World Families I:Reef and benthic fishes

20 November 2012

Marine Fishes

• Of >25,000 known fish species, ~15,000 are marine• Majority are associated with the seafloor (includes

coral reef habitats)

Coral Reefs

• Known as the rainforests of the seas• Occupy less than 0.1% of oceans, host 25% of marine species• Annual global economic value of coral reefs has been

estimated at $375 billion

Coral Reefs

Coral Reef FishesCommon Name Family NameTarpons (Family Megalopidae)Bonefishes(Family Albulidae)Moray Eels(Family Muraenidae)Snake Eels (Family Ophichthidae)Conger Eels and Garden Eels (Family Congridae)Eel Catfishes (Family Plotosidae)Lizardfishes (Family Synodontidae)Pearlfishes (Family Carapidae)Cusk Eels (Family Ophidiidae)Viviparous Brotulas (Family Bythitidae)Toadfishes (Family Batrachoididae)Frogfishes (Family Antennariidae)Batfishes (Family Ogcocephalidae)Needlefishes (Family Belonidae)Halfbeaks (Family Hemirhamphidae)Flashlight Fishes (Family Anomalopidae)Pineapple Fishes (Family Monocentridae)Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes (Family Holocentridae)Sea Moths (Family Pegasidae)Ghost Pipefishes(Family Solenostomidae)Pipefishes and Seahorses (Family Syngnathidae)Trumpetfishes (Family Aulostomidae)

Coronetfishes (Family Fistularidae)Shrimpfishes (Family Centriscidae)Helmet Gurnards (Family Dactylopteridae)Scorpionfishes (Family Scorpaenidae)Waspfishes (Family Tetrarogidae)Coral Crouchers (Family Caracanthidae)Velvetfishes (Family Aploactinidae)Sea Robins (Family Triglidae)Flatheads (Family Platycephalidae)Groupers and Anthias (Family Serranidae)Dottybacks(Family Pseudochromidae)Grammas (Family Grammatidae)Roundheads or Longfins (Family Plesiopidae)Jawfishes (Family Opistognathidae)Bigeyes (Family Priacanthidae)Cardinalfishes (Family Apogonidae)Tilefishes (Family Malacanthidae)Shark Suckers (Family Echeneidae)Jacks (Family Carangidae)Snappers (Family Lutjanidae)Mojarras (Family Gerreidae)Grunts and Sweetlips (Family Haemulidae)Emperors (Family Lethrinidae)Spinecheeks (Family Nemipteridae)

Drums (Family Sciaenidae)Mullets (Family Mugilidae)Goatfishes (Family Mullidae)Sweepers (Family Pempheridae)Monos (Family Monodactylidae)Butterflyfishes (Family Chaetodontidae)Angelfishes (Family Pomacanthidae)Armorheads or Boarfishes (Family Pentrachidae)Sea Chubs (Family Kyphosidae)Grunters and Tigerfishes (Family Teraponidae)Flagtails or Aholeholes (Family Kuhliidae)Stripies (Family Microcanthidae)Hawkfishes (Family Cirrhitidae)Morwongs (Family Cheilodactylidae)Bandfishes(Family Cepolidae)Damselfishes (Family Pomacentridae)Wrasses (Family Labridae)Parrotfishes (Family Scaridae)Convict Worm Gobies (Family Pholidichthyidae)Sand Divers (Family Trichodontidae)Sand Perches (Family Pinguipedidae)Stargazers (Family Uranoscopidae)Triplefins (Family Tripterygiidae)

Sand Stargazers (Family Dactyloscopidae)Weed Blennies (Family Labrisomidae)Clinid Blennies (Family Clinidae)Tube Blennies (Family Chaenopsidae)Blennies (Family Blenniidae)Clingfishes (Family Gobiesocidae)Dragonets (Family Callionymidae)Gobies (Family Gobiidae)Dartfishes and Worm Gobies (Family Microdesmidae)Spadefishes (Family Ephippidae)Scats (Family Scatophagidae)Rabbitfishes (Family Siganidiae)Moorish Idol (Family Zanclidae)Surgeonfishes (Family Acanthuridae)Barracudas (Family Sphyraenidae)Lefteye Flounders (Family Bothidae)Righteye Flounders (Family Pleuronectidae)Soles (Family Soleidae)Triggerfishes (Family Balistidae)Filefishes (Family Monocanthidae)Boxfishes (Family Ostraciidae)Puffers and Tobies (Family Tetraodontidae)Porcupinefishes (Family Diodontidae

Benthic marine fishes

Bottom dwelling fishes share several characteristics (although phylogenetically unrelated):• Strange morphology• Crypsis• Upward facing eyes• Often ambush predators

Family ListReef fishes

Acanthuridae: surgeonfishesBalistidae: triggerfishes

Labridae: wrassesOstraciidae: boxfishes

Pomacentridae: damselfishesScaridae: parrotfishesSerranidae: sea basses

Syngnathidae: seahorses and pipefishes

Synodontidae: lizardfishesTetraodontidae: pufferfishes

Benthic fishesCyclopteridae: lumpfishesOgcocephalidae: batfishesPleuronectidae: righteye

floundersUranoscopidae: stargazers

Acanthuridae: surgeonfishes• Name means “thorn tail” - sharp

spines on caudal peduncle (1+ on each side)

• Small mouth with single row of teeth (algae grazers)

• Family includes tangs and unicornfishes

Balistidae: triggerfishes

• Brightly colored, ill-tempered• Oval, highly compressed body; large head, small mouth• Pelvic fins fused into spine • First dorsal spine locked by smaller second spine (the

“trigger”) • Highly intelligent

Queen

Labridae: wrasses

• Very diverse family (>600 species)• Size, shape, and color highly diversified• Protractile mouths, and often thick lips (Lippfische) • Large teeth often jut outwards • Most protogynous hermaphrodites• Occupy variety of niches

Ostraciidae: boxfishes

• Bony, square shaped carapace • No spinous dorsal fin• Non-protrusible upper jaw• Territorial and haremic

Pomacentridae: damselfishes

• Name refers to serrated preopercle• Body compressed• Anal fin with 2 spines • Includes anemone fishes

Scaridae: parrotfishes• Jaws fused into parrot like beak• Fused teeth• Large cycloid scales, often very colorful • Bits of rock eaten with algae crushed into sand for digestion • At night, some species rest in mucus cocoon

Serranidae: sea basses

• 450 species in family, includes groupers• Operculum with three spines • Anal fin with three spines• Range in size from 110 mm to 4 m

Syngnathidae: seahorses and pipefishes

• Series of bony rings encloses body• Single dorsal fin, very small anal

fin• No pelvic fins• Some species lack caudal fin

Synodontidae: lizardfishes

• Cylindrical body with spineless fins• Slender sharp teeth in mouth and on tongue• Single dorsal fin • Small adipose fin close to caudal• Voracious predators

Tetraodontidae: pufferfishes

• Name means “four teeth” • Naked or with small prickles on belly• Maximum length of 90 cm• Some contain tetraodotoxin – dangerous when eaten

(fugu)

Cyclopteridae: lumpfishes• Meaning of name?• Pelvic fins modified into sucking disc• Lack normal scales, many with warty

tubercles• Roe eaten as alternative to sturgeon caviar

Ogcocephalidae: batfishes

• Body usually depressed and flattened ventrally• Illicium present • Small soft dorsal fin usually present• Tubercles tiny or large and calcified • Member of Order Lophiiformes (incl. frogfish, anglerfish)• May use paired fins to walk on sea floor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9inncLXAHg

Pleuronectidae: righteye flounders

• Name means “side swimmer”• Both eyes on the right side of the body • Fins without spines• Dorsal fin extends on head• Includes important sportfishes

Uranoscopidae: stargazers

• Name means “sky watcher”• Scaleless or with small smooth scales• Large cuboidal head, flattened back, strongly oblique mouth

with fringed lips• Eyes dorsal (or nearly dorsal)• Two large poison spines behind opercle and above pectoral