout to
suck in prey. They feed on zooplankton, small crustaceans, and larval fishes.
Body Form or Style: N/A
Swim / Locomotion Style: N/A
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Hashikawa, M. and W. Fink. 2004. "Hippocampus kuda" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hippocampus_kuda.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 43
Common Name: Beluga Whale
Scientific Name: Delphinapterus leucas
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Monodontidae
Geography / Habitat: Beluga whales can be found in arctic and sub-arctic waters of Canada,
Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and the Soviet Russia. Belugas live in fjords, channels, bays, and
the shallow waters of the arctic seas.
Life Strategy: Belugas breed once every 2 to 3 years. Breeding occurs from late February
through early April. Once a female is pregnant, she carries her calf for 14 months on average. A
calf can be a year to 2 years old when they leave their mother. Polar bear and killer whales are
the biggest predators of Belugas. Humans used to hunt them also, but now it’s not as common.
Food / Feed Strategy: Belugas are carnivorous. They eat smelt, flatfish, flounder, sculpins,
salmon, and cod. They also eat invertebrates and bottom dwelling creatures. Because Belugas
don’t have teeth to tear prey apart with, they eat everything whole. They have to ensure that
what they’re eating isn’t too large.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Williams, S. 2002. "Delphinapterus leucas" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Delphinapterus_leucas.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 44
Common Name: Goblin Shark
Scientific Name: Mitsukurina owstoni
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes
Family: Mitsukurinidae
Geography / Habitat: Goblin sharks can be found in the bays of Japan, off New Zealand,
southern Africa, and in the Eastern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. They are so scattered because
they were found in Japan but have been spread throughout the world. They live in the mid and
deep-water zones on the outer edge of continental shelves and slopes.
Life Strategy: There is virtually no information on the breeding habits of Goblin sharks. They
are very rare to see in the wild, especially alive, so no one has been able to study them. Most
species of sharks are independent as soon as they’re born, so we can assume Goblin sharks are
no different. The only known predators of these sharks are Japanese fishermen.
Food / Feed Strategy: Goblin sharks have a combination of electrical sensors that heightens its
sense of smell. It has very poor eyesight which suggests that they feed in deep water and near
the bottom. Stomach records that researchers do have, have shown parts of fish, squid, crabs,
and ostracods.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Bizer, S. 2004. "Mitsukurina owstoni" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mitsukurina_owstoni.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 45
Common Name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae
Geography / Habitat: Loggerheads are found in almost all the world’s temperate and tropical
oceans: in the Atlantic Ocean they range from Newfoundland to Argentina, in the Indian Ocean
from southern Africa to the Arabian Gulf of western Australia, the Mediterranean Sea, and the
Pacific Ocean they range from Alaska to Chile and Australia to Japan. Where they live changes
throughout their life time. Hatchlings return to the sea and prefer rocky or muddy substrate
instead of sandy ones. They are also found near coral reefs and salt marshes.
Life Strategy: Female Loggerheads can mate year round every 2 to 4 years but spawning peaks in
May and July. A female will nest 3 to 5 times during the breeding season and she can lay 110 to
130 eggs in each nest. It will take eggs 45 to 80 days to hatch, depending on incubation
temperature. There is no post-parental care once the eggs are laid.
Food / Feed Strategy: Loggerheads are omnivores. They feed on algae and vascular plants. They
also eat crustaceans because they have such massive, powerful jaws. They also eat other
invertebrates like jellyfish, shrimp, sponges, fish and fish eggs.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Duermit, L. and J. Harding. 2007. "Caretta caretta" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Caretta_caretta.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 46
Common Name: Rough-toothed Dolphin
Scientific Name: Steno bredanensis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Geography / Habitat: This dolphin can be found along the coasts of Kaua’I, Ni’ihau, and
O’hau of the Hawaiian Islands. Also, the Mediterranean Sea, the Sicily Channel, Tahiti,
Moorea, and the Windward Islands. They live in shallow and deep ocean water, but prefer the
deep ocean.
Life Strategy: There is little information on the breeding habits of Rough-toothed dolphins in
the wild. With captive breeding, we do know that it takes about 2 months for a calf to become
independent of its mother. There are no known predators of this dolphin. There have been
reports of shark bites but none are actually eaten. They are occasionally caught in fish nets.
Food / Feed Strategy: Rough-toothed dolphins are carnivorous. They feed on silverside, saury,
needlefish, mahimahi, and squid. They will dive to great depths to eat cephalopods and large
fish. As their name suggests, these dolphins have rough teeth that they use to tear their prey
apart. They feed in groups for predatory efficiency.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Greenwood, j. 2011. "Steno bredanensis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Steno_bredanensis.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 47
Common Name: Redththroated Rainbowfish
Scientific Name: Coris aygula
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Geography / Habitat: The rainbowfish can be found primarily near Eastern Africa and Southern
Asia. They range from Comores, Madagascar, and Maldives. They are also found near Southern
Japan. They range from the Ryukyu Islands, the Bonin and Ogawawara Islands, and South to the
Lord Howe and Rapa Islands. They live in rocky and coral reefs.
Life Strategy: When spawning season begins, wrasses will gather in many, small groups with one
male overseeing many females. They will spawn along the outer edge of a reef patch. In more
extensive reef complexes, fish will spawn along the outer slope. Many large fish and sharks prey
on this fish. Their bright coloration allows it to blend with the surrounding coral.
Food / Feed Strategy: Wrasses are carnivores. They feed on mollusks, hermit crabs, other crabs,
and sea urchins.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Lehto-Jacobs, J. 2003. "Coris aygula" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Coris_aygula.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 48
Common Name: Roughtail Stingray
Scientific Name: Dasyatis centroura
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Geography / Habitat: Roughtails can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic
Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, bay of Biscay, and Angola. They range from the coast of Massachusetts to
brazil in the Atlantic. Roughtails live in benthic and marine environments with sandy bottoms. In
summer they are closer to shore and in winter they go as far as the continental shelf, but not beyond.
Life Strategy: There is little information on the breeding habits of Roughtails, but we do know they
are polygynous and they practice internal fertilization. They generally spawn in Autumn or early
winter. When a female is pregnant, she carries the baby around for an average of 4 months. Females
can have 2 to 6 offspring in a litter. Once they are born, baby stingrays are independent. Sharks are
the biggest predator of the ray. It escapes predation y burying itself in the sand or mud.
Food / Feed Strategy: Roughtails are opportunistic carnivores. They will eat whatever they can find.
They eat crustaceans, cephalopods, bony fish, and polychaete worms.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Ostraciform
Mouth Position: Subterminal
Citation: Brown, E., J. Pasquarella and M. Thompson. 2011. "Dasyatis centroura" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 14, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dasyatis_centroura.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 49
Common Name: Greenland Shark
Scientific Name: Somniosus microcepalus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Squaliformes
Family: Dalatiidae
Geography / Habitat: Greenland sharks can be found in the north Atlantic. They range from the
coast of New England and Canada to the Scandinavian waters. They’ve been occasionally spotted
in the mouth of the Seine River in France. They live on continental and insular shelves.
Life Strategy: There is little information on the breeding habits of these sharks but like most other
species of shark, there are scars on female caudal fins, which suggests that the male does so until
the female submits. Fertilization occurs internally. It is though that like other sharks, the pups are
born independent. There are no known predators of Greenland sharks due to their large size.
Food / Feed Strategy: Greenland sharks are carnivores. They feed on fish, marine mammals, and
carrion. Specifically, they eat herring, cod, halibut, seals, and small whales.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Mills, P. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Somniosus microcephalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Somniosus_microcephalus.html.
Title: Marine Fish Species #: 50
Common Name: Zebra Shark
Scientific Name: Stegostoma fasciatum
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Stegostomatidae
Geography / Habitat: Zebra sharks live in the central, western and Indian Pacific oceans. It is
abundant on Australian coastal waters. It lives mainly over continental and insular shelves and
is common around coral reefs and sandy bottoms.
Life Strategy: Breeding frequency in this species is not known but they do breed year-round.
Females will lay 2 to 7 eggs with the average being 4. In captivity, it took about half a year of
incubation for the sharks to hatch, which believed to be the same amount of time in the wild.
Once the sharks are born, they are immediately independent. Humans and other large sharks
are the only predators of this species.
Food / Feed Strategy: Like most other sharks, these are carnivores. They feed on small fish,
shrimp, crabs, and mollusks.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Organisms and Populations, P. Rasmussen and J. Reum. 2005. "Stegostoma fasciatum" (On-
line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Stegostoma_fasciatum.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 51
Common Name: Freshwater Drum
Scientific Name: Aplodinnotus grunniens
Kingdom: Aniamlia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Geography / Habitat: They can be found in the western banks of the Appalachian Mountains as
far west as Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Their range extends from the Hudson Bay to the
southern range in the Rio Usumacinata Basin of Guatemala. They are a benthic species that like
silty to rocky substrates.
Life Strategy: Freshwater drum breed seasonally in open water. Spawning take place between
May and June. One female can produce 40,000 to 60,000 eggs which float to the surface of the
water. It takes about 2 to 4 days for the eggs to hatch and a few more days for them to develop
enough muscle to swim back down. Humans are a big part of predation in freshwater drum.
Food / Feed Strategy: Freshwater drums are carnivorous. They feed on insects, small fish,
mollusks, and aquatic crustaceans. They have pharyngeal teeth that help them feed on snails.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Sluss, A. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Aplodinotus grunniens" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aplodinotus_grunniens.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 52
Common Name: River Blackfish
Scientific Name: Gadopsis marmoratus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Gadopsidae
Geography / Habitat: River Blackfish can be found in southeastern Australia. They are found
north and south of the Great Dividing Range. They live in low-velocity lowland rivers with lots
of shelter.
Life Strategy: The spawning season begins in either late spring or summer. Eggs are externally
fertilized and laid in logs or man-made structures. A female can lay about 300 eggs in a single
breeding session. Both the male and female have been documented caring for the eggs during
development. Due to such low offspring numbers, they must ensure the maximum survival of
offspring. Juveniles stay in covered, shallow waters to prevent predation. Adult Blackfish go
into deeper water because they are not prey anymore.
Food / Feed Strategy: River Blackfish are carnivorous, ambush predators. They feed on insects,
mollusks, crustaceans, small fish, terrestrial invertebrates, and that fall into the water.
Terrestrial insects make up the majority of the Blackfish diet.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: LeBlanc, P. 2011. "Gadopsis marmoratus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Gadopsis_marmoratus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 53
Common Name: Longear Sunfish
Scientific Name: Lepomis megalotis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: The Longear Sunfish can be found exclusively in North America. They
are found primarily in the Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds. They range from
Minnesota east to Ontario, Ohio and western Pennsylvania southward through the Mississippi
basin to the Gulf states of Mexico. They live in clear streams with clay or gravel hard bottom
and in or near vegetation.
Life Strategy: Spawning will begin from late May to late August. A female can lay 100 to 3,000
eggs. Once a female has released the eggs, the male will chase her out of his nest. He then cares
for the eggs until they hatch 2 to 7 days later. He guards the nest vigorously against other males
and predators. The biggest predator to the Sunfish is the largemouth bass. Sunfish use
vegetation, low light, and deep water to escape and hide from predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sunfish mostly eat aquatic insects, microcrustaceans, fish eggs, young
bass, and young sunfish. They have been known to follow hognose suckers who stir up sediment
and potential prey when they move around pebbles.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Mullaney, M. 2003. "Lepomis megalotis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lepomis_megalotis.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 54
Common Name: Razorback Sucker
Scientific Name: Xyrauchen texanus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Catostomidae
Geography / Habitat: Razorbacks can be found in the Colorado River system from
southwestern Wyoming to southeastern California. A razorback lives in flooded areas in the
spring and in eddies in during the winter.
Life Strategy: Razorbacks breed once per year with the peak being in the spring and summer.
Spawning may take place in mainstreams, riverine-influenced impoundments, and wave-
washed shorelines. A large group will form and when a female leaves it, then that means she is
ready to spawn. One or more males will follow her. There does not seem to be any parental care
once the eggs are laid. Fish, birds, mammals, and even some insects prey on Razorbacks.
Food / Feed Strategy: As larvae, Razorbacks feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton. As
adults, they feed on planktonic crustaceans, diatoms, filamentous algae, and detritus.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Langstaff, L. and W. Fink. 2004. "Xyrauchen texanus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Xyrauchen_texanus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 55
Common Name: Shovelnose Sturgeon
Scientific Name: Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acipenseriformes
Family: Acipenseridae
Geography / Habitat: Sturgeons can be found in the Missouri and Mississippi river basins. This
ranges from Montana to south to Louisiana, and from Pennsylvania west to New Mexico. Sturgeons
are bottom-dwellers and prefer to live in high turbidity in large waters.
Life Strategy: Females do not spawn every year, and frequency is influenced by food supply and fat
storage. The breeding season typically lasts from April to early July. One female can produce about
50,000 eggs in a breeding season. Within 5 to 8 days, the eggs hatch. When they do, they become
completely independent. Larger fish prey on juvenile sturgeons. Once they are full-grown, man
becomes the biggest predator.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sturgeons are opportunistic feeders. They feed on insects, mussels, worms and
crustaceans. They use their barbells to detect prey and use their sucker type mouth to pick up the
food.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Lord, K. and W. Fink. 2004. "Scaphirhynchus platorynchus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 14, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scaphirhynchus_platorynchus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 56
Common Name: Greenside Darter
Scientific Name: Etheostomata blennioides
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Geography / Habitat: Greenside darters can be found in the few major watersheds of North
America. It ranges from New York and the Potomac River drainage west to Kansas and south to
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Darters are benthic and spend their lives
associated with the substrate.
Life Strategy: The breeding season is from April to June. A female can lay 2 to 192 eggs. She
lays them right above algae where it will attach to the rock, where they will remain until they
hatch. It will take 19 days for the eggs to hatch, until then the male will guard them. Once they
hatch they are independent. Small mouth bass, different kinds of trout and mergansers are the
biggest predators of Darters. They prevent predation by “freezing” in the water. During the
breeding season, males change to a bright green color that blends in with the algae.
Food / Feed Strategy: Darters feed on benthic insects. Insect larvae, mayflies, and stoneflies.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Amiiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Graham, S. and W. Fink. 2004. "Etheostoma blennioides" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 15, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Etheostoma_blennioides.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 57
Common Name: Ganges River Dolphin
Scientific Name: Plantanista gangetica
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Plantanistidae
Geography / Habitat: The Ganges river dolphin can be found in southern Asia in the Ganges
and Indus rivers. They live in tributaries that flow through hills and lowlands. They prefer
areas that create counter-currents such as small islands and river beds. During the monsoon
season, river dolphins occupy tributaries and go back to larger rivers in the winter time.
Life Strategy: River dolphins breed all year long. Most females give birth from October to
March with the peak being in December and January. They are pregnant for about 8 to 12
months with it typically being 10. A female will give birth to a single baby and within 2 to 12
months, she will begin to wean them. Once the offspring has been successfully weaned, they will
go off and become independent. Besides humans, these dolphins are considered top predator.
Food / Feed Strategy: River dolphins are carnivorous. They eat catfish, carp, herring,
freshwater sharks, prawn, and mollusks. They use their speed and flexible neck to catch prey.
Their body allows them to swim fast in shallow water and their long snout and flexible neck
allow them to search the river bottom for potential prey. They have poor sight; therefore, they
also use echolocation.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Swinton, J., W. Gomez and P. Myers. 2009. "Platanista gangetica" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 15, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Platanista_gangetica.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 58
Common Name: Fathead Minnow
Scientific Name: Pimephales promelas
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: Minnows can be found in the Nearctic region. They range as far north as
Quebec to Alberta in Canada and their southern range extends to Alabama, Texas, and New
Mexico. They have also been introduced in Europe, Germany, UK, Puerto Rico, and Iran.
Fatheads live in small rivers, ponds, headwaters and creeks. They can also tolerate water
conditions that most other fish can’t.
Life Strategy: Fatheads are polygynandrous and spawn between May and September. Females
can produce 1,000 to 10,000 eggs in a single breeding season. Once a female has laid her eggs in
a male’s nest, he chases her away. He is then left to care for the eggs by himself. It takes about 4
to 5 days for all the eggs to hatch, and once they do they are on their own. Predators of the
Fathead include largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and walleye. They can release a
substance into the water to alarm other fish that a predator is nearby.
Food / Feed Strategy: Fatheads are opportunistic omnivores. They can be characterized as filter
feeders because they sift through mud and silt to get to food. While sifting, they find an
abundance of algae and protozoan. They also feed on diatoms, filamentous algae, small
crustaceans, and insect larvae.
Body Form or Style: Compressifom
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Sommer, A. 2011. "Pimephales promelas" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 15, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pimephales_promelas.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 59
Common Name: Macquarie Perch
Scientific Name: Macquaria australasicq
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Percichthyidae
Geography / Habitat: Macquarie is found exclusively in Australia. They are found primarily in
the Murray-Darling basin in New South Wales. They prefer living in deep, rocky pools in rivers
and streams. They favor cool, clear, slow-moving water.
Life Strategy: Breeding occurs from the end of October through early November. They breed
yearly and usually return to the same river. Females release their eggs in fast-moving water with
rocky bottoms. When the eggs are released, they stick to the gravel until they hatch 10 to 18 days
later. There is no post-parental care because the larvae get carried away by the current
downstream. Predators include redfins, rainbow trout, and the Australian bass.
Food / Feed Strategy: Their diet consists of aquatic invertebrates such as caddislfy, stonefly and
mayfly species. Adults feed at the bottom of lakes and rivers and juveniles eat water fleas, water
mites, and rotifers by sucking them up in their mouths.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Kosakowski, L. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Macquaria australasica" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed December 15, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Macquaria_australasica.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 60
Common Name: Longnose Dace
Scientific Name: Rhinichtys cataractae
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: Long dace can be found in North America. They range from the Atlantic
coast to the Pacific coast and from northern Mexico to the Arctic Circle in northern Canada.
They live in cold, fast-flowing water. Most populations are found in stream riffles. They prefer
gravel substrates over sandy ones.
Life Strategy: Longnose dace are polygynandrous and one male will have multiple females come
into his territory to spawn with him. Females usually spawn once per year but can have up to 6
clutches in one session. They can have 1,155 to 2,534 eggs. It takes 3 to 4 days for the eggs to hatch
and once they do they are completely independent. Longnose dace’s biggest predators are fish-
eating bird and larger fish like the salmonid species.
Food / Feed Strategy: Longnose dace are nocturnal feeders. They have dark-adapted vision for
night foraging and their barbels to probe around in the substrate in search of food. They feed on
bottom dwelling insects such as mayflies, black flies, and small cicadas.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Duby, K. 2011. "Rhinichthys cataractae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 16, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rhinichthys_cataractae.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 61
Common Name: Smallmouth Bass
Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrachidae
Geography / Habitat: The Smallmouth bass natively inhabits the Great Lakes and the St.
Lawrence drainages from southern Quebec and New Hampshire to North Dakota, and the
Mississippi River drainage as far south as Alabama. It has been introduced in many countries
around the world and is still surviving today. Smallmouths live in cool river and lakes with
rocky or sandy substrates.
Life Strategy: Spawning usually occurs between March and May. A female will enter a male’s
nest and begin a courting dance. A female can lay up to 2,000 eggs. Once spawning is complete,
the female will be chased away and the male will care for the eggs. 4 to 6 days later the eggs
hatch, but the fry will remain in the nest for two more weeks before leaving the nest.
Smallmouths bass are predators themselves, but can be eaten by other fish, turtles, and birds.
Food / Feed Strategy: Fry and juveniles feed primarily on zooplankton and insect larvae. Adults
have more diversity, their diet includes: crayfish, amphibians, insects, other fish, and even
cannibalism (eating the young of other parents).
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Whitlock, J. and W. Fink. 2004. "Micropterus dolomieu" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 16, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Micropterus_dolomieu.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 62
Common Name: Burbot
Scientific Name: Lota lota
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gadiformes
Family: Lotidae
Geography / Habitat: Burbot can be found in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. They live at
the bottoms of lakes with cold, slow-moving water. They prefer freshwater but can be found in
brackish water.
Life Strategy: Burbots breed once a year during winter and will move into smaller streams to
spawn. They lay their eggs in shallow water so they may rest on the bottom and hatch there in
the spring. A female can produce 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 eggs with the average being 750,000.
Burbots are broadcast spawner which means there is no parental care invested in the
development of eggs. In 2 to 4 months, the eggs will have hatched and will be independent.
Burbot must rely on their cryptic habits and coloration for protection against predators like the
northern pike.
Food / Feed Strategy: Burbots are piscivorous, although their diet changes with the season. In
early summer they are found to eat aquatic crustaceans and opossum shrimp in the fall. Inert
materials have also been found in the stomachs of Burbot such as rocks, wood chips, and plastic,
indicating that Burbot are indiscriminate.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Jacobs, G. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Lota lota" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 16, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lota_lota.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 63
Common Name: Brook Trout
Scientific Name: Salvelinus fontinalis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: Brook trout can be found as far south as Georgia in the Appalachian
mountain range and as far north to the Hudson Bay. Brook trout have been introduced in the
following places: new Zealand, western North America, South America, Asia, and parts of
Europe. Brook trout live in rivers, lakes, and marine areas.
Life Strategy: Brook trout spawn in late summer or autumn. They spawn in areas with loose,
clean gravel in shallow riffles or shoreline area. Only one male may mate with a female; before
they do, the female will dig a pit to deposit the eggs in. The eggs are adhesive and will incubate
in the pit until they are ready to hatch.
Food / Feed Strategy: Brook trout will eat almost anything that will fit into their mouths
including mostly aquatic insect larvae such as caddisflies, mayflies, and midges. They also eat
worms, leeches, crustaceans, spiders, fishes, frogs, salamanders, and snakes.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation:Roberts, J. 2000. "Salvelinus fontinalis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 17, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Salvelinus_fontinalis.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 64
Common Name: Channel Catfish
Scientific Name: Ictalurus punctatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: Channel catfish can be found in the Nearctic in lower Canada and
throughout the mid-west of the United States. They can live in freshwater, saltwater, and
brackish water but are found generally in freshwater. They live in rivers, lakes, reservoirs,
ponds, creeks and streams. They can live in water with sandy, gravelly, and rocky bottoms but
they prefer muddy ones.
Life Strategy: Channel catfish are monogamous and mate during the summer. They make
hidden nests and the eggs will stay there for 4 to 10 days until they hatch. After spawning
occurs, the female will be chased away but not completely. Both parents protect their offspring
vigorously. It will take half a week to 4 for the offspring to become independent.
Food / Feed Strategy: When channel catfish are adults, they are more carnivorous as opposed to
the omnivorous juveniles. Juveniles eat large varieties of plants and animals. An adults’ diet
consists of the yellow perch and sunfish, snails, algae, snakes, frogs and insects.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Schoonover, D. and W. Fink. 2004. "Ictalurus punctatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 17, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ictalurus_punctatus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 65
Common Name: Brown Bullhead
Scientific Name: Ameiurus nebulosus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Geography / Habitat: They are native to the freshwater habitats Canada and the United States.
They range from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Mobile Bay, the Great Lakes, and the
Hudson Bay. They live in slow-moving runs of creeks, rivers, reservoirs, ponds, and lakes.
Life Strategy: Bullheads are monogamous and breed during the spring and early summer. One
parent or sometimes both will build nests at the bottom of water; a nest can contain 50 to 10,000
eggs. Eggs are demersal and one or both parents will guard them until they hatch. It takes
about a week or two for the eggs to hatch and another full week before the parents will let the
fry leave the nest. Northern pike, walleye, snapping turtles, herons, and water snakes are
predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bullheads are opportunistic omnivores. Juveniles will feed in zooplankton
and insect larvae. Adults feed on insects, small fish, fish eggs, mollusks, plants, leeches, worms,
and crayfish.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Guth, R. 2011. "Ameiurus nebulosus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 17, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ameiurus_nebulosus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 66
Common Name: White Bass
Scientific Name: Morone chrysops
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Moronidae
Geography / Habitat: They can be found from southern Canada to northeastern Mexico. They
are primarily located in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio river drainages. White bass live in
large bodies of water. They prefer areas with little turbidity and where the substrate is clean
and no vegetation.
Life Strategy: Breeding occurs from March through May. Females can lie up to and even over
half a million eggs. Females will swim upstream and lay her eggs while males follow behind,
releasing their sperm. The eggs are adhesive; they attach to the bottom of the substrate for
about 2 days until they hatch. White bass are preyed on by many predatory fish, including their
own kind.
Food / Feed Strategy: Larval bass feed on zooplankton. Juveniles feed on macro-invertebrates
such as insect larvae. Adults become piscivorous and begin feeding on fish such as minnows,
shad, sunfish, and the yellow perch.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Morgan, T. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Morone chrysops" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 17, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Morone_chrysops.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 67
Common Name: North African Catfish
Scientific Name: Clarias gariepinus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes
Family: Clariidae
Geography / Habitat: North African catfish can be found in north and south Africa. They have
also been introduced in Europe, the Middle East, and in parts of Asia. They live in lakes, ponds,
pools, rivers, rapids, and around dams. Catfish are bottom dwellers and can live in very turbid
waters.
Life Strategy: They breed in summer. They migrate to shallow, flooded grassy areas on the
edges of lakes and rivers to spawn. Females will then lay their eggs in the vegetation. They are
broadcast spawners. This species is preyed on widely. Man is the biggest along with leopards,
crocodiles and birds.
Food / Feed Strategy: Catfish are omnivores. They are not particular; they feed on insects,
plankton, snails, crab, shrimp and other invertebrates. They have even been known to eat dead
birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Gunder, H. and W. Fink. 2004. "Clarias gariepinus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 17, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Clarias_gariepinus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 68
Common Name: Pirate Perch
Scientific Name: Aphredoderus sayanus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Percopsiformes
Family: Aphredoderidae
Geography / Habitat: Pirate perch are found exclusively in North America. They can be found
in the lowlands of and surrounding areas of Ozark, in lakes and pools east of the Mississippi
River and as far south as eastern Texas. Perch live in clear, warm water with low currents.
They like to live near or in dense vegetation, woody debris, root masses and undercut banks.
Life Strategy: Breeding occurs once a year during spring. A female can lie from 100 to 400 eggs
per batch. Perch spawn in root masses; females will release their eggs while males gather
around to have a chance of fertilizing them. Further research is needed to determine how long
they will take to hatch and parental care.
Food / Feed Strategy: Perch are carnivorous. They feed on aquatic insects, small crustaceans
and small fish. Salamanders, large fish, piscivorous birds, otters and mink are all predators of
this fish.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Miner, M. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Aphredoderus sayanus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 17, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphredoderus_sayanus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 69
Common Name: Logperch
Scientific Name: Percina caprodes
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Geography / Habitat: Logperch are found only in North America. They range from the St.
Lawrence River and Great Lakes, to the Hudson Bay and Mississippi River, to the Gulf of
Mexico drainages. Logperch live in the shallow waters of rivers and creeks. They prefer sand
and gravel substrate.
Life Strategy: Logperch breed during spring and summer. They spawn fast-moving streams
with sand or gravel substrates. Logperch are broadcast spawners, however, females bury the
eggs in the sand or gravel and the males will fertilize them after she is done. Logperch are more
of prey than predators, they are most often prey of larger fish and piscivorous birds.
Food / Feed Strategy: Juveniles feed on rotifers, copepods, and waterfleas. As they grow, they
incorporate aquatic crustaceans into their diet.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Spalding, W. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Percina caprodes" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Percina_caprodes.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 70
Common Name: Largemouth Bass
Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: The Largemouth bass can be found in eastern North America. They live I
quiet, clear water with dense vegetation. They usually stay in the shallow areas.
Life Strategy: Largemouth bass breed annually in the spring months. Males build nests to
attract females. Once the two have spawn, the female will lay her eggs in his nest. A female will
have about 3,000 eggs. It takes about 3 to 4 days for the eggs to hatch and once they have, they
will remain in it for at most a month. Once a month is up, the fry will be independent. Yellow
perch, northern pike and muskellunge are the biggest predators of young bass. When they are
adults, they are usually able to escape these predators, except for humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: As fry and juveniles, they feed on zooplankton and aquatic insects. When
they mature, their diet shifts into eating crayfish and other fish species.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Curtis, R. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Micropterus salmoides" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Micropterus_salmoides.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 71
Common Name: Brook Stickleback
Scientific Name: Culaea inconstans
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gasterosteiformes
Family: Gasterosteidae
Geography / Habitat: Sticklebacks can be found in the Arctic and Atlantic drainages from
Nova Scotia, northern parts of Canada, Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. Sticklebacks
live in the shallow edges of cool, clear lakes and creeks. They can live in sandy, muddy, or rocky
substrates.
Life Strategy: Sticklebacks breed yearly from mid-April to late June. The male will build a nest
and once he is through, he will call for a mate. The female can lay almost 100 to almost 200
eggs; it will take one or two weeks for all of the eggs to hatch. The male will protect them and
his territory until they hatch. In one or two days he will leave the fry to fend for themselves.
Sticklebacks have dorsal spines that make them appear bigger and harder to swallow to deter
predators. Piscivorous brids and larger fish are predators to this fish.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sticklebacks are mostly carnivorous feeders on aquatic invertebrates,
larvae, and crustaceans. Algae make up the smaller portion of their diet.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: 2011. "Culaea inconstans" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 18,
2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Culaea_inconstans.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 72
Common Name: American Paddlefish
Scientific Name: Polyodon spathula
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordat
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acipenseriformes
Family: Polyodontidae
Geography / Habitat: Paddlefish can be found in 22 states that are part of the Mississippi River
drainage. They have also been introduced to the lower Danube River in Europe as sportfish.
Paddlefish are a freshwater species but can survive in brackish water. They live in large rivers
with deep water and prefer rocky or sandy substrate. They also like turbid water.
Life Strategy: Paddlefish breed every 2 to 3 years in late winter and spring. Paddlefish are
broadcast spawners and females can lay thousands of eggs at once. Females prefer rocky or
sandy substrate because the eggs are sticky. The eggs will remain on the substrate for about 5
days before they hatch; there is no parental care invested into the offspring. Birthing an
abundance of paddlefish is a strategy of paddlefish due to the fact that many birds and fishes
prey on the larvae stage of paddlefish; as adults, their only predators are humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Paddlefish are carnivores, specialized in filter feeding. They have
electroreceptors to detect zooplankton in the turbid water. They feed on copepods, cladocerans,
and ephemeropteran nymphs.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Jerome, J. and W. Fink. 2004. "Polyodon spathula" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Polyodon_spathula.html.
Body Form or Style: Anguilliform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation:Elliott, S. and K. Wehrly. 2005. "Lepidosiren paradoxa" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lepidosiren_paradoxa.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 73
Common Name: South American Lungfish
Scientific Name: Lepidosiren paradoxa
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sacropterygii Order: Lepidosireniformes
Family: Lepidosirenidae
Geography / Habitat: Lungfish can be found in the neotropics of South America, they include:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. They live in
South America, primarily in the Amazon River basin. They prefer to live in water that is stagnant,
such as swamps or a lake.
Life Strategy: More research is needed on: egg development, number off eggs laid, and gestation
period. Lungfish prefer to breed during the rainy months so they can build nests in flooded areas.
Both parents build the nest while the male protects it. There is no research on predators of this
species.
Food / Feed Strategy: Lungfish are carnivores that feed on bony fish, algae and weeds, shrimp,
insects, clams, and snails. Lungfish capture prey by suction. They use tooth plates, an enlarged
cranial rib, and a depressor mandibulae to manipulate and chew food rather than swallowing.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 74
Common Name: Alligator Gar
Scientific Name: Atractosteus spatula
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Semionotiformes
Family: Lepisosteidae
Geography / Habitat: Alligator gar can be found in the Ohio river and Mississippi River south
of the Gulf of Mexico. They are found in parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. They live in large lakes, rivers, and bayous. They can live in
freshwater and brackish water.
Life Strategy: Alligator gars breed once a year from May to July. Females can lie on average
77,000 eggs. The eggs are adhesive and will stick to the substrate until 6 to 8 days later when
they hatch. Once the eggs are born, they are independent. Young gars are preyed on by larger
fish. As adults, their only predators are alligators and humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Alligator gars are carnivorous opportunistic and sit-and-wait predators.
Gars are usually calm but can use short bursts of speed to catch prey. They eat almost anything,
including ducks, fish, turtles, small mammal and carrion.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Roberts, D. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Atractosteus spatula" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atractosteus_spatula.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 75
Common Name: Alligator Snapping Turtle
Scientific Name: Macrochelys temminckii
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia Order: Testunides
Family: Chelydridae
Geography / Habitat: Snapping turtles are found in North America. They range from northern
Florida to southern Georgia and through the Gulf states into Texas. They live in the southeastern
U.S. in freshwater areas. They live in the deepest parts of any body of water including rivers,
lakes, swamps and canals.
Life Strategy: Snapping turtles breed once a year in spring. Females will come onto land and
build a nest to lay their eggs in the sand. A single clutch can have 8 to 52 eggs. It will take 100 to
140 days for the eggs to hatch. There is no post-parental care once the eggs have been covered;
when the eggs hatch, they are completely independent. There are no known predators of adult
snapping turtles except for humans.
Food / Feed Strategy: Snapping turtles are scavengers and active hunters. They are nocturnal
hunters, but eat during the day also. They lay at the bottom of the water with their mouth wide
open and their tongue acting like a fish lure, once a fish gets too close to its mouth, it will snap. It
will snap the fish in half or impale it on its sharp upper and lower jaws. They feed on fish,
mollusks, snakes, frogs, aquatic plants, and medium-sized mammals.
Body Form or Style: N/A
Swim / Locomotion Style: N/A
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Nichols, M., J. Pruitt, D. Munsey, G. Good, B. Meyer, K. Urban, K. Francl and P.
DiLaura. 1999. "Macrochelys temminckii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December
18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Macrochelys_temminckii.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 76
Common Name: Golden Shiner
Scientific Name: Notemigonus crysoleucas
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinindae
Geography / Habitat: Golden shiners are found in North America. They range from the Atlantic
drainage basin from Nova Scotia to southern Texas, the Great Lakes basin and the Mississippi
river drainage basin. They live in lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps, and creeks that are heavily
vegetated. They prefer stagnant water.
Life Strategy: Golden shiners breed from May through August. They spawn in or above
vegetation because the eggs are adhesive. Golden shiners will spawn a few times during the
spawning season and can have up to 200,000 eggs each time. It will take 4 to 7 days for the eggs to
hatch; there is no parental care after birth. Any large species of fish will prey on shiners, they
form large schools to decrease individual predation.
Food / Feed Strategy: Golden shiners are omnivorous and planktivores. They feed primarily on
zooplankton, phytoplankton and microcrustaceans.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labridae
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Sims, J. and K. Wehrly. 2006. "Notemigonus crysoleucas" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Notemigonus_crysoleucas.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 77
Common Name: Banded Sculpin
Scientific Name: Cottus carolinae
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Cottidae
Geography / Habitat: Sculpin can be found in fourteen states in the southeast and mid-west.
They live in any size river or stream but prefer cool to warm water with gravel substrate.
Life Strategy: There is no information on the breeding systems of Banded sculpin. Sculpins
prefer to spawn underneath objects so the eggs will be deposited in a large clump. They breed in
winter and early spring. On average, a female will produce 475 eggs. She leaves the male to care
and guard the eggs. Sculpins have a coloration that resembles the river substrate. Kingfishers,
Great Blue Herons and water snakes are primary predators of the sculpin.
Food / Feed Strategy: Sculpin are invertivores and piscivores. They are nocturnal hunters and
they stalk or ambush their food by using their cryptic coloration. They feed on fish, aquatic
crustaceans, insects and amphibians.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Clark, J. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Cottus carolinae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cottus_carolinae.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 78
Common Name: Silver Carp
Scientific Name: Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Geography / Habitat: They are native to eastern Asia and northeastern Asia and Siberia. They have been
introduced into other parts of the world, including the U.S. They live in freshwater with temperate to
subtropical temperatures.
Life Strategy: Carp reproduce during the spring or summer. They are broadcast spawners; females can
carry as many as 2 million eggs. Females release their eggs in the water column with males following. The
males will follow behind a female in order to fertilize the eggs with his sperm. Soon after the eggs have
been release, males and females will leave the area and parental care will be non-existent. Adult carp
have no natural, though fry can be preyed on by larger fish and piscivoruos birds.
Food / Feed Strategy: Silver carps are filter feeders that feed on primarily phytoplankton. Using their
specialized gill rakers they can filter out even the smallest of organisms. They feed on zooplankton,
detritus, arthropods and algae.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labridae
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Ancevski, F. 2011. "Hypophthalmichthys molitrix" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 18, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hypophthalmichthys_molitrix.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 79
Common Name: Amazon River Dolphin
Scientific Name: Inia geoffrensis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea
Family: Iniidae
Geography / Habitat: The Amazon River dolphin can be found in the Amazon and Orinoco river
basins as well as tributaries in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. They live
in lakes, rivers and streams.
Life Strategy: River dolphins breed once a year between June and August. A female will have one
calf and will be pregnant with it for almost a year. A mother and her calf have unusually strong
bonds; this is supported by the evidence of long lactation periods. There are no known natural
predators of this dolphin, though bull sharks, anacondas, black caimans and jaguars could all
harm them.
Food / Feed Strategy: Amazon river dolphins have the most diverse range of fish species in their
diet than any other dolphin. They usually hunt alone but will hunt in groups if there is a large
school of fish. They feed on fish, aquatic crustaceans, and even reptiles.
Body Form or Style: Fusiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Bebej, R. and P. Myers. 2006. "Inia geoffrensis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 18, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Inia_geoffrensis.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 80
Common Name: Redear Sunfish
Scientific Name: Lepomis micrlophus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Geography / Habitat: Redear Sunfish are native to central and southern U.S. They can be
found in the St. Lawrence, Great Lakes and Mississippi River. They live in warm, stagnant
waters with moderate amounts of vegetation.
Life Strategy: Redear breed once a year from early spring to mid-summer. A male will make a
nest out of sand, mud and gravel. Sunfish can produce 9,000 to 80,000eggs per mating season.
Females will lay the eggs and leave, while the male stays and waits for every egg to hatch before
he leaves. Humans are the biggest predators of this species because they are sportsfish.
Food / Feed Strategy: Redear sunfish are mainly bottom feeders. Fry feed on algae and
microcrustaceans. Juveniles eat insects, insect larvae and small snails. Adults feed on snails,
aquatic insects, copepods, and crustaceans.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labridae
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Barbee, J. 2011. "Lepomis microlophus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 18, 2011 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lepomis_microlophus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 81
Common Name: Sheatfish
Scientific Name: Silurus glanis
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes
Family: Siluridae
Geography / Habitat: The sheatfish is native to Eastern Europe and Asia, while it was
introduced in Germany, France, Spain, England, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands. They
live in large rivers and lakes in deep water near dams. They sometimes enter brackish waters in
the Black and Baltic Sea.
Life Strategy: Sheatfish breed once a year during the spring from May through June. Males
will make nests so the female can lay her eggs in it. The female will then leave and the male
guards them until they hatch. It will take 3 to 10 days for all of the eggs to hatch and once they
do, they are independent. Humans and northern pike are their main predators due to their size.
Food / Feed Strategy: Fry will feed on plankton. When they get bigger, they begin to eat more
diverse food like worms, snails, crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fish. As adults, they
incorporate ducks, voles, eels, frogs and snakes into their diet. They catch prey by suction.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Slone, C. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Silurus glanis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Silurus_glanis.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 82
Common Name: Bloater
Scientific Name: Coregonus hoyi
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Geography / Habitat: Bloaters are native to the Great Lakes basin of North America where it
can be found in all except Lake Erie. Today the population is declining in these lakes. Bloaters
live in are benthic and pelagic regions of lakes. During the day they are near or on the bottom
and when nighttime approaches, they move up the water column.
Life Strategy: Bloaters breed year round but it peaks from February to March. A female can
produce anywhere from 3,000 to 12,000 eggs with 7,500 being the average. Spawning can occur
anywhere for these fish. There is no parental care invested in eggs after they’ve been laid.
Samlonids are currently the biggest predators of this fish.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bloaters eat bottom dwelling plankton, copepods, fish eggs and fingernail
clams.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labridae
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Wyns, D. 2002. "Coregonus hoyi" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Coregonus_hoyi.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 83
Common Name: Electric Eel
Scientific Name: Electrophoris electricus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gymnotiformes
Family: Electrophoridae
Geography / Habitat: Electric eels can be found in the northeastern parts of South America.
This includes the Guyanas and Orinoco Rivers as well as the middle and lower Amazon basin.
They live on the muddy bottoms of rivers and occasionally swamps. They prefer deeply shaded
areas.
Life Strategy: Electric eels breed during the dry season. The female will lay her eggs in a nest
built out of the male’s saliva. On average, a female will produce 1,200 eggs. They are thought to
be fractional spawners. It is the male’s job to guard the eggs. An eel will give predators a voltage
of 650 which doesn’t kill them, but prevents predators from continuing their meal.
Food / Feed Strategy: Electric eels give off a weak electric pulse to detect potential prey, once
they have found something; they use a much stronger current to shock the prey into immobility.
Eels don’t have maxilla teeth, so they suck the prey into their mouth. Adults feed on small fish
while juveniles feed on crustaceans.
Body Form or Style: Taeniform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Valasco, T. 2003. "Electrophorus electricus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Electrophorus_electricus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 84
Common Name: Florida Gar
Scientific Name: Lepisosteus platyrhincus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Semionotiformes
Family: Lepisosteus
Geography / Habitat: Florida gars are found only in America. They range from the Savannah
River drainage in Georgia to the Ocklockonee River in Florida and Georgia. They live in low land
streams, canals and lakes with mud or sand substrates. They prefer areas with large an
abundance of vegetation.
Life Strategy: Gars breed once a year from February to April. Many males will follow a female
during the spawning season. She lays her adhesive eggs among the vegetation and rocks and
males will pursue for a chance of fertilizing them. There is no parental care involved because the
parents swim downstream once breeding is complete. Coloration, armor-like scales and sharp
teeth are natural defenses against predators. Piscivorous birds are their biggest predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Gars are carnivores that use the strategy of ram feeding. They position
themselves laterally of their prey and strike, and then they manipulate and reposition the food so
it will go down headfirst. They feed on fish, shrimp and crayfish. Young gar feed on zooplankton,
insect larvae and small fish.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Lackey, S. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Lepisosteus platyrhincus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lepisosteus_platyrhincus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 85
Common Name: Rainbow Darter
Scientific Name: Etheostoma caeruleum
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Geography / Habitat: The Rainbow darter is found only in North America. They range from
the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley down to northern Alabama and out west to Missouri
and Arkansas. They live in shallow, fast-moving creeks and small rivers. They prefer gravel or
rocky bottom subtrates.
Life Strategy: Rainbow darters respond to appropriate water temperatures before breeding
which is between 17-18 degrees C. A female and male will mate together above the substrate
numerous times until the female has laid about 800 eggs with about 3-7 eggs each session. It will
take a little over a week for the eggs to hatch; there is no parental care.
Food / Feed Strategy: Rainbow darters feed on aquatic insect larvae, small snails and crayfish.
They also feed on fish eggs and caddisfly larvae. However, feeding habits depend on time of day
and year.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Marko, K. 2003. "Etheostoma caeruleum" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed
December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Etheostoma_caeruleum.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 86
Common Name: Bleeding Heart Tetra
Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Geography / Habitat: They are native to the neotropical region. They can be found in the Rio Negro of
Brazil, upper Amazon River basin and other regional rivers. They live in inland, tropical freshwater
streams and rivers where vegetation is dense.
Life Strategy: Most information on the breeding habits of Tetra comes from aquarium breeding.
Spawning begins over vegetation because the eggs are adhesive. There appears not to be any parental
care invested into the eggs after they are laid. There is no research on predation in tetra due to their
popularity in aquariums.
Food / Feed Strategy: In captivity they eat small crustaceans, insects, zooplankton and other organic
matter. Researchers believe there should not be any change to this in the wild.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Labriform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Eng, S. and K. Francl. 2006. "Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hyphessobrycon_erythrostigma.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 87
Common Name: Spotted Gar
Scientific Name: Lepisosteus oculatus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Semionotiformes
Family: Lepisosteus
Geography / Habitat: Spotted Gar can be found in the U.S. They range from Lake Michigan to
the Lake Erie drainages. It can also be found in the Mississippi river drainages and the northern
coast of the Gulf of Mexico from the Nueces River in Texas east to the lower Apalachicola River
in Florida. Gar live in shallow open water or in stagnant backwaters. They also prefer basking
in areas with lots of cover.
Life Strategy: Gar breed once a year from February to June. Males will gather near a female
who waits in vegetation to lay her eggs. Once she has laid them, she will give a cue for males by
splashing the surface of the water. When males see this, they go to fertilize the eggs. Females can
lay thousands of eggs at once. There is no parental care once they have been lain and fertilized.
It will take about a week before they hatch. There are not many natural predators of this kind of
gar except for other gar.
Food / Feed Strategy: Gar carnivorous ambush predators. They feed mainly on crustaceans,
sunfish, crappies, bass and catfish. They use vegetation to their advantage by hiding in it and
ambushing their prey, although, it wouldn’t matter if they had cover or not.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Hall, L., T. Meade, D. Paulette, J. Albert, K. Francl and S. Givinsky. 1999.
"Lepisosteus oculatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lepisosteus_oculatus.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 88
Common Name: Bowfin
Scientific Name: Amia calva
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Amiiformes
Family: Amiidae
Geography / Habitat: Bowfins can be found in North America. They range from the upper St.
Lawrence River in Quebec and Ontario, and as far south as Southern Texas and Florida. They
range from the east coast and west into South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and central
Oklahoma. They live in backwaters of rivers, lakes and swamps. They also live in ditches, pits
and pools of slow streams. They prefer clear water with lots of vegetation.
Life Strategy: Bowfins breed once a year from late April to early June. They prefer water that
is shallow and vegetated. A male will make his nest by clearing away a little vegetation and a
slight depression in the substrate. More than one female will lay her eggs in the depression.
Once the eggs have been laid and fertilized, the female will leave to lay eggs in other nests while
the male guards the eggs. In 9 days, all of the eggs will have hatched, and they will take on the
behavior of adults. Bowfin have few natural predators like alligators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Bowfins will eat anything but they consume primarily, insects, fish,
crustaceans and amphibians. They eat by suction feeding.
Body Form or Style: Depressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Emerson, A. and W. Fink. 2004. "Amia calva" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Amia_calva.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 89
Common Name: Northern Pike
Scientific Name: Esox lucius
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Esociformes
Family: Esocidae
Geography / Habitat: Northern Pike are native to North America and Eurasia. They range from
Labrador west to Alaska, south to Pennsylvania, Missouri and Nebraska. They are found in
western and northern Europe, south to Spain and east to Siberia. They live in almost every type of
freshwater, from cool deep lakes to warm shallow ponds to muddy rivers.
Life Strategy: Pikes come to shallow water to spawn. Spawning lasts 5 to 10 days then the female
leaves. The males remain in the area but do not protect the eggs.
Food / Feed Strategy: Northern pike are carnivores. They have sharp teeth and a complex skull
and jaw structures. They feed on smaller fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals and birds.
Body Form or Style: Sagittiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Lefevre, R. 1999. "Esox lucius" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December
19, 2011 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Esox_lucius.html.
Title: Freshwater Fish Species #: 90
Common Name: Quillback Carosucker
Scientific Name: Carpiodes cyprinus
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Catostomidae
Geography / Habitat: Quillbacks can be found throughout much eastern North America. They
range from here, as far north as Saskatchewan, south to Florida and as far west as South
Dakota, Kansas and Alabama. They prefer to live in productive streams that are deep and
clear.
Life Strategy: Quillback breed once a year in the spring through summer months. Males and
females quickly migrate to breeding areas and haphazardly scatter eggs in shallow water over
rock, sand and mud substrates. There is no parental care once eggs have been laid. Quillbacks
are independent almost immediately after hatching. Adults are rarely preyed on because of
their size and schooling, but due to eggs being out in the open, they are much more vulnerable
to foraging predators.
Food / Feed Strategy: Quillbacks are omnivores. They feed at the bottoms of lakes, river and
streams. They feed on insect larvae, fingernail clams and aquatic vegetation.
Body Form or Style: Compressiform
Swim / Locomotion Style: Subterminal
Mouth Position: Terminal
Citation: Ervin, M. and S. Harrel. 2006. "Carpiodes cyprinus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed December 19, 2011
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Carpiodes_cyprinus.html.