The smoothtooth blacktip shark (Carcharhinus leiodon) is a
species of
requiem shark in the
family Carcharhinidae. It is known only from the
type specimen caught from the
Gulf of Aden, off eastern
Yemen, and a handful of additional specimens caught from the
Persian Gulf, off
Kuwait. Reaching 1.3 m (4.3 ft) in length, this species has a stocky greenish-colored body, a short snout, and black-tipped fins. It can be distinguished from similar species by its teeth, which are narrow, erect, and smooth-edged.
Little is known of the smoothtooth blacktip shark's natural history; it likely inhabits shallow waters and feeds on small
bony fishes. It is presumably
viviparous like other members of its family. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature last assessed this species as
endangered. Although more specimens have since been discovered, the conservation status of this species remains precarious due to heavy
fishing and
habitat degradation within its range. (Full article...)
Image 2
The zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a species of
carpet shark and the sole member of the family Stegostomatidae. It is found throughout the tropical
Indo-Pacific, frequenting
coral reefs and sandy flats to a depth of 62 m (203 ft). Adult zebra sharks are distinctive in appearance, with five longitudinal ridges on a cylindrical body, a low
caudal fin comprising nearly half the total length, and usually a pattern of dark spots on a pale background. Young zebra sharks under 50–90 cm (20–35 in) long have a completely different pattern, consisting of light vertical stripes on a brown background, and lack the ridges. This species attains a length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft).
Zebra sharks are
nocturnal and spend most of the day resting motionless on the sea floor. At night, they actively hunt for
molluscs,
crustaceans, small
bony fishes, and possibly
sea snakes inside holes and crevices in the reef. Though solitary for most of the year, they form large seasonal aggregations. The zebra shark is
oviparous: females produce several dozen large
egg capsules, which they anchor to underwater structures via adhesive tendrils. Innocuous to humans and hardy in captivity, zebra sharks are popular subjects of
ecotourism dives and
public aquaria. The
World Conservation Union has assessed this species as
Endangered worldwide, as it is taken by
commercial fisheries across most of its range (except off
Australia) for meat, fins, and
liver oil. There is evidence that its numbers are dwindling. (Full article...)
Image 3
The banded archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) is a
brackish waterperciform fish of the archerfish genus Toxotes. It is silvery in colour and has a
dorsal fin towards the posterior end. It has distinctive, semi-triangular markings along its sides. It is best known for its ability to spit a jet of water to "shoot down" prey. Larger specimens may be able to hit prey 2 to 3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) away. The banded archerfish may reach the displaced prey within 50
milliseconds of its hitting the water.
The name (binomial as well as common) refers to
Sagittarius the archer, because of the unusual method banded archerfish use to capture prey. Banded archerfish are found in
Indo-Pacific and
Oceanian waters, generally in
river mouths and
mangroveestuaries. They move between fresh, salt, and brackish water over the course of their lifetime, though not to breed. Because of their markings and silvery colour, banded archerfish are sometimes kept as
aquarium fish, though they are difficult to care for and not recommended for most home aquaria. (Full article...)
Image 4
The black dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii) is a
species of
dogfish shark in the
familyEtmopteridae. It is common over the outer
continental shelf and
continental slope at depths of 180–2,250 m (590–7,380 ft). Females generally inhabit deeper water than males, and depending on the region, smaller sharks may occur at different depths than larger ones. This species is distributed widely in the
Atlantic Ocean, from
Greenland and
Iceland to
Virginia and
West Africa in the north, and off southwestern Africa and
Argentina in the south. The largest member of its family, the black dogfish, typically measures 60–75 cm (24–30 in) long. It has a stocky, dark brown body that is darker below than above, and bears scattered, minute
bioluminescent organs. Its two
dorsal fins are preceded by stout spines, and the
anal fin is absent.
The slender smooth-hound or gollumshark (Gollum attenuatus) is a
species of
ground shark in the
familyPseudotriakidae. It is
endemic to the waters around
New Zealand, where it is usually found close to the bottom over the
continental slope at depths of 300–600 m (980–1,970 ft). An extremely slim, plain brownish shark reaching 1.1 m (3.6 ft) in length, the slender smooth-hound can be identified by its broad, flattened head with a long, distinctively bell-shaped snout. Its mouth is angular with short furrows at the corners, and contains a very high number of tooth rows in both jaws. Its two
dorsal fins are roughly equal in size.
The diet of the slender smooth-hound is diverse, but dominated by small,
benthicbony fishes and
decapodcrustaceans. It exhibits a specialized form of
aplacental viviparity with
oophagy: the females produce a single
capsule in each
uterus that contains 30–80
ova, of which one ovum develops into an
embryo that consumes the rest of the ova and stores the
yolk material in its external
yolk sac. The growing embryo is mainly sustained by this yolk sac during
gestation, though it may be additionally supplied with
histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by the mother. The typical litter size is two pups, one per uterus. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the slender smooth-hound as
Least Concern; it is taken as
fisherybycatch but not in great numbers, and furthermore large portions of its range see minimal fishing activity. (Full article...)
While regarded as one of the largest and most powerful
predators to have ever lived, megalodon is only known from fragmentary remains, and its appearance and maximum size are uncertain. Scientists differ on whether it would have more closely resembled a stockier version of the
great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), the
basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) or the
sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus). The most recent estimate with the least error range suggests a maximum length estimate up to 20.3 meters (67 ft), although the
modal lengths are estimated at 10.5 meters (34 ft). Their
teeth were thick and robust, built for grabbing prey and breaking bone, and their large jaws could exert a bite force of up to 108,500 to 182,200 newtons (24,390 to 40,960 lbf). (Full article...)
The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a
cartilaginous fish of the
eagle ray family, Aetobatidae. As traditionally recognized, it is found globally in tropical regions, including the
Atlantic,
Pacific and
Indian Oceans. Recent authorities have restricted it to the Atlantic (including the
Caribbean and
Gulf of Mexico) with other populations recognized as the
ocellated eagle ray (A. ocellatus) and
Pacific white-spotted eagle ray (A. laticeps). Spotted eagle rays are most commonly seen alone, but occasionally swim in groups. They are
ovoviviparous, the female retaining the eggs then releasing the young as miniature versions of the parent.
This ray can be identified by its dark
dorsal surface covered in white spots or rings. Near the base of the ray's relatively long tail, just behind the
pelvic fins, are several
venomous, barbed stingers. Spotted eagle rays commonly feed on small fish and
crustaceans, and will sometimes dig with their snouts to look for food buried in the sand of the sea bed. These rays are commonly observed leaping out of the water, and on at least two occasions have been reported as having jumped into boats, in one incident resulting in the death of a woman in the
Florida Keys. The spotted eagle ray is hunted by a wide variety of sharks. The rays are considered
near threatened on the
IUCN Red List. They are fished mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa, the most common market being in commercial trade and aquariums. They are protected in the
Great Barrier Reef. (Full article...)
Image 9
The night shark (Carcharhinus signatus) is a
species of
requiem shark, in the
familyCarcharhinidae, found in the
temperate and
tropical waters of the
Atlantic Ocean. An inhabitant of the outer
continental shelf and upper
continental slope, this shark most commonly occurs at depths of 50–600 m (160–1,970 ft) and conducts a
diel vertical migration, spending the day in deeper water and moving into shallower waters at night. Off northeastern
Brazil, large numbers congregate around
seamounts of varying depths. A slender, streamlined species, the night shark typically reaches a length of 2 m (6.6 ft). It can be identified by its long, pointed snout and large, green eyes (when alive), and is dark grayish blue or brown above and white below.
Night sharks are quick,
nocturnally active,
schoolingpredators that feed mainly on small
bony fishes and
squid. Reproduction is
viviparous as with the other members of its family; females
mate during the summer and give birth to litters of usually 12–18 pups after a
gestation period of a year. This deepwater species is not known to pose a danger to humans. It is caught incidentally by
commercialtuna and
swordfishlongline fisheries in the western Atlantic, and also by a targeted longline fishery operating off northeastern Brazil. The night shark is highly valued for its
fins, and additionally as a source of meat,
liver oil, and
fishmeal. However, most sharks caught off northeastern Brazil have been found to contain unsafe concentrations of
mercury. (Full article...)
Cretoxyrhina (/krɪˌtɒksiˈrhaɪnə/; meaning 'Cretaceous sharp-nose') is an extinct
genus of large
mackerel shark that lived about 107 to 73 million years ago during the late
Albian to late
Campanian of the
Late Cretaceous. The
type species, C. mantelli, is more commonly referred to as the Ginsu shark, first popularized in reference to the
Ginsu knife, as its theoretical feeding mechanism is often compared with the "slicing and dicing" when one uses the knife. Cretoxyrhina is traditionally classified as the likely sole member of the
familyCretoxyrhinidae but other taxonomic placements have been proposed, such as within the
Alopiidae and
Lamnidae.
Measuring up to 8 m (26 ft) in length and weighing over 4,944 kg (10,900 lb), Cretoxyrhina was one of the largest sharks of its time. Having a similar appearance and build to the modern
great white shark, it was an
apex predator in its ecosystem and preyed on a large variety of marine animals including
mosasaurs,
plesiosaurs, sharks and other large fish,
pterosaurs, and occasionally
dinosaurs. Its teeth, up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long, were razor-like and had thick
enamel built for stabbing and slicing prey. Cretoxyrhina was also among the fastest-swimming sharks, with hydrodynamic calculations suggesting burst speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph). It has been speculated that Cretoxyrhina hunted by lunging at its prey at high speeds to inflict powerful blows, similar to the great white shark today, and relied on strong eyesight to do so. (Full article...)
Image 11
The pink whipray (Pateobatis fai) is a
species of
stingray in the family
Dasyatidae, with a wide but ill-defined distribution in the
tropicalIndo-Pacific from
southern Africa to
Polynesia. It is a
bottom dweller that generally inhabits shallow water under 70 m (230 ft) deep, in sandy areas associated with
coral reefs. Individuals exhibit a high degree of fidelity to particular locations. The pink whipray has a diamond-shaped
pectoral fin disc wider than long, with a broad-angled snout and a very long, whip-like tail without fin folds. It has only a few small thorns on its back and is uniform brownish to grayish pink in color, becoming much darker past the tail sting. This large ray can reach 1.8 m (5.9 ft) across and over 5 m (16 ft) long.
Gregarious in nature, the pink whipray has been known to form large active and resting aggregations, and associate with other large ray species. It preys mainly on
prawns, but also consumes other
benthicinvertebrates and
bony fishes. This species is
aplacental viviparous, in which the unborn young are nourished by
histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by the mother. Across much of its range, substantial numbers of pink whiprays are
caught incidentally by a variety of
fishing gear and marketed for meat, skin, and
cartilage. It is also of importance to
ecotourism, being attracted to visitors with bait. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this species under
Least Concern, due to its wide distribution that includes relatively protected areas, such as northern Australia. However, its population in
Southeast Asia is likely declining under heavy fishing pressure, and there it has been assessed as
Vulnerable. (Full article...)
Image 12
The pyjama shark or striped catshark (Poroderma africanum) is a
species of
catshark, and part of the
familyScyliorhinidae,
endemic to the coastal waters of South Africa. This abundant,
bottom-dwelling species can be found from the
intertidal zone to a depth of around 100 m (330 ft), particularly over rocky
reefs and
kelp beds. With a series of thick, parallel, dark stripes running along its stout body, the pyjama shark has an unmistakable appearance. It is additionally characterized by a short head and snout with a pair of slender
barbels that do not reach the mouth, and two
dorsal fins that are placed far back on the body. It can grow up to a length of 1.1 m (3.6 ft) long.
The pyjama shark is primarily
nocturnal, spending most of the day lying motionless and hidden in a cave or crevice or among vegetation. It often forms groups, particularly during summer. This species is an opportunistic
predator that feeds on a wide variety of
fishes and
invertebrates; it favors
cephalopods and frequents the spawning grounds of the
chokka squid (Loligo reynaudi). When threatened, it curls into a circle with its tail covering its head. Reproduction is
oviparous, with females laying rectangular, dark brown
egg cases two at a time year-round. This small and harmless shark adapts well to captivity and is commonly displayed in
public aquariums. It is often caught as a
bycatch of
commercial and
recreational fisheries. Many are killed by fishers who regard them as pests. Although there are no data suggesting its numbers have declined, the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the pyjama shark as least concern. (Full article...)
Image 13
The short-tail stingray or smooth stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata) is a common
species of
stingray in the
familyDasyatidae. It occurs off
southern Africa, typically offshore at a depth of 180–480 m (590–1,570 ft), and off southern
Australia and
New Zealand, from the
intertidal zone to a depth of 156 m (512 ft). It is mostly
bottom-dwelling in nature and can be found across a range of
habitats from
estuaries to
reefs, but also frequently will swim into open water. One of the largest stingrays in the world, this heavy-bodied species can grow upwards of 2.1 m (6.9 ft) across and 350 kg (770 lb) in weight. Its plain-colored, diamond-shaped
pectoral fin disc is characterized by a lack of
dermal denticles even in adults, and white pores beside the head on either side. The body can have colors as well as dark grey or black with rows of white spots along each wing. Its tail is usually shorter than the disc and thick at the base. It is armed with large tubercles and a midline row of large thorns in front of the stinging spine which has the dorsal and ventral fin folds behind.
The diet of the short-tail stingray consists of
invertebrates and
bony fishes, including burrowing and midwater species. It tends to remain within a relatively limited area throughout the year, preferring deeper waters during the winter, and is not known to perform long
migrations. Large aggregations of rays form seasonally at certain locations, such as in the summer at the
Poor Knight Islands off New Zealand. Both birthing and mating have been documented within the aggregations at Poor Knights. This species is
aplacental viviparous, with the developing
embryos sustained by histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by the mother. The litter size is typically 6 –10, but litter sizes of up to fifteen are not unheard of. (Full article...)
After peaking in the 1950s, the population of the barndoor skate dramatically declined in the 1960s and early 1970s as a result of overfishing. In 2003, it was listed as endangered by the
World Conservation Union. However, barndoor skate populations have increased substantially since 1990 and even surpassed 1960s population size by 2012. In 2019, the barndoor skate was downlisted to
least concern by the
IUCN based on its largely increased population, new protections within its range, and also minor expansions to its range. In most cases, the barndoor skate is not intentionally harvested by the commercial fishing industry—it is usually considered
bycatch in the
trawling nets used to target other species of fish. (Full article...)
Image 15
The puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii), also known as the Happy Eddie, is a
species of
catshark, belonging to the
familyScyliorhinidae,
endemic to the
temperate waters off the coast of
South Africa. This common shark is found on or near the bottom in sandy or rocky
habitats, from the
intertidal zone to a depth of 130 m (430 ft). Typically reaching 60 cm (24 in) in length, the puffadder shyshark has a slender, flattened body and head. It is strikingly patterned with a series of dark-edged, bright orange "saddles" and numerous small white spots over its back. The
Natal shyshark (H. kistnasamyi), formally described in 2006, was once considered to be an alternate form of the puffadder shyshark.
When threatened, the puffadder shyshark (and other members of its genus) curls into a circle with its tail covering its eyes, giving rise to the local names "shyshark" and "doughnut". It is a
predator that feeds mainly on
crustaceans,
polychaete worms, and small
bony fishes. This shark is
oviparous and females deposit egg capsules singly or in pairs onto underwater structures. Harmless to humans, the puffadder shyshark is usually discarded by
commercial and
recreational fishers alike for its small size. It has been assessed as endangered by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as its entire population is located within a limited area and could be affected by a local increase in fishing pressure or
habitat degradation. (Full article...)
The European perch (Perca fluviatilis), also known as the common perch, redfin perch, big-scaled redfin, English perch, Euro perch, Eurasian perch, Eurasian river perch, Hatch, poor man's rockfish or in
Anglophone parts of Europe, simply the perch, is a
predatoryfreshwater fish native to
Europe and
North Asia. It is the
type species of the
genusPerca.
Image 6Pacific decadal anomalies – April 2008 (from Pelagic fish)
Image 7Lanternfish are partial residents of the ocean epipelagic zone During the day they hide in deep waters, but at night they migrate up to surface waters to feed. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 10Long-snouted lancetfish. Lancetfish are ambush predators which spend all their time in the mesopelagic zone. They are among the largest mesopelagic fishes (up to 2 m). (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 12Cod-like fishes, like this
morid cod have a
barbel (fleshy filament) on their lower jaw which they use to detect prey buried in the sand or mud. (from Coastal fish)
Image 16Most mesopelagic fishes are small filter feeders that ascend at night to feed in the nutrient rich waters of the epipelagic zone. During the day, they return to the dark, cold, oxygen-deficient waters of the mesopelagic where they are relatively safe from predators.
Lanternfish account for as much as 65% of all deep sea fish
biomass and are largely responsible for the
deep scattering layer of the world's oceans. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 18Young, red
flabby whalefish make nightly vertical migrations into the lower mesopelagic zone to feed on
copepods. When males mature into adults, they develop a massive liver and then their jaws fuse shut. They no longer eat, but continue to metabolise the energy stored in their liver. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 19Humans seldom encounter
frilled sharks alive, so they pose little danger (though scientists have accidentally cut themselves examining their teeth). (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 20Coral reefs support flourishing ecosystems,
paradoxically in clear, low nutrient waters, along tropical continental coasts and around volcanic islands.
Coral reef fish are numerous and diverse. (from Coastal fish)
Image 43Scale diagram of the layers of the pelagic zone (from Pelagic fish)
Image 44Bigeye tuna cruise the epipelagic zone at night and the mesopelagic zone during the day (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 45Surgeonfish are among the most common of coral reef
herbivores, often feeding in
shoals. This may be a mechanism for overwhelming the highly aggressive defence responses of small territorial
damselfishes that vigorously guard small patches of algae on coral reefs. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 46Shortfin mako shark make long seasonal migrations. They appear to follow temperature gradients, and have been recorded travelling more than 4,500 km in one year. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 51The
stoplight loosejaw has a
lower jaw one-quarter as long as its body. The jaw has no floor and is attached only by a hinge and a modified tongue bone. Large fang-like teeth in the front are followed by many small barbed teeth. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 60Herring reflectors are nearly vertical for camouflage from the side. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 61Many
bristlemouth species, such as the "spark anglemouth" above, are also bathypelagic ambush predators that can swallow prey larger than themselves. They are among the most abundant of all vertebrate families. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 62The
stargazer is an
ambush predator which can deliver both venom and electric shocks. It has been called "the meanest thing in creation". (from Coastal fish)
Image 64The giant
whale shark, another resident of the ocean epipelagic zone, filter feeds on
plankton, and periodically dives deep into the mesopelagic zone. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 65Most of the rest of the mesopelagic fishes are ambush predators, such as this
sabertooth fish. The sabertooth uses its telescopic, upward-pointing eyes to pick out prey silhouetted against the gloom above. Their recurved teeth prevent a captured fish from backing out. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 67Red snapper, are generalized reef feeders with standard jaw and mouth structures that allow them to eat almost anything, though they prefer small fish and
crustaceans. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 68An annotated diagram of the basic external features of an
abyssal grenadier and standard length measurements. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 71The
stoplight loosejaw is also one of the few fishes that produce red
bioluminescence. As most of their prey cannot perceive red light, this allows it to hunt with an essentially invisible beam of light. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 72The
humpback anglerfish is a bathypelagic ambush predator, which attracts prey with a bioluminescent lure. It can ingest prey larger than itself, which it swallows with an inrush of water when it opens its mouth. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 73In the foreground is an
orange-lined triggerfish displaying spines.
Triggerfish have mouths that crush shells. Orange-lined triggerfish are particularly aggressive. The black and white fish are
three-stripe damselfish and the unstriped fish are
blue-green chromis damselfish. If the triggerfish attacks, the damselfish will hide in the nearby
cauliflower coral. If the triggerfish wants to hide, it will squeeze into a coral crevice and lock itself in place with its spines. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 74Areas of upwelling in red (from Pelagic fish)
A plate with
fossils of Pseudostacus sp. (lobster, left) and Diplomystus birdii (fish, right), from the
Hakel paleontological formation in Lebanon. The paleontological sites of Lebanon contain deposits of some of the best-preserved fossils in the world, and include some species found nowhere else. The most famous of these is the Lebanese
lagerstätten of the Late
Cretaceous age.
Icefish are a type of
Antarctic fish belonging to various families, including the Channichthyidae family. They have no
haemoglobin and their
blood is transparent. They feed on
krill,
copepods, and other fish. Icefish rely on well-oxygenated water and absorb oxygen directly through the skin as they lack
red blood cells.
The mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus, not to be confused with the similarly named
mandarin fish) is a small (~6 cm or 2.4 in), brightly-colored member of the
dragonet family, popular in the saltwater
aquarium trade. The mandarinfish is native to the Western
Pacific, ranging approximately from the
Ryukyu Islands south to
Australia.
The round ribbontail ray (Taeniura meyeni) is a species of stingray in the family
Dasyatidae, found throughout the nearshore waters of the tropical
Indo-Pacific region. Reaching 1.8 m (6 ft) across, this large ray is characterized by a thick, rounded pectoral fin disc covered by small
tubercles on top, and a relatively short tail bearing a single venomous spine. The ray is well-camouflaged when lying on the seabed; it is largely nocturnal, and preys on
molluscs,
crustaceans and
bony fish. Mature females bear litters of up to seven pups, which are fed during gestation on "uterine milk", a product secreted by the walls of the
oviduct. This round ribbontail ray was photographed in
Lakshadweep, India.
In
American English, the name gar (or garpike) is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern
North America,
Central America, and the
Caribbean islands.
People jigging—
fishing with a type of
lure known as a "jig"—for
squid in
Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. A jig consists of a lead sinker with a hook molded into it and usually covered by a soft body to attract fish. Jigs are intended to create a jerky, vertical motion, as opposed to
spinnerbaits which move through the water horizontally.
The Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) is a species of freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. The aggressive fish is known to reproduce rapidly, leading to problems when it is introduced to foreign bodies of water.
The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), or fighting betta is a
freshwaterfish related to the
paradise fish. The fighting fish is a species in the
Gourami family which is popular as an
aquarium fish. They are called pla-kad (biting fish) in
Thai or trey krem in
Khmer. They are a very territorial fish and it is unwise to house two males together. Even the females may become territorial towards each other if not housed in a large enough tank.
The leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is a species of
hound shark found along the
Pacific coast of
North America from the U.S. state of
Oregon to
Mazatlán in Mexico. Typically measuring 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long, this slender-bodied shark is characterized by black saddle-like markings and large spots over its back.
Rhinogobius flumineus, also known as the lizard goby, is a species of
goby in the family
Oxudercidaeendemic to Japan, seen here in
Hamamatsu,
Shizuoka Prefecture. A small freshwater fish found in fast-flowing streams, it maintains its position against the current by gripping a rock with a sucker formed from two of its fins. The fish's mouth is slightly asymmetric; dextral (right-sided) fish tend to curve their bodies to the right as they rest, while sinistral (left-sided) fish tend to adopt a left-curving posture. The fish are omnivorous, picking edible items off the stream bed with the side of the mouth, but dextral and sinistral fish show no preference for which side of the mouth they use for this purpose.
The Atlantic spadefish is a species of marine fish
endemic to the shallow waters off the coast of the southeastern United States and in the
Caribbean Sea. They are similar in appearance to
fresh waterangelfish, but much larger, reaching up to three feet (0.9 m) in length. Due to their reputation as strong fighters, they are popular
game fish, especially during the summer months when they are most active.
Bryaninops yongei is a
benthic species of
goby widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the
Indian Ocean; it is commonly found living in and around coral. Although this species was discovered in 1906, its ability to propel itself quickly to escape predators makes it difficult to study.
The flying gurnard is a fish of
tropical to warm temperate waters on both sides of the
Atlantic Ocean. When excited, it spreads its "wings", semi-transparent appendages tipped with a phosphorescent bright blue coloration which are used to frighten predators.
The Peacock flounder (Bothus mancus) is a species of
lefteye flounder found widely in relatively shallow waters in the
Indo-Pacific. This
photomontage shows four separate views of the same fish, each several minutes apart, starting from the top left. Over the course of the photos, the fish
changes its colors to match its new surroundings, and then finally (bottom right) buries itself in the sand, leaving only the eyes protruding.
A discus (Symphysodon discus) is guarding its eggs. As for most
cichlids, brood care is highly developed with both the parents caring for the young. Additionally, adult discus produce a
secretion through their skin, off which the
larvae live during their first few days.
Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, the stargazer snake eel, is a marine fish belonging to the family
Ophichthidae. It is native to shallow tropical and subtropical waters in the western Indo-Pacific region. It hunts at night for
crustaceans and small fish, after which it submerges itself into the sediment tail first and remains there all day, with just its eyes and the top of its head projecting, as seen here in
Batangas Bay in the Philippines.
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