Evan Havard Fish ID Project

Fish ID Project

By: Evan Havard

Mr. Arrington

4th

Period

Title: SaltWater/Marine Fish Species#: 1

Common Name: Surgeons

Scientific Name: Acanthuridae

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes

Family: Acanthuridae

Geography / Habitat: These fish are usually living in tropical seas and usually around reefs.

Life Strategy: They use their Scalpel-like spines that are dangerously sharp to defend

themselves and attract female fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: They prefer vegetables and must have marine algae in their diets.

Body Form or Style: Depressiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: Carangiform

Mouth Position: Subterminal

Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon_fish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon_fish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acanthurussohal-ArabischerDoktor.jpg

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species#:2

Common Name: Basslets

Scientific Name: Grammatidae



Family: Grammatidae

Geography / Habitat: Basslets are found in the Pacific and the Atlantic usually close to smaller

reefs

Life Strategy: When kept in tanks need large space if not they tend to bully the other fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: Meat is a must need for these fish. They prefer live food such as brine

shrimp. Will also eat smaller shrimp.

Body Form or Style: Compressiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarangiform

Mouth Position: Terminal

Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basslet

http://www.petplace.com/fish/choosing-a-basslet/page1.aspx#

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basslet

http://www.petplace.com/fish/choosing-a-basslet/page1.aspx

Title: Saltwater/Marine fish Species # 3

Common Name: Tiger Fish

Scientific Name: Holothuria argus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Holothuroidea Order: Aspidochurotida

Family: Curculionoidea

Geography / Habitat: Found in many rivers and lakes in Africa. They also like to hang

around the banks of the rivers.

Life Strategy: They have an unusual ability to lock their dorsal fin onto another object so

they can’t be pulled out of a hiding spot.

Food / Feed Strategy: They have sharp outward pointing teeth designed for eating sea

urchins and other invertebrates.

Body Form or Style: Fusiform



Citation: http://www.petplace.com/fish/top-20-saltwater-fish/page1.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish

http://www.petplace.com/fish/top-20-saltwater-fish/page1.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9LpVlkzeu_o/S7Bm24h9owI/AAAAAAAAAV4/ElVF7jbq71k/s1600/Goliath+Tigerfish.jpg

Title : Saltwater/Marine Fish Species #4

Common Name: Box Fish/ Trunk Fish

Scientific Name: Tetrosomus gibbosus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes

Family: Ostraciidae

Geography / Habitat: Found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and usually around middle

Latitudes

Life Strategy: They release a toxin when they get frightened or aggravated. They swim in a

rowing manner. Also have heavy armored scales for protection. Those scales also cause them to

swim slower.

Food / Feed Strategy: They feed on small crustaceans and some greens.


Swim / Locomotion Style: Ostraciiform


Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_fish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_fish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Humpback_Turretfish_-_Tetrosomus_gibbosus_2.jpg

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species # 5

Common Name: Angels

Scientific Name: Pomacanthus paru


Class: Osteichthys Order: Perciformes

Family: Pomacanthidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in the Western Atlantic anywhere from Florida to Brazil.

Usually in open water or reefs.

Life Strategy: They usually spawn in late summer. Their fertilization is external.

Food / Feed Strategy: Their diet consists of sponges, algae, bryozoans, zooantharians,

gorgonians, and tunicates.

Body Form or Style: Sagittiform



Citation: http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-

bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/osteichthyes/perciformes/

french-angelfish.htm#ff1

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/osteichthyes/perciformes/french-angelfish.htm#ff1



http://www.google.com/imgres?q=angel+fish&num=10&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=527&tbm=isch&tbnid=Qf58hTEpN5M6wM:&imgrefurl=http://fishinfoblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/Angelfish.html&docid=u7hu8M3I8TXotM&imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0rX5jrCv3_s/UD8uY4_RBNI/AAAAAAAAACg/6TIuE4pMt4U/s400/Long-Fin-Angel-fish.jpg&w=320&h=282&ei=HxabUO_ALoje8ATItYCICg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=497&vpy=2&dur=1407&hovh=211&hovw=239&tx=135&ty=68&sig=118073367659379716195&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=169&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:86

Title : Saltwater/Marine Fish Species # 6

Common Name: Butterfly Fish

Scientific Name: Chaetodon ocellatus



Family: Chaetodontidae

Geography / Habitat: Found normally near coral reefs. Usually on the coast of the Americas.

Life Strategy: At night, butterflyfish settle into dark crevices, and their brilliant colors and

markings fade to blend with the reef background

Food / Feed Strategy: They poke their snouts into the reef searching for polyps, worms, and

other invertebrate.


Swim / Locomotion Style :Carangiform


Citation: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/butterflyfish/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/butterflyfish/

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=butterfly+fish&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=527&tbm=isch&tbnid=BPvQYE4p02FI0M:&imgrefurl=http://true-wildlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/butterfly-fish.html&docid=3AzTDAAQiUKHUM&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A-BqSc01st0/TViG2mFLCII/AAAAAAAAAtM/7JvTyJRE_bc/s1600/butterfly-fish.jpg&w=800&h=600&ei=6xybUKv8KoWQ8wSGlYDwAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=177&vpy=185&dur=1734&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=142&ty=117&sig=118073367659379716195&page=1&tbnh=138&tbnw=184&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:142


Common Name: Lionfish

Scientific Name: Pterois antennata


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes

Family: Scorpaenidae

Geography / Habitat: Lionfish have been found in the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast of the

Caribbean, but are more common for aquarium trade. They like to live in reefs or other rocky

areas.

Life Strategy: When they get scared or feel the need to defend themselves the Lionfish will

deliver a venom from its needle like dorsal fin. Its extremely painful to humans and can cause

nausea and problems breathing but it is rare for it to be fatal.

Food / Feed Strategy: The lionfish is very patient with its food. It is a carnivore so when it finds

its prey it waits for the perfect time to strike and sometimes disguises itself by raising its fins on

the side.




Citation: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/lionfish/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/lionfish/


Common Name: Manderins

Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus



Family: Callionymindae

Geography / Habitat: Found in the Philippines and the Australia area. Usually on sandy

bottoms.

Life Strategy: Like to travel in groups or pairs. Very non-aggressive fish with most fish not

even noticing them. They do like to fight with other male fish like any other types of fish to win

the female over.

Food / Feed Strategy: People like to compare them to humming birds as they hover over their

prey and primarily use their two front fins to hover the prey.


Swim / Locomotion: Ostraciiform


Citation: http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/mandarinfish.htm

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/mandarinfish.htm

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species #9

Common Name: Squirrel Fish

Scientific Name: Holocentrus ascensionis


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Beryciformes

Family: Holocentridae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found almost anywhere along the east coast of the Americas and

the Gulf of Mexico. Also you will rarely find them away from a reef.

Life Strategy: They like traveling in pairs. They have external fertilization, open waters and

substratum egg scatters that does not protect the eggs

Food / Feed Strategy: They are nocturnal and like hiding in crevices and glide over grassy areas

looking for small crabs and other small crustaceans.


Swim / Locomotion Style:Subcarangiform


Citation: http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=42

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=42


Common Name: Clown Fish

Scientific Name: Amphiprion ocellaris



Family: Pomacentridae

Geography / Habitat: Clown fish are native to warm waters in the Indian and Pacific

oceans and are found in the Great Barrier Reef along with the Red Sea.

Life Strategy: Clown fish depend a lot on sea anemones as do sea anemone’s depend on the

clown fish. The sea anemone protects the fish and can find little bits of food. While the sea

anemone gets nutrients from the fish’s excrete.

Food / Feed Strategy: they collect food sometimes from the sea anemone and they eat other

small invertebrates such as algae, plankton, and mollusks.




Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprioninae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprioninae

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/005/cache/clown-fish_500_600x450.jpg&imgrefurl=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/clown-anemonefish/&h=450&w=600&sz=28&tbnid=m5JiXkMrCb-yWM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=136&prev=/search?q=clown+fish&tbm=isch&tbo=u&zoom=1&q=clown+fish&usg=__NqD_LCOstFetpMUiBRLZmRoX310=&docid=GKzYHwIX1OEXRM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XzKbUMKdA4r48gS2nYCQCA&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQ9QEwAg&dur=1250


Common Name: Damselfish

Scientific Name: Stegastes variabilis


Class: Osteichthyes Order: Perciformes

Family: Pomacentridea

Geography / Habitat: These fish are common in the West Indies and the Florida Coast. They

sometimes are also found in sea anemone’s.

Life Strategy: They like traveling in groups but only of the same species. If not they are pretty

aggressive towards other fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish somewhat grow their own algae. When other fish come they

attack them to make them leave and even if human divers get around the area they won’t shy

away to try and get them to leave too.




Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damselfish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damselfish


Common Name: Cleaner Fish/Wrasses

Scientific Name: Labroides dimidiatus


Class: Vertebrata Order: Perciformes

Family: Labridae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found anywhere in warm waters as far up as even Norway. They

are most commonly found by reefs but are also around open sandy bottoms and grassy areas.

Life Strategy: These fish have one of the most unusual reproductive systems. They can be either

male or females that have undergone sex change. The more dominant one takes over to be the

female.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish usually find their food by following other fish and feeding off

the particles that fall off them.

Body Form or Style: Taeniform



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Labridae/

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

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Elacatinus_evelynae.jpg

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species#13

Common Name: Blennies

Scientific Name: Stephanolepis hispidus



Family: Monacanthidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and are usually

around lagoons or seaweed.

Life Strategy: They have a long spine that can be locked into place. They also can use this

to defend themselves.

Food / Feed Strategy: Their diet naturally consists of algae and marine polyps.



Mouth Position: Supraterminal

Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filefish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filefish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scrawled_Filefish.jpg


Common Name: Grouper

Scientific Name: Anyperodon leucogrammicus



Family: Serranidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in a lot of places, one being in warm seas. Some can be

also found in Florida. They tend to be in discrete areas.

Life Strategy: These fish often have large mouths. Some types of grouper are known for

changing their color pattern.

Food / Feed Strategy: They feed predominantly at dusk and dawn Nassau Grouper even

rely on cannibalism. Some grouper spend their time being the prey instead of the predator.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Epinephelus_striatus/

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

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=grouper&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=527&tbm=isch&tbnid=v-O7KdGIjrFa8M:&imgrefurl=http://www.coral.org/_260&docid=rdVV6-vDotiwJM&imgurl=http://www.coral.org/files/images/1962-grouper.jpg&w=540&h=480&ei=iz6cUO6rIYrE9gT0toHoAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=3&vpy=175&dur=1718&hovh=212&hovw=238&tx=173&ty=193&sig=118073367659379716195&page=2&tbnh=158&tbnw=207&start=14&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:14,i:210


Common Name: Goatfish

Scientific Name: Mulloidichthys vanicolensis



Family: Mullidae

Geography / Habitat: Most goatfish are found in reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian

Ocean. Can also be found around seaweed and other rocky areas.

Life Strategy: These fish sometimes change their color pattern to blend in with other fish to

hide when they feel threatened. They also like traveling in schools.

Food / Feed Strategy: Goat fish are tireless benthic eater and use their whiskers coming

from their chins to go through the sediments in search of a meal




Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatfish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatfish

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Yellowfin_goatfish.jpg

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species #: 16

Common Name: Croaker

Scientific Name: Micropogonias undulatus



Family: Sciaenidae

Geography / Habitat: They are found worldwide in both saltwater and freshwater. They

are normally found in open sandy areas.

Life Strategy: Once a croaker fish egg is fertilized it is hatched just 48 hours later. Before

they hatch they sit at the surface of the water and travel by currents. Their spawning times

happen between May and June.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish feed on fish all throughout the night. They move around

rocks and other things to flush their prey.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aplodinotus_grunniens/

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

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/7080_aquaimages.jpg


Common Name: Flounder

Scientific Name: Bothus lunatus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pleuronectiformes

Family: Bothidae

Geography / Habitat: Found in the West Atlantic. Live in clear oceanic waters. Almost

always on rocky or sandy bottoms, sometimes being found in coral reefs.

Life Strategy: Flounder usually mate right before dusk. They approach each other with

their pectoral fin out, then arch their back and touch snouts.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish feed on other benthic organisms. They also feed on French

grunts and Sharp nose Puffers.


Swim / Locomotion Style: Anguilliform


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Bothus_lunatus/

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

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species #:18

Common Name: Atlantic Salmon

Scientific Name: Salmo salar


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes

Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: The salmon is native to the North Atlantic and can be found from

anywhere from the Artic Circle to Portugal. There are many Salmon who live in

freshwater for the first few years of their life then migrate to the Ocean or Seas.

Life Strategy: Reproduction for these fish happens usually around April. They always

return to where they were born for their Spawning.

Food / Feed Strategy: Atlantic Salmon usually eat the larvae from aquatic insects such as

black flies, stoneflies, caddie flies, and chironomids.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salmo_salar/

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


Common Name: Blue Fin Tuna

Scientific Name: Thunnus thynnus



Family: Scombridae

Geography / Habitat: Blue fin Tuna are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in

subtropical and temperate waters. There aren’t as many as there uses to be but when they

are found they are in open waters, 1000 ft. deep from the surface

Life Strategy: These Fish form spawning aggressions. They use a method called broadcast

spawning. The male releases the eggs and then the male releases the milt.

Food / Feed Strategy: Blue Fin Tuna chase down their prey swimming at very high speeds.

They have also been known to sometimes eat kelp.


Swim / Locomotion Style: Thunniform


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Thunnus_thynnus/

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


Common Name: King Mackeral

Scientific Name: Scomberomorus cavalla



Family: Scombridae

Geography / Habitat: King Mackerel are found both onshore and offshore. Most times

around piers but sometimes you’ll find them fairly deep in the ocean.

Life Strategy: Depending on size a female may shed from 50,000 to several million eggs

over the spawning season. Fertilized eggs hatch in about 24 hours

Food / Feed Strategy: King Mackerel feed both on smaller squid and smaller fish also.




Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_mackerel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_mackerel


Common Name: Sunfish

Scientific Name: Mola mola



Family: Molidae

Geography / Habitat: Are found worldwide. Normally in the open ocean they will

sometimes venture off into kelp beds and coral reefs so other fish will clean parasites and

other things off of them.

Life Strategy: Not much is known about the reproduction of sunfish. It is thought to be

between April and August. During that time female sunfish are estimated to lay 300 million

eggs each breeding season.

Food / Feed Strategy: Sun fish feed mainly on jelly fish and zooplankton. They also are

known to eat invertebrates such as mollusks.




Citation http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mola_mola/

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


Common Name: Mahi Mahi

Scientific Name: Coryphaena hippurus



Family: Coryphaenidae

Geography / Habitat: The Mahi-Mahi fish is found in off-shore temperate and tropical

waters worldwide, usually in the open waters.

Life Strategy: These fish are one of the fastest growing fish in the world. They normal life

span is 4-5 years. If a Mahi Mahi gets over 40 lbs its considered an exceptional fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Mahi-Mahi feeds on smaller fish most times flying fish. These

fish feed mostly during the day time and near the surface.




Citation: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7165085_do-mahi-mahi-fish-eat_.html

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7165085_do-mahi-mahi-fish-eat_.html

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fish Species:#23

Common Name: Common Snook

Scientific Name: Centropomus underdecimalis



Family: Centropomidae

Geography / Habitat: Range from the coastal mid-Atlantic Ridge, Gulf Coast, and

Caribbean. These fish can be found in freshwater, brackish, or marine areas up to 22

meters deep.

Life Strategy: Hatched Snook are measured from 1.4-1.5mm in length and grow slowly in

the first month of their life but growth rates triple after the first year.

Food / Feed Strategy: Snook are pelagic eaters. Their feeding behavior is dependent based

on the tidal cycle. Primarily feed on other pelagic fish.


Swim / Locomotion Style: carangiform

Mouth Position: terminal

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

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


Common Name: Asian Seabass

Scientific Name: Lates calcarifer



Family: Latidae

Geography / Habitat: these fish are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. These fish are

born in freshwater and migrate to saltwater. They also spend most of their time not on but

very close to the bottom.

Life Strategy: Migrate to the saltwater for reproductive reasons. Are rather large fish

growing over two meters. Usually reproduce during a full moon so the eggs wash up close

to shore.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish are opportunistic predators. They eat copepods and

Juvenile fish under 40mm.

Body Form or Style: compressiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: subcarangiform


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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lates_calcarifer/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Percoidei/PercoideiIII/Lates_calcarifer/


Common Name: Atlantic Mud Shark

Scientific Name: Haxanchus griseus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Hexanchifromes

Family: Hexanchidae

Geography / Habitat: Globally in all Oceans. Mainly a deep water fish at depths less than

100mm. Usually found close to reefs, rocky bottom or muddy areas.

Life Strategy: During the summer months sometimes these sharks come up to more

shallow waters. Not much is known about their reproductive ways because little is known

about their social behaviors

Food / Feed Strategy: A skilled predator and feed on fish rays or other sharks. Known for

being sluggish but can reach high speeds when chasing food.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hexanchus_griseus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hexanchus_griseus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Hexanchiformes/Hexanchus_griseus/


Common Name: Tiger Shark

Scientific Name: Galerocerdo cuvier


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes

Family: Carcharhinidae

Geography / Habitat: These fish prefer grassy areas. Are also usually found from the east

coast of North America and the east coast of Brazil.

Life Strategy: Although they prefer grassy areas sometimes they are forced to go out in to

the open for food reasons. Also females are found more often than males are.

Food / Feed Strategy: These sharks have a pretty wide diet eating birds snakes mollusks,

crustaceans, sea turtles and dugongs.


Swim / Locomotion Style: subcarangiform

Mouth Position: subterminal

Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Galeocerdo_cuvier/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Galeocerdo_cuvier/pictures/collections/contributors/klaus_jost/00018741/


Common Name: Bull Shark

Scientific Name: Charcharhinus leucas




Geography / Habitat: Found worldwide in tropical, costal, and subtropical areas

worldwide. Some have been known to be pretty deep in the water but most are found from

waist deep to 30mm

Life Strategy: These sharks give birth to live young that are nourished inside the mother

shark. They reach sexual maturity at 8-10 years old. They also breed in the summer

months

Food / Feed Strategy: These sharks feed on almost anything they can find including fish,

sharks mainly sandbar sharks, rays, sea turtles just to name a few.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharhinus_leucas/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharhinus_leucas/pictures/collections/contributors/klaus_jost/00018251/


Common Name: Leopard Sharks

Scientific Name: Stegostoma fasciatum


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Orectolobiformes

Family: Stegostomatidea

Geography / Habitat: Lives in warm waters near reefs and sandy areas. Commonly found

on the Australian coast. Usually found around 65m deep.

Life Strategy: These sharks have a unique reproduction system. The female lays only a few

eggs and the male fertilizes them externally. They egg itself grows to about 17cm in

diameter. The actual shark is 20-36cm.

Food / Feed Strategy: Their natural prey consists of gastropod, mollusks, shrimp, crab, and

small fish. The Leopard shark also plays a part of the prey while they get hunted by bigger

sharks.



Mouth Position: subterminal

Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Stegostoma_fasciatum/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Stegostoma_fasciatum/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Orectolobiformes/Stegostoma_fasciatum/


Common Name: Blunt-Head Shark

Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus




Geography / Habitat: Found in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. These are reef sharks,

and live near coral reefs. They also spend a lot of time in caves because they are nocturnal.

Life Strategy: It is known that male blunt-head sharks travel in schools to try and find a

female ready to mate. They mate in autumn and winter.

Food / Feed Strategy: These are some of the most aggressive sharks when feeding. They

will rash through the coral reefs looking for food.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Triaenodon_obesus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Triaenodon_obesus/pictures/collections/contributors/cary_wien/IMG_5073/


Common Name: Greenland Shark

Scientific Name: Somniosus microcephalus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Squaliformes

Family: Somniosdae

Geography / Habitat: These sharks are found in the North Atlantic and occasionally tend

to go down to the south. Can be found on Canada’s East Coast and New England’s East

Coast.

Life Strategy: During the winter months these sharks stay in intertidal regions during the

winter and go to about 180-550m during warmer months.

Food / Feed Strategy: This sharks diet consist of fish, small whales and seals. They have no

known predators because of their large size.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Somniosus_microcephalus/

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

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=greenland+shark&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=527&tbm=isch&tbnid=TQ7iKvv67l67gM:&imgrefurl=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2006/06dec07/jaws.html&docid=iEYhlqJu2jDQjM&imgurl=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2006/06dec07/jaws.jpg&w=284&h=190&ei=XnmyUI32CoL09gSakoCYDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1088&vpy=235&dur=485&hovh=152&hovw=227&tx=202&ty=69&sig=118073367659379716195&page=2&tbnh=143&tbnw=172&start=14&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:14,i:231


Common Name: Alaska Pollack

Scientific Name: Theragra chalcogramma


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gadiformes

Family: Gadidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in wide ranges of the Northern Pacific Ocean. Also

live in polar climates. These fish live on the outer shelf and slope regions. They can also live

in large estuaries, coastal areas, and open basins.

Life Strategy: These fish reproduce in groups. The females release the eggs and the male

come and randomly fertilize the eggs. The females release multiple eggs every few days a

month once a month per year.

Food / Feed Strategy: This fish feeds on both fish and invertebrates. During the winter

adult Pollock feed on fish but during the summer they eat mostly copepods.




Citation:

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Theragra_chalcogramma/pictures/collect

ions/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Gadiformes/Theragra_chalcogramma/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Theragra_chalcogramma/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Gadiformes/Theragra_chalcogramma/




Common Name: Leather Bass

Scientific Name: Dermatolepis dermatolepis



Family: Serranidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in the East Central Pacific and the South East Pacific.

They are found by reefs at depths at anywhere from 4m to 40m deep. Also can be found in

rocky areas

Life Strategy: When they feel threatened or felt like they are about to be eaten they go find

shelter in the spines of sea urchins. Leather Bass assemble to dusk mate. Also they gather

by hundreds to spawn.

Food / Feed Strategy: They hover over reefs looking for food. Feeding on small benthic fish

and occasionally feed on crustaceans crabs and shrimp

Body Form or Style: Globiform

Swim / Locomotion Style: Ostraciiform


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dermatolepis_dermatolepis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dermatolepis_dermatolepis/pictures/collections/contributors/tanya_dewey/leathergrouper/


Common Name: Saw Shark

Scientific Name: Pristiophorus cirratus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Pristiophoriformes

Family: Pristiophoridae

Geography / Habitat: Found in Australia’s outer continental shelf. Prefer a number of

marine environments including open waters and costal regions. Usually found at 40m deep

Life Strategy: These sharks breed seasonally, other than that people do not know much

about these sharks’ reproductive systems. They breed once every two years and mostly

near costal areas.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Saw Shark eats mostly bony fish, shrimp, small squid and other

crustaceans. They take their prey down by a swipe with their nose which has sharp teeth on

the side of it.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pristiophorus_cirratus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pristiophorus_cirratus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Pristiophoriformes/Pristiophorus_cirratus/

Title: Saltwater/Marine Fis Species #: 34

Common Name: Harlequin Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon fasciatus



Family: Labridae

Geography / Habitat: These fish can be found many places but the most common one is by

Australia in the Great Barrier Reef. They also like living in lagoons that are located on the

outskirts of the reefs. The water temperatures are about 26-28 degrees Celsius.

Life Strategy: Their mating groups consist of one male fish and many female fish. When a

male dies the most dominant female becomes a male. Other than that not much is known

about these fish’s reproductive system.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Harlequin Tuskfish feeds on aquatic worms, crustaceans,

echinoderms, and mollusks. It has a very bright color which gives the predator a sign that

it might taste bad.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Choerodon_fasciatus/

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


Common Name: Black Mullet

Scientific Name: Mugil Cephalus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Mugiliformes

Family: Mugilidae

Geography / Habitat: These fish live in highly salted waters at temperatures from 8-24

degrees Celsius. They spend majority of their time near the shore or mouth of a river.

They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans and some rivers.

Life Strategy: The Black Mullet form large groups at the bottom of the rivers and cause

disturbance in the sand to help hide them when they feel threatened. They also spawn in

saltwater but spend a lot of time in freshwater.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish consume mainly on zooplankton and dead plant matter.

They also feed on detritus and have a lick like gizzard on their stomach that allows them to

eat detritus.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mugil_cephalus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mugil_cephalus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Mugiliformes/Mugil_cephalus/


Common Name: Copper Rockfish

Scientific Name: Sebastes caurinus



Family: Sebastidae

Geography / Habitat: Found in the waters along the Pacific Coast on Baja. Copper

Rockfish prefer the bottom of the oceans close to reefs and rocks. Can also be found

anywhere from 10m to 185m deep.

Life Strategy: These fish spawn once a year in the spring but depending on where they are

geographically is when they know it’s time to reproduce. They also have one of the fastest

growth rates in the world for fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish need fish that are pretty close to them and close to the

floor such as crabs, mollusks and smaller fish. They are prey to many other fish that hang

out around kelp beds. Adults are eaten by lingcod.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sebastes_caurinus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sebastes_caurinus/pictures/collections/contributors/william_fink/sebastes_caurinus/


Common Name: Swell Shark

Scientific Name: Cephaloscyllium ventriosum


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Carcharnhiniformes

Family: Sycliorhinidae

Geography / Habitat: This shark is found in the Eastern Pacific. They can be found a any

depths form shore all the way to 437m, but are most commonly found at the 4m-47m deep.

Life Strategy: This shark lays large eggs that hatch in 8-10 months depending on the

temperature of the water. They force their way out of the egg with their sharp teeth.

Food / Feed Strategy: They feed on bony fish dead or alive and crustaceans. Baby sharks

feed on mollusks and crustaceans. They have small sharp teeth that allow them to hold

onto larger prey.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cephaloscyllium_ventriosum/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cephaloscyllium_ventriosum/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Carcharhiniformes/Cephaloscyllium_ventriosum/


Common Name: Pacific Striped Marlin

Scientific Name: Tetrapturus audax



Family: Istiophoridae

Geography / Habitat: Live in Pelagic waters, and their density is positively correlated their

distance from shore. They are also native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Life Strategy: Striped Marlin form schools during mating season. Both male and females

have multiple mating partners. Females reach maturity around 1 1/2-2 years old while

males mature around 1 year old.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Striped Marlin feeds mainly on epipelagic organisms from the

oceanic zones. The only known predators to these fish are great white sharks, killer whales,

and humans.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Tetrapturus_audax/

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


Common Name: Great White Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias


Class: Chondrichythes Order: Lamniformes

Family: Lamnidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in Cold temperate waters and tropical waters along

costal California, The tip of Africa and just about anywhere in the Pacific. They are

primarily costal offshore fish. They have also been known to breach to depths as far down

as 1,875. Live in the open waters.

Life Strategy: Not much is known but many scientists believe that when the male

bites/nibbles on the female is what they do to reproduce. Also it is believed that when the

male propels itself out of the water it is to attract females

Food / Feed Strategy: When these sharks are just born they feed on squid, sting rays and

smaller sharks, but when they mature the feed on seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whale

carcasses. These sharks have no predators either because they are at the top of the food

chain.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharodon_carcharias/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharodon_carcharias/pictures/collections/contributors/klaus_jost/00001618/


Common Name: Australian Remora

Scientific Name: Echeneis naucrates

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata


Family: Echeneidae

Geography / Habitat: Remora is found in almost all warm seas. They are found in a lot of

places but most commonly the Mediterranean Sea. They are also known as shark suckers

because they follow them around and attach themselves to the shark.

Life Strategy: Spawning occurs during warm season usually in spring or early summer.

Egg and sperm are held in both the male and the female. The eggs are fertilized externally

in a shell.

Food / Feed Strategy: A lot of the food they get is scraps from the host that they keep

themselves attached too. They are very dependent on other organisms to survive.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Echeneis_naucrates/

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


Common Name: Angel Shark

Scientific Name: Squatina californica


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Squatiniformes

Family: Squatinidae

Geography / Habitat: Live in temperate or tropical waters. Generally found in shallow

waters anywhere from 10ft to 328ft. They are Native to the Pacific and can be found all up

the west coast of the Americas. Normally gliding along the sand.

Life Strategy: The Angel Shark usually reproduces annually and usually take 10 months to

give birth. Most common mating months are March and April. Once the eggs are fertilized

and are about to be born they hatch inside the mother just days before they are born.

Food / Feed Strategy: These sharks feed primarily on bony fish and cephalopods. The most

common bony fish they eat is the croaker. The only predators they have are larger sharks

like the great white and killer whales.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Squatina_californica/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Squatina_californica/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Squatiniformes/Squatina_californica/


Common Name: Mackerel Shark

Scientific Name: Lamna ditropis


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes

Family: Lamnidae

Geography / Habitat: These sharks are primarily pelagic, but can also be found in coastal

waters in the North Pacific. They are usually found in the surface layer. Can also be found

in deeper areas though at 150m deep.

Life Strategy: Males hold onto the female and bite their dorsal fin this is their way of

showing copulation. After copulation they have no other contact. They mate in northern

waters during autumn and give birth approximately 9months later.

Food / Feed Strategy: These sharks feed mainly on pelagic and demersal fish. These sharks

have other predators. They are the prey of many other larger sharks such as the blue

shark, the great white, and sometimes even other mackerel fish.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lamna_ditropis/

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


Common Name: Whale Shark

Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Orectolobiformes

Family: Rhincondontidae

Geography / Habitat: Can be found in various spots but majority of them are off the coast

of the Philippines. They prefer waters of anywhere between 21-30 degrees Celsius. Data has

been collected saying these sharks can dive to depths of 1700m deep.

Life Strategy: One male can fertilize a whole liter. This observation was made by another

observation that whale sharks all sired from the same father. It is also known that the

female stores sperm to fertilize the eggs when they are ready

Food / Feed Strategy: The Whale Shark is known to feed on plank tonic organisms such as

krill, crab, jellyfish, small tuna, and squids. They feed by using suction ram-feeding. Once

they the food in their mouth they release the water through their gills and trap the prey in

their mouth




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rhincodon_typus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rhincodon_typus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Orectolobiformes/Rhincodon_typus/


Common Name: Bluntnose Sevengill Shark

Scientific Name: Nortorynchus cepedianus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Hexanchiformes

Family: Hexanchindae

Geography / Habitat: Bluntnose sharks can be found in all seas with the exception of the

Mediterranean and the Northern Atlantic. These sharks are benthic and live near

continental shelves. The large Bluntnose sharks prefer deeper waters at approximately

570m deep.

Life Strategy: Not a lot is know about how these sharks reproduce but they do know that

the male constantly bites the female to get her attention. They eventually lay side by side

and he inserts his claspers.

Food / Feed Strategy: These sharks feed on rays, chimeras, dolphins, seals and sometimes

even other sharks. Theses sharks don’t have many if any predators because they are so

large and fairly aggressive.




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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notorynchus_cepedianus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Hexanchiformes/Notorynchus_cepedianus/


Common Name: Chain Cat Shark

Scientific Name: Scyliorhinus retifur



Family: Scyliorhinidae

Geography / Habitat: These sharks prefer subtropical waters, and can be found in the

Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. They are normally pretty deep in the water at around

550m deep. They prefer rough or rocky areas.

Life Strategy: These sharks will swim together for a little while. Once they have swam

together for a little the male with start to bit the female on the tail. He slowly works his way

up biting her until he gets back up to her and wraps himself around her.

Food / Feed Strategy: These sharks don’t have a wide variety of diet. They feed on squid,

fish, and crustaceans. The predator that these sharks have is larger fish and other types of

sharks.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Scyliorhinus_retifer/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Scyliorhinus_retifer/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Carcharhiniformes/Scyliorhinus_retifer/


Common Name: Gobies

Scientific Name: Gobiidae



Family: Gobiidae

Geography / Habitat: Gobies are very successful for finding spots that other fish cannot

find. This is usually where they live/hide. They can live in both freshwater and saltwater in

subtropical waters.

Life Strategy: Although gobies have many different ways to mate the most common way

they seem to be is promiscuous either organized or hierarchical social system. Before they

mate the male cleans the area that the female will lay the eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: Gobies are zooplanktivores, carnivores, and omnivores. They have a

wide variety diet. They eat other small organisms such as crabs mollusks and smaller

crustaceans along with shrimp.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gobiidae/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gobiidae/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Gobioidei/Gobioides_broussoneti/


Common Name: Cross Stripe Butterfly

Scientific Name: Chaetodon auriga



Family: Chaetodidae

Geography / Habitat: The butterfly fish is found in tropical coral reefs. They are sometimes

found in areas with sparse coral too, but usually coral reefs. They live at depths fairly

shallow at 10m-35m.

Life Strategy: Once butterfly fish mate with their partner they keep that same partner for

a few years. This is unusual as most fish have several at the same time or even are in

groups. If their partner dies or somehow just disappears they will find another one and

keep them for a few years

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish are benthic fish that feed on mostly plankton. They also

are omnivores and eat coral, shrimp and algae. They do not have many predators because

they have a sharp spine and are very quick.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chaetodon_auriga/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chaetodon_auriga/pictures/collections/contributors/jeffrey_jeffords/fish/butterfly1/


Common Name: Banana Fish

Scientific Name: Albula vulpes


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Albuliformes

Family: Albulidae

Geography / Habitat: These fish live in warm tropical waters off the southern coast of

Florida. They also live in open waters but them being in shallow or deep waters depends on

whether or not they are feeding.

Life Strategy: Reproduction occurs annually and spawning season is usually during late

November to late May. The females also lay the eggs and the male releases the sperm

externally.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish have a wide diet. They eat small mollusks and other

crustaceans along with small crabs and shrimp. When they are born they are vary widely

preyed upon but if/when they get to adults they don’t have many at all.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Albula_vulpes/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Albula_vulpes/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Albuliformes/Albula_vulpes/


Common Name: Atlantic Ray

Scientific Name: Manta birostris


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes

Family: Myliobatidae

Geography / Habitat: Manta Rays are found in warm temperate coastal waters. Unlike

most other rays, manta rays stay near the surface of the ocean. They also usually don’t go

don’t farther than around 120m deep. They also stay close to shore.

Life Strategy: The manta ray reaches maturity around age five. Their most common

mating season are from December to April. They like to be around rocky areas and reefs

around 10-20m deep.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Manta Ray rarely leaves the shore because it can find food

easier and is less likely to find a shark to eat them. They are filter feeders and usually feed

on planktivores. They also swim in a vertical circle form. People have suggested that it is to

keep their food in reachable distance.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Manta_birostris/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Manta_birostris/pictures/collections/contributors/cary_wien/IMG_5203/


Common Name: Bearded Ghoul

Scientific Name: Inimicus didactylus



Family: Synaceiidae

Geography / Habitat: This fish is found in tropical and brackish water. It’s a benthic fish

and usually is fairly shallow at 70m deep. It is around usually found around coral reefs or

mangrove swamps.

Life Strategy: Not much is known about this fish’s reproductive system but they do lay

multiple eggs in a silky sack like structure. They also pose powerful and very poisonous

venom that it releases when feeling attacked.

Food / Feed Strategy: This fish is a patient fish when he is hunting for food. They hide

beneath the sand keeping his eyes above the sand and when he finds a fish he can eat he

ambushed the fish.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Inimicus_didactylus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Inimicus_didactylus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Scorpaeniformes/ScorpaeniformesII/Inimicus_didactylus/

Title: Freshwater/Fishes Species #: 51

Common Name: Freshwater Drum

Scientific Name: Aplodinotus grunniens



Family: Sciaenidae

Geography / Habitat: The drum fish live in backwaters and places of slack current in a

wide range of habitats such as deep pools in medium to large rivers. They also prefer silty

or rocky areas.

Life Strategy: The Freshwater Drum is the only fish in its family of Sciaenidae that actually

live in freshwater. They also breed seasonally in the open waters and once their eggs are

laid the leave the eggs out in the open and they usually float to the surface of the water.

Food / Feed Strategy: Saltwater Drum feed at night and usually all hours of the night. Once

they are adults they feed on aquatic insects like mayflies. Sometime they feed on immature

drum along with mollusks.


Swim / Locomotion Style: Subcarrangiform


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aplodinotus_grunniens/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aplodinotus_grunniens/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Aplodinotus-grunniens-2/


Common Name: Longtail Knifefish

Scientific Name: Sternopygus macrurus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gymnotiformes

Family: Sternopygus

Geography / Habitat: Most commonly found in South American rivers. They also can be

found in swamps and lakes with lentic waters. They also like to hide inside things or

between things such as seaweed or any kind of rock that has big enough holes

Life Strategy: The male knife fish defends its territory before he goes and looks for a mate.

Once he finds her he tries to get her to come over to the territory and show off. If she

responds in a good way they begin to mate but if not she swims off.

Food / Feed Strategy: This fish eats kinds of small invertebrates. Its diet mainly consists of

small aquatic insects and larvae.




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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sternopygus_macrurus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Gymnotiformes/Sternopygus_macrurus/


Common Name: Freshwater Eel

Scientific Name: Anguilla Anguilla


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Anguilliformes

Family: Anguillidae

Geography / Habitat: Where the eels can be found is all based on how old the eel is. He

could be in freshwater, marine or brackish waters. Usually the eel can be found at depths

as far down as 700m. They also like to hide in highly covered spaces.

Life Strategy: While the eel spends majority of its time in freshwater it does go to saltwater

to spawn and also die there. These eels also lay 2,000,000-10,000,000 million eggs when they

lay them but they also die shortly after.

Food / Feed Strategy: The common eel has a fairly unknown diet. They do know they will

eat things like larvae, dead fish, and small crustaceans.

Body Form or Style: Anguilliform



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilla_anguilla/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anguilla_anguilla/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Anguilliformes/Anguilla_anguilla/


Common Name: Green Kisser Fish

Scientific Name: Helostoma temminkii


Class: Actinoptrygii Order: Perciformes

Family: Helostomidae

Geography / Habitat: The Green Kisser is normally found in Southeast Asia. It prefers

sluggish or standing water of swamps, lakes, rivers, and ponds. During rainy seasons it

likes to migrate to more shallow waters.

Life Strategy: These fish only spawn once a year. The female is actually the one who starts

or tries to attract the male to her. She only has one mate each spawn year and they don’t

travel in groups.

Food / Feed Strategy: This fish is an omnivore and feeds on all kinds of plankton such as

phytoplankton, zooplankton and aquatic insects. As far as their predators go humans are

their biggest worries as people in Southeast Asia eat them




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Helostoma_temminkii/

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


Common Name: American Pike

Scientific Name: Esox lucius


Class: Actionopterygii Order: Escoiformes

Family: Escodidae

Geography / Habitat: These fish are found in almost all kinds of freshwaters from cold

deep lakes to warm shallow ponds. They have a one of the broadest tolerances for

temperature. They are native to North America and Eurasia

Life Strategy: Spawning happens randomly with these fish. They usually mate when the

shallow water reaches 5-7 degrees Celsius. The spawning last for five to ten days at which

the female leaves. The male stays there for a few more weeks but does not protect the eggs

which leaves them open for predators.

Food / Feed Strategy: Pike are somewhat aggressive; once they get their food it is not going

anywhere. They have very sharp teeth which the food gets trapped and can’t escape. They

eat smaller animal such as frogs, smaller fish, small mammals and birds.

Body Form or Style: Sagitiform



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Esox_lucius/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Esox_lucius/pictures/collections/contributors/usfws/northernpike2/


Common Name: Bluntnose Minnow

Scientific Name: Pimephales notatus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: Bluntnose minnows can be found widely in small to medium size

rivers. The Bluntnose minnow prefers clear, rocky streams and rivers and can also be

found in manmade lakes.

Life Strategy: The Bluntnose minnow doesn’t have a very long life span. Its longest

recorded life span is 5 years. Not much is known about the ways they reproduce and

spawn.

Food / Feed Strategy: Bluntnose minnows eat algae, aquatic insects and small crustaceans.

As far as their predators go they are prey to many larger fish along with birds and reptiles.

The minnows are fast movers and they can get away from the reptiles and birds fairly

easily.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pimephales_notatus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pimephales_notatus/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Pimephales-notatus-1/


Common Name: Alligator Gar

Scientific Name: Atractosteus spatula


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Lepisosteiformes

Family: Lepisoteidae

Geography / Habitat: Alligator Gar can be found in the Ohio and Mississippi River’s

along with the Gulf of Mexico. They are found in backwaters and swamps. They also

rarely if ever enter marine waters

Life Strategy: When the female gar lays her eggs they are normally green or red and they

have a sticky substance on them that allows them to stick to rocks and such for vegetation.

The eggs are poisonous though if eaten.

Food / Feed Strategy: Alligator Gars are very patient eaters. They act like they are lazy

and sluggish but right when the fish somewhat forgets about them that’s when they

ambush them. They also tend to be aggressive eaters. They will feed on almost anything

including ducks turtles and small mammals .




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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Atractosteus_spatula/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Semionotiformes/Atractosteus_spatula/

Title: Freshwater/ Fishes Species #: 58

Common Name: Blackfish

Scientific Name: Gadopsis marmoratus



Family: Percicththyes

Geography / Habitat: Blackfish can be found in both slow and fast moving waters. They

prefer to stay in slower moving waters. They are most commonly found in Southwestern

Australia

Life Strategy: When blackfish reproduce they usually lay their eggs in hollow logs. The

normal maturity age for this fish is 2-3 years old. The normal amount of eggs laid each time

is around 300 eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: The blackfish is an ambush type of predator. They are very efficient

and quick to attack. As far as predators go the black fish does not have many predators

when they go out to deep waters. Their main problem is from birds coming down and

eating them.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gadopsis_marmoratus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gadopsis_marmoratus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Percoidei/PercoideiIII/Gadopsis_marmoratus/

`


Common Name: Alewife

Scientific Name: Alosa pseudoharengus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Clupeiformes

Family: Clupeidae

Geography / Habitat: This fish is most commonly found in the Great Lakes up north.

They spend most of their times at 56-100m deep. Also they are one of the more light

sensitive fish.

Life Strategy: All Alewife spawn during the spring. They also travel in large groups when

they are going to spawn. The oldest spawning partner that has ever been recorded was 9-10

years old. They also spawn in groups of 3 or 2.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish eat mostly zooplankton. They also tend to eat fish eggs.

When they are spawning they will eat small fish. As far as predators go they their main

predator is a burbot, lake trout, and eels.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_pseudoharengus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alosa_pseudoharengus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Clupeiformes/Alosa_psudoharengus/


Common Name: Eel Sucker

Scientific Name: Petromyzon marinus


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Petromyzontiformes

Family:Petromyzontidae

Geography / Habitat: Based on the temperature of the water is what decides whether or

not the eel goes to salt or freshwater. They spend most of their time in freshwater rivers

and in rocky or grassy areas.

Life Strategy: The male eel has an acid that it releases while the female is ovulating to

attract her. This acid can be distinguished by other female eels from long distances away.

The female eel also digs a deep hole to lay her eggs in once they are fertilized.

Food / Feed Strategy: Baby eel suckers eat algae, detritus, and other organic matter that is

on the bottom of the rivers. This eel also can attach itself to other larger organisms and

that’s another way they feed.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Petromyzon_marinus/

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


Common Name: Freshwater Whipray

Scientific Name: Dasyatidae


Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes

Family: Dasyatidae

Geography / Habitat: This ray is found in large freshwater lakes mainly in Thailand.

Normally on sandy bottoms in large lakes at anywhere from 5-30m deep. Many of the

female rays can found in many estuaries

Life Strategy: Female rays use some of their senses to find some of the male rays. The male

rays send out an electrical signal that will attract the females. The female can basically just

pick out which one she wants based on their signal calling.

Food / Feed Strategy: This ray feeds mainly off of things that are in the sand such as

benthic fish and invertebrates. Adult rays are the largest in their habitats which makes

them have not many if any at all because of their size.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Himantura_chaophraya/

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


Common Name: North American Freshwater Catfish

Scientific Name: Ictaluridae


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes

Family: Ictaluridae

Geography / Habitat: These Catfish is found in only lakes in Northern United States,

Southern Canada and Guatemala. They are normally in open waters but it is usually

murky

Life Strategy: This Catfish reproduces externally. The female lays the eggs externally

before they are fertilized and the male comes and releases the sperm to fertilize them

Food / Feed Strategy: The catfish eats smaller crustaceans, shrimp and sometimes smaller

fish. They also feed off of food on the bottom of the rivers.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ictaluridae/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ictaluridae/pictures/collections/contributors/james_dowlinghealey/Ameiuruscatus/


Common Name: Texas Blind Catfish

Scientific Name: Satan eurystomus



Family: Ictaluridae

Geography / Habitat: These types of Catfish are found almost only near San Antonio. They

live in the freshwater rivers of the subterranean Edwards Aquifer. Those waters range

from 300-550m deep.

Life Strategy: The difference between these catfish and other catfish is that these catfish

have no eyes. They also have a white to pink skin color. Their gills also have separate

membranes.

Food / Feed Strategy: These catfish have been known to eat crustaceans as people have

found bones in their stomach before. There has also been mud found in their stomach’s

before too. They also have no known predators because they are the largest animal in their

habitat.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Satan_eurystomus/

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

Title: Freshwater/Fish Species #: 64

Common Name: Bleeding Heart

Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes

Family: Characidae

Geography / Habitat: They are most commonly found in the upper stream of the Amazon

River. They can also be found in other rivers in South America. They are found in creeks

and river beds where vegetation is low dense.

Life Strategy: The bleeding heart fish reproduces externally. Not much was known about

the fish’s ways of spawning so almost all of its studies are done in aquariums. Once the eggs

have been laid they stick to the bottom for vegetation

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish have a small diet they eat mainly small crustaceans,

zooplankton and other small aquatic organisms. They have also been known to eat their

own eggs sometimes but very rarely




Citation:

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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hyphessobrycon_erythrostigma/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Characiformes/Hyphessobrycon_erythrostigm/


Common Name: Three-Lined Pencil Fish

Scientific Name: Nannostomus trifasciatus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characaiformes

Family: Lebiasinidae

Geography / Habitat: The Three-Lined Pencil Fish is a freshwater fish that is native to

Guyana. They are usually found in shady grassy areas. When the rivers flood they move

into inundated rainforests.

Life Strategy: When these fish spawn they try and find a cluster of leaves or something that

makes it clustered. The eggs hatch in just hours no longer than a day all depending on

what the temperature of the water is.

Food / Feed Strategy: They spend majority of their time up near the surface. Therefore

they usually just get food floating at the surface such as plankton and detritus. As far as

predators go their biggest problem is striped pike.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nannostomus_trifasciatus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nannostomus_trifasciatus/pictures/collections/contributors/william_fink/nannostomus_trifasciatus/


Common Name: American Brook Char

Scientific Name: Salvelinus fontinalis



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: These fish are most commonly found in the Appalachian rivers as

far south as Georgia. They usually need clear, clean, cool, and well lots of oxygen in the

water. They usually can be found in tree bark that’s in the water or with lots of leaves too.

Life Strategy: These fish reproduce only with one other partner. They usually try and show

off for the male. Also the male is bigger than the female and is a little aggressive. They also

breed in the later part of the summer.

Food / Feed Strategy: the sometimes eat reptiles such as lizards like salamanders, snakes

and small turtles. They don’t have many predators because there are not that many fish in

their habitat much larger than them.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_fontinalis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_fontinalis/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Salvelinus-fontinalis-1/


Common Name: Golden Shiner

Scientific Name: Notemigonus crysoleucas



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: These Golden Shiner Fish are native to North American rivers and

lakes. They tend to be at medium depths of rivers at 10m deep. They are usually

surrounded by swamps.

Life Strategy: The Golden Shiner Fish spawn from May to August. Once they lay their eggs

the stick to what every is under them like rocks and such for vegetation.

Food / Feed Strategy: Gold Shiner Fish are omnivores. Their diet mainly consist of

zooplankton and phytoplankton.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notemigonus_crysoleucas/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notemigonus_crysoleucas/pictures/collections/contributors/william_fink/notemigonus_chrysoleucas/


Common Name: African Pike

Scientific Name: Hepsetus odoe



Family: Hepsetidae

Geography / Habitat: The African Pike is most commonly found in West African rivers.

Normally found on banks of rivers and in highly vegetated areas, but can also be found in

swampy environments.

Life Strategy: Where the African Pike live is what determines when they spawn. Females

lay anywhere from 5,000-6,400 eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: The African Pike feeds mainly on smaller fish of its own species.

They usually hide in deep vegetation areas and then attack their food. They don’t go out

into open waters much because that is where they would find all there predators.

Body Form or Style: Compresifrom



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hepsetus_odoe/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hepsetus_odoe/pictures/collections/contributors/william_fink/hepsetus_odoe/


Common Name: Barfish

Scientific Name: Morone mississippiensis



Family: Moronidae

Geography / Habitat: The Barfish can be found in backwaters to larger rivers. They prefer

waters with low vegetation. They are demersal which means they live near the bottom of

where they live.

Life Strategy: The Barfish reach maturity at anywhere from 2-4 years old. When they

spawn is usually based on where they live geographically. The female doesn’t release all of

their eggs at once but what she does release is fertilized by more than one male.

Food / Feed Strategy: As babies they feed mainly on small crustaceans and near the top of

the surface but once they mature they stay mostly at the bottom and eat there. They still eat

crustaceans but usually bigger ones as they mature. There aren’t many predators if any at

all of the yellow bass.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Morone_mississippiensis/

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


Common Name: South American Lungfish

Scientific Name: Lepidosiren paradoxa


Class: Sarcopterygii Order: Lepidosireniformes

Family: Lepidosirenidae

Geography / Habitat: Is found most commonly in Argentina and just about anywhere else

in South America. They like to hide in highly vegetated areas and don’t like to come out

much unless to eat. They also are usually in murky water.

Life Strategy: The South American Lungfish mainly spawns during the rainy months. The

average life span of the fish is anywhere from 8 years to 10 years.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Lungfish eats mainly shrimp and bony fish along with some

crustaceans. They also eat some algae and plants. As far as predators go they don’t have

many because they live mostly in highly vegetated areas.




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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Lepidosireniformes/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/


Common Name: Pugnose Shiner

Scientific Name: Notropis anogenus



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: The pugnose shiner is most commonly found in the Mississippi River

and the Great Lakes. They like to stay in clear vegetated waters. They are also intolerant to

turbidity

Life Strategy: The male pugnose shiner extends its fin and the female comes along and they

start rubbing against each other. The female also spreads her eggs out randomly and

doesn’t protect them while they are there.

Food / Feed Strategy: The pugnose shiner is an omnivore and eats algae and small plants.

They are also one of the most fed on prey by a lot of bigger fish in the Great Lakes and the

Mississippi.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notropis_anogenus/

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


Common Name: Warpaint Shiner

Scientific Name: Luxilus coccogenis



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: The Warpaint Shiner can be found almost anywhere along the East

Coast of the United States. They prefer rivers and streams and cooler water. They try and

avoid rapid waters also.

Life Strategy: Both male and female warpaint shiners reach maturity at two years old.

They mainly spawn somewhere between May and June. This fish also only has a maximum

life span up to 4 years old.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Warpaint Shiner finds almost all of its food at the surface of the

rivers and streams. Their diet mainly just consists of insects and sometimes algae. Their

biggest worries as a predator is the large-mouth bass.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Luxilus_coccogenis/

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


Common Name: Blue Pike

Scientific Name: Sander vitreus



Family: Percidae

Geography / Habitat: They prefer lakes and large rivers. Most commonly found in Canada

and North East United States. They also prefer deep lake water but will come up to the

surface for feeding purposes.

Life Strategy: The blue pike has a life span of ten to twelve years. As far as reproductive

systems go there isn’t any information about their reproductive systems.

Food / Feed Strategy: As babies they eat mainly plankton and small plants but as they

mature and get older they start to eat smaller fish and other small crustaceans. They don’t

have any natural predators.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sander_vitreus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sander_vitreus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Percoidei/PercoideiI/Stizostedion_vitreum/


Common Name: American Paddlefish

Scientific Name: Polyodon spathula


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Polydonidae

Geography / Habitat: The American Paddlefish is most commonly found in the Mississippi

River. It can be found elsewhere but very rarely is. They like to swim near the bottom of

the river on rocky areas.

Life Strategy: The female releases hundreds of eggs and the male comes along and releases

milt externally. The eggs have a sticky mucus layer on them and it helps a little against

predators.

Food / Feed Strategy: The American Paddlefish eats mainly zooplankton along with some

copepods and cladocerans. As for their predators they don’t have many because they are

hard to eat with their paddle like nose. Their only big threat is humans.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Polyodon_spathula/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Polyodon_spathula/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Polyodon-spathula-4/


Common Name: Common White Fish

Scientific Name: Coregonus clupeaformis



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: The Common White Fish is only found in North America and most

commonly found in the Great Lakes. They swim in the open waters and like to sometimes

be on banks of the lakes.

Life Strategy: The Common White Fish spawn in large groups and do it in very shallow

waters. They also protect their eggs very aggressively. During their spawning months there

is a lot of jumping out of the water.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Common White Fish has a small mouth so they can’t get a

bigger fish in their mouth; therefore they feed on small fish and some algae. They also eat

some insects that are on the surface of the water.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Coregonus_clupeaformis/

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

Title: Saltwater/Fish Species #: 76

Common Name: Cardinal Tetra

Scientific Name: Paracheirodon axelrodi



Family: Characidae

Geography / Habitat: The Cardinal Tetra live mainly in South American rivers and

streams mainly in Columbia and Brazil. They live out in the open of the rivers and

normally don’t migrate.

Life Strategy: The Cardinal Tetra spawning season is during the rainy months. The male

embraces the female and the female release the eggs externally. Then the male releases the

female and releases milt onto the eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Cardinal Tetra usually eats small crustacean’s brine shrimp and

some fish eggs. They also eat some types of algae. As far as predators go they have a bright

neon striped on their body which makes it hard for predators to make out the fish

therefore they eat it.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paracheirodon_axelrodi/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paracheirodon_axelrodi/pictures/collections/contributors/william_fink/paracheirodon_axelrodi/


Common Name: Australian Bass

Scientific Name: Macquaria australasica



Family: Percichthyidae

Geography / Habitat: The Australian Bass is found only in Australia. They live in rivers

and streams and prefer deep rocky areas. They also prefer cool and clear water or shallow

water that is flowing.

Life Strategy: When the Australian Bass is in spawning season they head upstream. The

travel and also spawn in groups and those groups can last for weeks. The spawning occurs

in cool shallow waters and they also reproduce externally.

Food / Feed Strategy: The majority of their diet consists of invertebrates such as stonefly

and mayfly. They also feed on insects that are on the surface of the water during their

spawning months.


Swim / Locomotion Style: Carnagiform


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macquaria_australasica/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macquaria_australasica/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Percoidei/PercoideiIII/Macquaria_australasica/


Common Name: Black Salmon

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus tshawytscha



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: The Black Salmon is born in freshwaters but eventually, as it

matures, moves to saltwater. They usually are found in streams when they are in

freshwater and those streams are usually deeper than regular streams. They also like clear

water.

Life Strategy: The Black salmon is born in freshwater but once they mature they move to

saltwater. The salmon come back though to where they were born to spawn. They prefer

cool and clean waters.

Food / Feed Strategy: When the black salmon lives in freshwater they feed mainly on

plankton, algae, along with aquatic and terrestrial insects. Once they move out to saltwater

they feed on some squid and mostly fish.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Oncorhynchus_tshawytscha/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Oncorhynchus_tshawytscha/pictures/collections/contributors/usfws/pacificsalmon/


Common Name: Allegheny River Pike

Scientific Name: Esox masquinongy


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Escoiformes

Family: Escoidae

Geography / Habitat: The River Pike lives only in North American rivers. They also can

be found in freshwater lakes and streams. Their ideal temperatures are 67-72 degrees

Fahrenheit. They also prefer open waters and clear waters.

Life Strategy: The River Pike lay their eggs usually on decaying or live aquatic plants.

They lay them in shallow waters and the water has to be clear for them to lay the eggs

otherwise they don’t.

Food / Feed Strategy: The River Pike is always the most dominant predator no matter

where it is. They are very aggressive and usually ambush their prey. Their main diet

consists of pretty much anything it can eat. As far as predators go they don’t have any

because they are the most dominant predator in their habitat.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Esox_masquinongy/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Esox_masquinongy/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Esociformes/Esox_masquinongy/


Common Name: River Carpsucker

Scientific Name: Carpiodes carpio



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: The Carpsucker can be most commonly found in the Mississippi and

Ohio Rivers. They prefer larger and deeper rivers and swim out in the open but can

sometimes be found on the bottom of the river where its rocky.

Life Strategy: The Carpsucker usually spawn in late spring early summer. They also form

big groups of themselves when they spawn. The female release the eggs and the male

releases the milt but when doing so the male whips its tail around to spread the eggs out.

While doing that it will sometimes kill the eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: The carp sucker is a well known bottom feeder. Their main diet

consists of algae and plankton. They are known as trash fish sometimes because they feed

mostly off the bottom. As far as predators go their biggest concern is the Northern Pike.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carpiodes_carpio/

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


Common Name: Brown Bullhead

Scientific Name: Ameiurus nebulosus



Family: Siluridae

Geography / Habitat: They Brown Bullhead is native to the United States and Canada.

Their main rivers are the Mississippi and the Great lakes are where they are most

commonly found. They prefer the bottom of the river but will occasionally come up to the

open waters for food.

Life Strategy: When these fish reproduce they have multiple ways to do so. They can either

grab their partners head fin or tail with his/hers mouth or they can but heads together.

They also tend to lock jaws with each other.

Food / Feed Strategy: Majority of fish eat plankton or algae. They also will sometimes eat

some types of aquatic insects. As far as predators go they are prey to the northern pike and

some water snakes.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ameiurus_nebulosus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ameiurus_nebulosus/pictures/collections/contributors/james_dowlinghealey/brownbullhead1/


Common Name: Alabama Cavefish

Scientific Name: Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Percopsiformes

Family: Percopsidae

Geography / Habitat: The Alabama Cavefish can be found in most commonly North

Alabama, but also in the Tennessee River. They don’t usually go to deep in those waters

and usually swim at 5-10 ft. deep. They also are almost always in holes in the or caves in the

sides of the rivers.

Life Strategy: Not much is known about the reproductive systems and where they spawn.

The Alabama Cavefish usually live anywhere from 5-10 years old and that’s only if they

make it to adult hood.

Food / Feed Strategy: Not a lot is known about these fish because they are endangered. But

what little is known is that they eat copepods and other pods. As far as predators go for this

fish they have just a few if any at all because of them living in caves.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Speoplatyrhinus_poulsoni/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Speoplatyrhinus_poulsoni/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Percopsiformes/Speoplatyrhinus_poulsoni/


Common Name: Rainbow Darter

Scientific Name: Etheostoma caeruleum



Family: Percidae

Geography / Habitat: The Rainbow Darter is found in North America and most commonly

found in the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. They prefer fast flowing creeks or rivers and

rocky bottoms or gravel.

Life Strategy: The Rainbow Darter spawns in cool waters around 18 degrees Celsius. Male

fish have brighter colors than females and during mating season they try and scare of the

other males by intimidating the fish.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Rainbow Darter feeds on a wide variety of foods, anything from

fish eggs and minnow to small snails and larvae. The only known predators that are know

of the Rainbow Darter is any fish that is larger than the Rainbow Darter.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Etheostoma_caeruleum/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Etheostoma_caeruleum/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Percoidei/PercoideiI/Etheostoma_caeruleum/


Common Name: Bluntnose Darter

Scientific Name: Etheostoma chlorosoma



Family: Percidae

Geography / Habitat: The Bluntnose Darter is most commonly found in the Mississippi

River. They can sometimes even be found in the Mobile Bay and the San Antonio River.

They prefer sandy, shallow, slow flowing water.

Life Strategy: The Bluntnose Darter reproduces polygynadrous which means that the

female goes from male to male to reproduce more and expand her group of eggs. The male

also changes color during mating season to attract its mate.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Bluntnose Darter diet mainly consists of larvae and zooplankton.

During the reproducing months they are a little more color to them but during reproducing

season they are a light brown with dark spots on them and that helps them camouflage in

the sand.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Etheostoma_chlorosoma/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Etheostoma_chlorosoma/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Etheostoma-chlorosomum-1/


Common Name: Yellowfin Madtom

Scientific Name: Noturus flavipinnis



Family: Siluridae

Geography / Habitat: The Yellowfin Madtom is only found in the Northern part of the

Tennessee River and the Copper Creek in Virginia. They prefer to be in waters that they

can hide up under leaves, tree roots, or other kinds of brush that can be found out in the

water.

Life Strategy: The Yellowfin Madtom only reproduces in the early summer months in May

and July. The female will build a nest to lay the eggs and then the male will protect them

while they wait to hatch. The Yellowfin Madtom only lives for 3-4 years.

Food / Feed Strategy: These fish feed mainly at night. They eat aquatic insects, larvae and

sometimes small crustaceans. Not much is known about whether or not these fish have

predators but people do know that they can express different colors sometimes to

camouflage themselves.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Noturus_flavipinnis/

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


Common Name: Danube Catfish

Scientific Name: Silurus glanis



Family: Siluridae

Geography / Habitat: The Danube Catfish is native to Eastern Europe and Asia. They are

primarily found in large rivers near banks and/or in highly vegetated areas. They also like

to stay near dams or deep waters.

Life Strategy: The Male creates the nest for the female to lay the eggs. Then the male

protects the eggs until they hatch.

Food / Feed Strategy: When they are first born they just eat algae for about a year. Once

they mature they begin to eat worms and small crustaceans. Their main predator is the

northern pike.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Silurus_glanis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Silurus_glanis/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Siluriformes/Silurus_glanis/


Common Name: Bull Trout

Scientific Name: Slavelinus confluentus



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: The Bull Trout is most commonly found in Northwestern United

States and Canada. They can usually be found in medium to large sized rivers and can also

be found in large lakes. They are usually found either sitting or very close to the bottom.

Life Strategy: The Bull Trout can reach full maturity anywhere from 4-10 years old. The

bull trout’s spawning times usually occurs during late August or early October.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Bull Trout primarily eats aquatic invertebrates for the first year

of its life. Once it matures they start to eat small fish and small crustaceans. They don’t

have many predators because they are a fish that can hide itself fairly well with its habitat.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_confluentus/

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


Common Name: Beaverfish

Scientific Name: Amia calva


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Amiiformes

Family: Amiidae

Geography / Habitat: the beaver fish is most commonly found in the northern part of the

St. Lawrence River and the Ontario. They spend most of their time in the backwaters of

rivers and can sometimes be found in swamps.

Life Strategy: During spawning season for these fish some of the fish are alike and they

know where to go to reproduce and all of those fish that show up is who you mate with. The

female lays her eggs in many different spots. The male protects the nest but since the

female spreads those out they will sometimes have more than just their mates eggs in the

nest.

Food / Feed Strategy: The beaver fish is a predator and feeds on almost anything it can get

its mouth on. They also are very rarely eaten by other organisms because most of the time

they are one of the more dominant fish in their habitat.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amia_calva/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Amia_calva/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Amia-calva-3/


Common Name: Black Bullhead

Scientific Name: Ameiurus melas



Family: Ictaluridae

Geography / Habitat: The Black Bullhead is most commonly found in the Appalachian

Mountain area. They can be found in small ponds, large lakes, and some rivers. They can

are only found in lowly oxygenated areas and high temperature waters.

Life Strategy: During spawning season for these fish the female first builds the nest and

then she goes to judge males by rubbing her snout up on the male’s abdomen. Once she

chooses her partner they lay side by side and the male curls his caudal fin around the

female.

Food / Feed Strategy: Young Bullheads usually feed on copepods and amphipods. They will

also feed on some types of aquatic insects. Their main concern as a predator to them is the

largemouth bass. They can sometimes protect themselves because they have a venomous

spine on their back.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ameiurus_melas/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ameiurus_melas/pictures/collections/contributors/native_fish_conservancy/Ameiurus-melas-1/


Common Name: Electric Catfish

Scientific Name: Malapterurus electricus



Family: Malapteruridae

Geography / Habitat: The electric catfish is most commonly found in Africa in the Nile

River and Lake Chad. They are usually found hidden between rocks or up in roots of

aquatic trees.

Life Strategy: The electric catfish build deep nest for its eggs. Sometimes up to 3 meters

deep. This way it makes it hard for predators to get in their along with the male protecting

the nest.

Food / Feed Strategy: The electric catfish uses its given abilities to capture its prey. They

stun their prey by sending out and electric discharge which stuns and paralyzes its prey for

just enough time for them to capture their prey and eat it. They don’t have any predators

because if they are about to get eaten they send out that electric discharge.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Malapterurus_electricus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Malapterurus_electricus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Siluriformes/Malapterurus_electricus/


Common Name: Florida Gar

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus platyrhincus


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Lepisostiformes

Family: Lepisosteidae

Geography / Habitat: The Florida Gar can be found almost anywhere in Florida. They can

also be found in a lot of places all throughout the southeast of the United States. They like

to hangout in low water streams canals and lakes. They spend a lot of their time on sandy

or rocky bottoms.

Life Strategy: The Florida Gar has a lot of things that contribute to when and where they

reproduce. Its biggest thing that decides when they reproduce is what the temperature of

the water is. A female gar can have anywhere form just two mates in a life time to ten

partners.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Florida Gar uses a technique called ram feeding. They go and

find a fish they want to eat and sit and wait until the gar thinks the fish has forgot about it.

Then they start to make their move closer and closer to the fish until it lunges at the prey.

The Gar has very sharp teeth and is an aggressive predator.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_platyrhincus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_platyrhincus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Semionotiformes/Lepisosteus_platyrhincus/


Common Name: Spotted Gar

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus oculatus


Class: Actionopterygii Order: Lepisosteiformes


Geography / Habitat: The spotted gar is most commonly found in the Great Lakes in

Michigan. They can also be found in the Mississippi River too. They prefer shallow waters

anywhere form 3-5 meters deep. They also like to hang out where there is a lot of debris to

hide themselves from humans.

Life Strategy: When it’s time for the Gar to reproduce they gather at around 1.5 meters

deep near vegetation and that’s to impress them females. The female lets more than one

male fertilize her eggs. The female does a quick movement to get the eggs out of her and

then the males release the milt.

Food / Feed Strategy: The spotted gar is an ambush predator. They feed mainly on

crustaceans such as crayfish but they will also eat other kinds of fish such as small catfish

and crappies.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_oculatus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_oculatus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Semionotiformes/Lepisosteus_oculatus/


Common Name: Black Fin Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus limbatus


Class: Chondrithyes Order: Carcharniformes

Family: Carcharnidae

Geography / Habitat: The Black Fin Shark is native to the Pacific oceans but fairly

recently there have been some found in large rivers. They can be found near estuaries and

river mouths. They are warm temperate sharks and are normally pretty far off the shore.

Life Strategy: The female black fin is viviparous and contains a yolk-sac placenta. The

female usually has 4-7 offspring per liter. The babies are usually born in late spring or

early summer. They lifespan is usually 10-12 years.

Food / Feed Strategy: Black Fin Sharks primarily eat fish. They mainly eat sardines,

Spanish mackerel, grouper, and Snook. As far as predators are concerned for them they

don’t have any because there usually isn’t anything in a river that can eat a shark.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharhinus_limbatus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcharhinus_limbatus/pictures/collections/contributors/william_fink/carcharinus_limbatus/


Common Name: Shortnose Gar

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus platostomus


Class: Actiopterygii Order: Lepisosteiformes


Geography / Habitat: The shortnose Gar is most commonly found the Mississippi River.

They can also be found swamps, calm pools and lakes. They also like to hangout in highly

vegetated areas but also around logs.

Life Strategy: Gar start to spawn in late April or early May. Shortnose Gar spawns in

shallow grassy areas. This way they don’t have to build nest and the eggs just stay in the

grassy area.

Food / Feed Strategy: In the first few years of the gars life they eat small fish and

crustaceans. Once they age they start to eat bigger fish and shrimp. Because of their tough

scales they don’t have any known predators except humans.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_platostomus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepisosteus_platostomus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Semionotiformes/Lepisosteus_platostomus/


Common Name: American Lake Char

Scientific Name: Salvelinus namaycush



Family: Salmonidae

Geography / Habitat: The American Lake Char can be found in Canada, Alaska and the

Great Lakes. The American Char is a cold watered fish and needs highly concentrated of

dissolved oxygen to survive well.

Life Strategy: The American Char is a slow growing fish and takes 5-7 years to reach full

maturity. When they spawn the male goes and finds good areas full of cobble or rock and

they whip their tale back and forth to clean it for a place for the female to lay the eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: As babies the American Char eats mainly zooplankton and small

invertebrates. Once they mature they eat smelt, sculpin and chubs make up the majority of

their diets.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_namaycush/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Salvelinus_namaycush/pictures/collections/contributors/usfws/laketrout/


Common Name: Razorback Sucker

Scientific Name: Xyrauchen texanus



Family: Catostomidae

Geography / Habitat: The Razorback Sucker is most commonly found in the Mid-West of

the United States. They live in backwaters and usually glide around on sandy bottoms.

They also spend most of their times in flooded areas.

Life Strategy: During Spawning season the males gather in a group of about 7-10 and they

all pursuit a female when one comes by. The female will pick one male and they will mate.

The male will make the nest and also protect them from predators.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Razorback Sucker will eat just about anything it can. There

aren’t a lot of other big fish in its habitat so they don’t have any known predators because

of that.

Body Form or Style: Compressifrom



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Xyrauchen_texanus/

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


Common Name: Topeka Shiner

Scientific Name: Notropis topeka



Family: Cyprinidae

Geography / Habitat: The Topeka Shiner is most commonly found in small ponds or

streams. They also like to be in highly vegetated areas.

Life Strategy: Spawning season for these fish is anywhere from April to June. They also

reach maturity age at 12-14 months old. The male builds the nest but only the most

persistent females are able to lay their eggs in the males nest.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Topeka Shiner’s most common food to eat is small invertebrates

and larvae. They also eat algae and vascular plants. As far as predators go their biggest

problem is largemouth bass.


Swim / Locomotion Style: Carnagiform


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Notropis_topeka/

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


Common Name: Black Spotted Goby

Scientific Name: Neogobius melanostomus



Family: Gobidae

Geography / Habitat: The Black Spotted Goby is native to the Black Sea and the Caspian

Sea. They have also been known to be in the Moscow River. They are bottom dwellers in

near shore region of lakes and rivers.

Life Strategy: When spawning season comes the male builds the nest and that’s how they

attack their partner. The female swims along and whichever one looks the best built for her

eggs is the one that will become her partner.

Food / Feed Strategy: Black Spotted Goby are voracious eaters. Their diet mainly consists

of larvae fish eggs and aquatic insects. As far as predators are concerned for them they

have a hop to their swimming motion so it’s hard to track them down.




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

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Neogobius_melanostomus/pictures/collections/contributors/tanya_dewey/roundgobies/


Common Name: Blue Cod

Scientific Name: Ophiodon elongatus



Family: Scorpaenidae

Geography / Habitat: The Blue Cod is native to the west coast of the United States. They

can be found in areas with dense communities of algae and rocky reef areas. They also

avoid muddy and sandy areas.

Life Strategy: The Blue Cod fertilize externally. The male builds a nest and the female

releases the eggs by whipping her tail. Once they are in the nest the male releases his milt

and sometimes other female’s eggs will wind up in the males nest because of the whipping

of the tale.

Food / Feed Strategy: The blue cod will eat anything it can get its mouth around and eat it.

Their main diet consists of fish and large crustaceans. As far as a blue cod is concerned as

for predators they don’t really have any because they spend a lot of their time under

overhangs.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ophiodon_elongatus/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ophiodon_elongatus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Scorpaeniformes/ScorpaeniformesIII/Ophiodon_elongatus/


Common Name: Devils Hole Pupfish

Scientific Name: Cyprinodon diabolis


Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cyprinodoniformes

Family: Cyprinodonidae

Geography / Habitat: The Devils Hole Pupfish is most commonly found in Nevada and

other parts of Southwestern United States. They spend most of their time on the bottom of

the surface.

Life Strategy: During spawning season a group of males finds a female and they will follow

that female until she basically chooses one of the males to mate with.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Pupfish feeds mainly on algae that grow on limestone shelves in

the devils hole. As far as they are concerned for predators they don’t have any because they

are the largest known organisms that live in devils hole so they don’t have to worry about

predators.




Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cyprinodon_diabolis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cyprinodon_diabolis/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Cyprinodontiformes/Cyprinodon_diabolis/

Title: Saltwater/Marine Inverteb Species #: 101

Common Name: Ringed Anemone

Scientific Name: Bartholomea annulata

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: None

Class: Actinozoa Order: Actiniaria

Family: Aiptasiidae

Geography / Habitat: The Ringed Anemone is most commonly found in the Caribbean.

They are most commonly found under ledges and more commonly found as a sand pocket

dweller.

Life Strategy: The Ringed Anemone reproduces biannual. They perform asexual

reproduction by the use of pedal laceration. In that process a small bud of tissue is formed.

Food / Feed Strategy: They feed on mainly zooplankton and aquatic crustaceans as well.

They can also shrink their size to avoid being eaten therefore they have very little

predators.

Body Form or Style:

Swim / Locomotion Style:


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Bartholomea_annulata/

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

Title: Saltwater/Marine Invertebrates Species #: 102

Common Name: Pale Anemone

Scientific Name: Aiptasia pallida


Class: Anthozoa Order: Actiniania

Family: Aiptasiidae

Geography / Habitat: These anemones are most commonly in Southeastern United States

and the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Ocean. They are found in mangrove roots and dead

coral.

Life Strategy: Pale Anemones reproduce asexually by a process called pedal laceration.

The pedal usually puts out a disc which puts out lobes and they reproduces

Food / Feed Strategy: The Pale Anemone’s diet mainly consists of zooplankton and algae.

They also can perform photosynthesis as another way to get food.

Body Form or Style: They are cylinder shaped at the bottom and have tentacles on

the top

Swim / Locomotion Style: They can sway back and forth


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Aiptasia_pallida/

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


Common Name: Cilliated Sponge

Scientific Name: Sycon ciliatum

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Porifera

Class: Calcarea Order: Leucosolendia

Family: Sycettidae

Geography / Habitat: The Cilliated Sponge can be found worldwide. They are most

commonly found fairly shallow in the water but normally no farther than 150m deep. They

are also found on the underside of rocks and coral reefs.

Life Strategy: When it’s time for a sponge to reproduce one of the sponges releases sperm

and another sponge will trap the sperm. Then cells reproduce and new sponges are formed.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Cilliated Sponge absorbs water through the incurrent canal.

Food comes in while he absorbs that water and the food fits through holes for the sponge to

eat.

Body Form or Style: They are cylinder shaped all the way to the top.

Swim / Locomotion Style: They have a motion where they sway back and forth.

Mouth Position: they have many holes throughout its body to get food.

Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sycon_ciliatum/

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


Common Name: Common Brittlestar

Scientific Name: Ophiothrix fragills


Class: Ophiuroidae Order: Ophiurida

Family: Ophiothrichidae

Geography / Habitat: The Common Brittlestar is most commonly found off the shore of

the British Isles. They also tend to live in huge groups off shore. The prefer sandy and shell

bottoms.

Life Strategy: The Common Brittlestar reproduce by the female releasing her eggs and

then the male releases the sperm. The male triggers the female to release her eggs by trying

to show off infront of her.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Brittle Starfish is a nocturnal feeder. To feed it lifts its arms to

get into cracks and crevices to gets its food. As far as predators go they are one of the most

fed on organisms. They get eaten by crabs, fish and sometimes other starfishes.

Body Form or Style: This starfish has a star shaped figure in the middle and long

tentacles coming off of it.

Swim / Locomotion Style: They have a crawling motion


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ophiothrix_fragilis/

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


Common Name: Florida Stone Crab

Scientific Name: Menippe mercenaria


Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda

Family: Menippidae

Geography / Habitat: The Florida Stone Crab can be found in low tides of the coastline of

the Atlantic and the coast of Florida of the Gulf of Mexico. They burrow themselves in the

sand.

Life Strategy: The male usually sexually matures at the age of two years old. They lay

160,000-1,000,000 eggs. They also breed between late spring or early summer.

Food / Feed Strategy: As this crab ages, its diet changes too. As babies they eat mainly just

zooplankton. Once they grow they use their massive claws to eat clams, barnacles and other

things that are bigger than them too.

Body Form or Style: This crab has a hard shell with two huge claws.

Swim / Locomotion Style: They have short legs to walk with


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Menippe_mercenaria/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Menippe_mercenaria/pictures/collections/contributors/jo_okeefe/stone_crab_100_5137/

Title: Saltwater/Marine Invertabrates Species #: 106

Common Name: Striped Shore Crab

Scientific Name: Pachygrapsus crasspies



Family: Grapsidae

Geography / Habitat: These crabs are native to North America, North Korea, and Japan.

They live in rocky coastal shores. They like areas that are hard substances and have lots of

crevices in them.

Life Strategy: The male and females come to sexual maturity at different ages. When the

eggs are fertilized they are held up under the belly of the female crab. The eggs hatch into

larvae. They are also known to reproduce twice a year.

Food / Feed Strategy: This crab eats both meats and plants. Their most common thing to

eat though is green algae and brown seaweed. Their only known predators are rats,

raccoons, and seagulls.

Body Form or Style: This crab is fairly small with small pinchers.

Swim / Locomotion Style: They have short legs to help them walk fast.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pachygrapsus_crassipes/

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


Common Name: Atlantic Ghost Crab

Scientific Name: Ocypode quadrata



Family: Ocypodidae

Geography / Habitat: The Atlantic Ghost Crab is native to the Atlantic Ocean. They live

close to the shore line and spend majority of their time on the sand beaches.

Life Strategy: With these crabs mating can occur at anytime throughout the year. The

ghost crabs have holes throughout their body and that’s where the male releases the sperm

for the female.

Food / Feed Strategy: This crab is both a predator and a scavenger. It feeds at night. What

they eat can also be influenced by what type of beach they are on.

Body Form or Style: This crab is a medium size crab with white claws.

Swim / Locomotion Style: They have short legs to help them walk fast.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ocypode_quadrata/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ocypode_quadrata/pictures/collections/contributors/jo_okeefe/ghost_crab_100_3035/


Common Name: Green Crab

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: N/A


Family: Portunidae

Geography / Habitat: This crab is native to the West Coast of Europe in the Atlantic

Ocean. They are most commonly found in tidal marshes, sand flats and rocky terrains

Life Strategy: The male goes and looks for a female and when he finds her he tries to

impress her anyway he can. If he gets her the female has a pouch in its abdomen to hold the

eggs.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Green Crab eats clams, oysters, mussels and sometimes other

small crabs. It’s known as a fairly aggressive predator that will eat anything it can get its

claws around.

Body Form or Style: This crab has to small claws but a leg that points up to help for

protection

Swim / Locomotion Style: This crab has medium size legs to help it walk.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcinus_maenas/

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


Common Name: Dungeness Crab

Scientific Name: Cancer magister



Family: Cancridae

Geography / Habitat: This crab is most commonly found on coastal shores of California.

They prefer sandy bottoms below the tidal mark.

Life Strategy: When it’s time for reproducing season the male sends off a scent. Whichever

female likes it will come to where the male is and they will mate.

Food / Feed Strategy: This crab has a wide variety of a diet. They eat invertebrates, fish,

shrimp, and some other crustaceans. As far as predators are concerned for this crab their

biggest problem is seals and sea lions.

Body Form or Style: This is a medium size crab with large claws

Swim / Locomotion Style: These crabs have long legs to help them defend.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cancer_magister/

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


Common Name: Red-King Crab

Scientific Name: Paralithodes camtschaticus



Family: Lithodidae

Geography / Habitat: These crabs are widely distributed all throughout the Pacific Ocean.

They can be found at depths of 200m deep and they prefer sandy or muddy surfaces.

Life Strategy: When spawning season comes the females attract the males with a scent that

they send off. Once this happens the male clasps itself onto the female until she reproduces

again.

Food / Feed Strategy: This crab is a carnivore and a very fierce predator. It will eat

anything it can and its main diet is fish. As far as predators are concerned these crabs don’t

have to worry too much because when they molt the form large groups and make it hard to

get to them

Body Form or Style: This crab has very long legs and a semi-circle looking body.

Swim / Locomotion Style: These crabs very long legs that make them walk slow


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paralithodes_camtschaticus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Paralithodes_camtschaticus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Decapoda/Paralithodes_camtschaticus/


Common Name: Pacific Rock Crab

Scientific Name: Cancer antennarius



Family: Cancridae

Geography / Habitat: This crab is found in intertidal waters in the Pacific. They can be

found at depths of 100m deep. They prefer rocky bottoms and sandy.

Life Strategy: This crabs reproductive seasons are between spring and fall. They don’t do

it though until the female molts. Once the shell has come off the male latches itself onto her

and stays like that till the female gets a shell back.

Food / Feed Strategy: This crabs diet consists of shrimp, bivalves and some snails. They

will even eat some other crabs sometimes. As far as predators are concerned their biggest

problem is sharks, sea otters, and octopi.

Body Form or Style: This crab has one of the toughest shells of all crabs.

Swim / Locomotion Style: They have short legs but still move slow because of their

size.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cancer_antennarius/

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


Common Name: Oyster Pea Crab

Scientific Name: Zaops ostreum



Family: Pinnotheridae

Geography / Habitat: This crab is native to the United States East Coast of the Atlantic.

They are most commonly found about 50-100m deep and prefer sandy bottoms

Life Strategy: During mating season the male leaves its partner and goes to an oyster shell

and stays there till a new partner comes along for him

Food / Feed Strategy: These crabs feed almost only on phytoplankton and algae. There

aren’t any known predators of this crab and its considered a delicacy by humans.

Body Form or Style: This is a very small crab with a oval body

Swim / Locomotion Style: This crab has very small legs to help him move fast.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Zaops_ostreum/

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


Common Name: Atlantic sand Fiddler

Scientific Name: Uca pugilator

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum:N/A


Family: Ocypodidae

Geography / Habitat: These crabs are most commonly found at the cape cod of Texas. They

are most commonly found in backwaters of saltwater. They prefer salt marsh cordgrass.

Life Strategy: These crabs reproduce during the summer and usually twice a week. They

also usually reproduce in burrows.

Food / Feed Strategy: These crabs usually eat what they can find in the mud or sand. When

they need to defend themselves they use their huge claw which they also use to attract

females.

Body Form or Style: This crab has a round body with a HUGE claw.

Swim / Locomotion Style: these crabs walk slow because of its body bigger than its

small legs.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Uca_pugilator/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Uca_pugilator/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Decapoda/Uca_pugilator/


Common Name: Yellowline arrow crab

Scientific Name: Stenorhynchus seticornis



Family: Inachidae

Geography / Habitat: This crab is native to the Atlantic Ocean. They live in coral reefs at

depths between 5-30m deep.

Life Strategy: When spawning season comes the male finds his partner and when he finds

her he grabs her and presses her against his stomach and releases sperm in her. The female

will then carry the eggs under her abdomen.

Food / Feed Strategy: The Yellowline arrow crab is so small that it is hard for it to eat

anything big so it mainly just feeds on small worms.

Body Form or Style: This crab is mainly made up of its legs with a very small body

Swim / Locomotion Style: this crab has a small body and long legs that let it walk

fast.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Stenorhynchus_seticornis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Stenorhynchus_seticornis/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Decapoda/Stenorhynchus_seticornis/


Common Name: Northern Kelp Crab

Scientific Name: Pugettia Producta



Family: Epialtidae

Geography / Habitat: This crab is found within rocky intertidal shores along the

California Coast. They are most commonly found in dense kelp beds at around 40m deep.

Life Strategy: These crabs undergo a molting before they reproduce. Their spawning

seasons are between June and July. The female holds the eggs under her abdomen

Food / Feed Strategy: This crab is a nocturnal vegetarian. It eats almost only kelp grass

and sometimes phytoplankton. They will also eat barnacles and mussels.

Body Form or Style: This crab has a hexagon shaped body.

Swim / Locomotion Style: this crab has long skinny legs that let it walk fairly fast.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pugettia_producta/

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


Common Name: Chinese Mitten Crab

Scientific Name: Eriocheir sinesis



Family: Varunidae

Geography / Habitat: These crabs are found off the coast of China and Japan. These crabs

also live in brackish waters. They also prefer rocky bottoms.

Life Strategy: These crabs reproduce during the summer. The males migrate to a specific

spot and then the females come later. Once they mate they shortly die afterwards leaving

the eggs unprotected.

Food / Feed Strategy: When they are first born they eat mostly plants such as aquatic

plants like seaweed and kelp. Once they mature and grow they begin to eat other things

such as small invertebrates and some small crabs.

Body Form or Style: This crab has a oval shaped shell

Swim / Locomotion Style: This crab has long legs and helps be quite agile


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Eriocheir_sinensis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Eriocheir_sinensis/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Decapoda/Eriocheir_sinensis/


Common Name: Blue Crab

Scientific Name: Callinectes sapidus



Family: Portunidae

Geography / Habitat: The Blue crab is native to the West Coast of South America in the

Pacific Ocean. It has since been seen in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean.

The blue crab is also a bottom dweller

Life Strategy: the blue crab can resist all kinds of water from the saltiest water in the gulf

to a freshwater river. Unlike males though when it comes to spawning season the females

only mate one time in a life time.

Food / Feed Strategy: The blue crab eats a wide variety of foods. It also eats fish mollusks

and some aquatic worms.

Body Form or Style: The blue crab has a oval shaped body

Swim / Locomotion Style: This crab has medium sized legs that are fairly thick.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callinectes_sapidus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callinectes_sapidus/pictures/collections/contributors/cynthia_parr/sept03_059/


Common Name: Bay Ghost Shrimp

Scientific Name: Neotrypaea californiensis



Family: Callianassidae

Geography / Habitat: The bay ghost shrimp is most commonly found on the American

West Coast. This shrimp creates its own burrows to hide in.

Life Strategy: A male shrimp has two antennas and it goes through the water looking for a

female mate. Once he finds her the male will follow and protect her from predators until

she is ready to mate.

Food / Feed Strategy: This shrimp’s main diet is plankton and algae and will sometimes

find particles in the sand. It will also eat some aquatic insects sometimes.

Body Form or Style: This shrimp has a long curved body with two antennas on its

head

Swim / Locomotion Style: This shrimp has short legs that allow him to travel

quickly


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Neotrypaea_californiensis/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Neotrypaea_californiensis/pictures/collections/contributors/stephanie_astle/ghostshrimp/


Common Name: Grass Shrimp

Scientific Name: Palaemonetes pugio



Family: Palaemoneidae

Geography / Habitat: These shrimp are found on the East coast of the United States. They

can be found in salt marshes and connecting streams. They can also be found in ditches.

Life Strategy: These shrimp reproduce annually when the water warms up. The fertilized

eggs take 15-20 days to mature and hatch.

Food / Feed Strategy: When the adults prey on oligochaetes, polychaetes, and harpacticoid

copepods. These shrimp also get eaten by some fish and other crabs.

Body Form or Style: This shrimp has a short but very curved body with long

antennas.

Swim / Locomotion Style: These shrimp have short legs and move very quickly


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Palaemonetes_pugio/

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


Common Name: Tadpole Shrimp

Scientific Name: Lepidurus packardi



Family: Triopsidae

Geography / Habitat: These shrimp are native to the West coast of California. These

shrimp can be found in ditches, vernal pools, clay flats and many other habitats.

Life Strategy: These shrimp reproduce during the rainy seasons. Females lay the eggs in

highly vegetated areas and the male comes and fertilizes them externally.

Food / Feed Strategy: These shrimp are omnivores and feed on mainly aquatic plants but

will also occasionally feed on fairy shrimp and other types of invertebrates.

Body Form or Style: This shrimp has a protective shell on its head.

Swim / Locomotion Style: This shrimp has small legs under him that allows it to

glide on the sand.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepidurus_packardi/

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

Title: Freshwater/Invertebrates Species #: 121

Common Name: Giant Freshwater Lobster.

Scientific Name: Astacopsis gouldi



Family: Parastacidae

Geography / Habitat: This lobster is native to streams and rivers in Australia. They are

most commonly found in dark slow moving river and hang around logs in the water.

Life Strategy: These lobsters don’t usually reproduce until their later years in life. Males

usually don’t reach full sexual maturity until around nine years old while females don’t

reach maturity until around 13 years old.

Food / Feed Strategy: This Lobster is an omnivore and eats mainly fungi and bacteria that

grow on rotting wood. They also eat leaves and insects that fall into the water.

Body Form or Style: Long black body with a hard outer shell.

Swim / Locomotion Style: Long legs to help him walk.


Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Astacopsis_gouldi/

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


Common Name: Rusty Crayfish

Scientific Name: Orconectes rusticus



Family: Cambaridae

Geography / Habitat: The rusty crayfish is an invader species in northern lakes and

streams of the Great Lakes region. This crayfish inhabits permanent streams, lakes and

ponds that have rocky substrate and logs or debris as cover.

Life Strategy: Rusty crayfish mate in late summer, early fall or early spring. Males

transfer sperm to the females, but external fertilization does not occur until the water

temperature increases

Food / Feed Strategy: The rusty crayfish is a voracious feeder because of its high metabolic

rate. Juvenilles feed on benthic invertebrates and fish eggs.

Body Form or Style:



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Orconectes_rusticus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Orconectes_rusticus/pictures/collections/contributors/dale_westaby/Orusticus4/


Common Name: Red Swamp Crafish

Scientific Name: Pocambarus clarkii



Family: Cambaridae

Geography / Habitat: Although crayfish inhabitat many regions of the Earth, members of

the genus Procambarus are located in North America. As the common name implies, red

swamp crayfish are found mainly in swamps, sloughs, and ditches.

Life Strategy: The red swamp crayfish mate in late autumn. Sexes are separate, but the

location of gonads is similar in both males and females -just anterior to the heart.

Food / Feed Strategy: Although some crayfish are known to feed on vegetation, the red

swamp crayfish is carnivorous, eating insect larvae, tadpoles, and snails.

Body Form or Style:



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Procambarus_clarkii/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Procambarus_clarkii/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Decapoda/Procambarus_clarkii/


Common Name: Appalachian Brooke Crayfish

Scientific Name: Cambarus bartonii



Family: Cambaridae

Geography / Habitat: can be found in the eastern and southern parts of the United States

as well as the southeastern part of Canada. They also dwell on the bottoms of streams,

creeks, and small rivers and lakes. They also construct burrows.

Life Strategy: Mating occurs most commonly in the spring and may also occur during the

summer. Mating usually takes place at night because the chances of male and female

encountering each other are nine times greater at night.

Food / Feed Strategy: This crawfish is a predator and a scavenger. It feeds on decaying

organic remains but also catches small animals. Its main sources of food include snails,

alga, insect larva, various types of worms, and tadpoles.

Body Form or Style:



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cambarus_bartonii/

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

Title: Freshwater/ Invertebrates Species #: 125

Common Name: Blue Crab

Scientific Name: Callinectes sapidus



Family: Portunidae

Geography / Habitat: These crabs are most commonly found on the east coast of Florida in

the Atlantic Ocean. They spend most of their time on the bottom and are known as bottom

dwellers.

Life Strategy: When spawning season comes around the blue crab waits until their shell

molts and unlike the male blue crab a female only reproduces once in a lifetime.

Food / Feed Strategy: The blue crabs diet mainly consist of oysters, shrimp, small fish, and

clams. As far as they are concerned for predators their biggest worries are birds turtles

and humans.

Body Form or Style:



Citation: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callinectes_sapidus/

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

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callinectes_sapidus/pictures/collections/contributors/jo_okeefe/blue_crab_5_23_05_100_4113/

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