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Photo
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Scientific name |
Common
name |
Comments |
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Abudufdef saxatilis |
Sergeant major |
Ubiquitous on Florida’s coral reefs, this little damselfish is a stray
here. Juveniles will inhabit tide pools on occasion but, like their
parents, far prefer coral outcrops. This fish is noteworthy for it's
particularly feisty and aggressive disposition, and will attack large
fish and divers who enter it's territory, especially when nesting. |
 |
Achirus
lineatus |
Lined
sole |
A small right-eyed flatfish that, unlike other Gulf soles, has
pectoral fins albeit small. It is sometimes mistaken for the more
common hogchoker, but has a rounder shape and prefers more saline
waters. |
 |
Adinia xenica |
Diamond
killifish |
It has a deep
but compressed body, pointed head, a long dorsal fin and is banded.
The adult is about one and a half inches long. Found in salt
marshes. Not abundant in Sarasota Bay. |
 |
Aluterus
schoepfi |
Orange
filefish |
Like triggerfish,
to whom it is related, filefish have a long dorsal spine that locks in
place. Its skin is leathery and brown to orange with variable
patterns. Often has many small orange spots. |
 |
Anchoa
hepsetus |
Striped
anchovy |
A small plankton
feeder, herring-like, single dorsal fin, silver stripe down its side.
Large eyes; eye diameter larger than snout. Adult reaches 6
inches in length. |
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Anchoa
mitchilli |
Bay
anchovy |
The
most abundant fish in estuaries throughout Florida and the entire
southeastern U.S. Often called "glass minnows" because
they are nearly transparent. They travel in huge schools and can
thrive in nearly fresh to salt water. Since they serve as food for
many fish and bird predators, it’s fortunate that they grow to
maturity (2-3") in a few months and are able to reproduce in
large numbers. |
 |
Ariopsis felis |
Hardhead
Catfish |
(formerly Ariso
felis) This juvenile is 5" long. Adults can grow to two
feet. It has 4 short chin barbels and a longer pair
originating at the corner of its mouth. Careful handling it;
it has a sharp spine on each pectoral fin. |
 |
Bairdiella
chrysoura |
Silver
perch |
Not really a perch but a member of the croaker family. Common
throughout the Gulf and most of the east coast. Rarely exceeds 8” in
length. A bottom feeder who prefers muddy shallows. Juveniles are
most common in grass beds. |
 |
Calamus
arctifrons |
Grass porgy |
Its adult
markings can be plainly seen in the juvenile: the bars and stripes,
especially the prominent one that passes through the eye and touches
the corner of the mouth. Hangs out in grass flats. |
 |
Chilomyeterus
schoepfi |
Striped burrfish |
Only a half-inch
long, this juvenile has yet to develop a bony skeleton or rigid
spines. Its color patterns will also change as it reaches
adulthood. Found in sea grass beds. |
 |
|
Striped burrfish |
A member of the
spiny puffers. Has fused teeth which can make short work of
heavily armored crab. |
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|
Cynoscion
arenarius |
Sand
seatrout |
This
fish is probably more abundant in southwest Florida estuaries than
its relative the spotted seatrout, but is less popular with
fishermen due to its smaller size (usually less than 1 pound). It
spawns near Gulf passes mainly in spring, and the young move far
into the estuary, to deep, muddy, low-salinity areas such as tidal
rivers. For this reason, this species may suffer more than others as
habitats in many local estuarine tributaries are impacted by water
withdrawals to support a rapidly-growing human population. |
