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What's New! Ask a Marine Scientist: answers to Fish questions! Choose one of the following:
ASK A SCIENTIST: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Osteichthyes Index to Questions TROPICAL FISH COLD WATER FISH DEEP SEA FISH
MYSTERY FISH
TROPICAL FISH Q: Clownfish produce a mucus which covers their body and protects them from anemones. I'd like to know how this mucus is created and which gland produces this hormone. A: Well, all fish produce mucus to protect them and cut down on drag when they swim. The secretion comes from pores in the skin, and is not a hormone (which is a chemical that is produced within the body to induce changes, like growth). With clownfish, this mucus does protect them from the anemones that they live in and around, but scientists aren't too sure exactly how it works. Here are a few theories taken from Frien ds and Anemones: One possible clue for the source of the anemonefish's protective coating comes from a process scientists call acclimation: The fish gently nestles among the anemone's tentacles, apparently enduring nonlethal stings in the process. Some scientists theorize that during the ritual, the fish bathes and coats itself in the anemone's mucus. The idea is that the fish then sneaks into the anemone undetected. Research by zoologist Dietrich Schlichter of the University of Cologne in Germany indicates that in the end, the fish and the anemone are chemically identical on the exterior. Another theory comes from biologists William Brooks of Florida Atlantic University and Richard Mariscal of Florida State University, who propose that the anemonefish's own mucus protects it, altering as the need arises. To test the idea, in 1984 the two researchers glued cut-up rubber bands to a petri dish to make a fake anemone. Then the team put one group of anemonefish in a tank with the fake anemone and another group of the same species of fish in a tank with the real anemone. Which fish changed its mucus secretions more quickly? The fish that had lived with the rubber impostor. For the researchers, that was proof the anemonefish, not an anemone, was the source of the protective mucus. Left unanswered for now is the question of whether the mucus would shield the fish from a real anemone. The third theory is that the answer to the fish's protective mucus lies in the creature's genes: Maybe the fish's coating naturally wards off anemone stings. In 1995, Elliott and Mariscal exposed 30 hatchery-raised anemonefish, one by one, to anemones in a tank. In certain combinations of anemone and fish species, none of the anemones stung the fish. But in other combinations, the fish were stung. "It's a protection that's produced genetically," Elliott concludes. "We've shown the anemone doesn't have to be involved at all." Well, in some cases, anyway. In all, about half the fish were stung. He adds, "In some species combinations the fish are innately protected, and in other combinations they are not and may have to go through acclimation behaviour to become protected." Adds Mariscal, "What is not known is why some species seem to be innately protected and others do not. It seems like the more we learn, the more confused we get."
Q: What is a pufferfish? A: Pufferfish are considered one of the most advanced group of bony fish. They are classified in the order Tetradontiformes. There are three families of pufferfish, Tridontidae (a single three-toothed species), Tetradontidae (smooth and sharpnose puffers with four teeth), and Diodontidae (the spiny pufferfish, burrfishes, and porcupinefishes with two fused teeth). Their fused teeth makes it great for crushing and grinding hard food and therefore pufferfish can eat food such as, sponges, sea urchins and hard corals. Pufferfish have few bones, because most of their bones in their head and body, through time, have fused together. Their skin is thick and feels leathery and is covered by scales that have been modified into spines. Some types of pufferfish have a poison (tetradotoxin) in their skin that can cause death in humans. Pufferfish are mostly found in sub-tropical and tropical marine waters In the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. There are some tropical freshwater species (Tetraodon) that are found in the Congo River and in southern Asia. To get a look at some different
types of pufferfish click here.
A. Puffer fish really do "puff up", but they do not blow up their spines. They have spines all over their bodies, but normally they lie flat, and are not extended. When a puffer fish is frightened, it will gulp down a large quantity of water. This gulping of water makes the fish expand like a balloon. When the fish expands, the spines tend to stick straight out. When the fish stops being afraid, it can release the water quickly, and get back to its normal shape and size.
Q: Hi, I have a few questions about the puffer fish (fugu). I know it is poisonous. My question is what is the mechanism of action of tetrodotoxin. and why is it necessary to provide artificial respiration for someone who is poisoned. Thank you A: Tetrodotoxin is one of the most potent molecules known. Once introduced, it selectively blocks the voltage-sensitive sodium channels of excitable tissues. As a result, tetrodotoxin inhibits or reduces the chances of an action potential to be produced. Tetrodotoxin is complex in structure and contains a imidazole ring. It is likely that this ring is the part of the molecule that lodges in the channel leaving the rest of the molecule blocking its outer mouth. Recent research, done by David Berkowitz from the US Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, USA., and Ilona Kryspin-Sorensen, from Institute of Toxicology, National Food Agency of Denmark Soborg have further strengthened the argument that in fact Tetrodotoxin comes not from the puffer, but rather, bacteria. In their article, "Trangenic Fish: Safe to Eat", they discuss several proofs. They include: 1. Puffer fish grown in culture do not produce tetrodotoxin until they are fed tissues from a toxin producing fish. 2. The blue-ringed octopus found in Australian waters accumulates tetrodotoxin in a special salivary gland and infuses its prey with toxin by bite. This octopus contains tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria. 3. Xanthid crabs collected from the same waters contain tetrodotoxin and paralytic shellfish toxin. 4. Tetrodotoxin in algae species Jania is produced by a bacteria species Alteromas . Although if ingested, Tetrodotoxin is potentially fatal, pufferfish is still considered a delicacy in Japan. As a consequence, Japan also has the highest incidence of textrodotoxin poisoning, even though one must be specially licensed to prepare the fish. But those that are daring enough seem to enjoy the fish. (Provided they survive the actual meal)
Q: What fish live in coral reefs? A. Coral reefs are home to more species and diverse fish communities than any environment on earth. Atlantic reefs have up to 600 reef fish species and there can be up to 2000 reef fish species on Indo-Pacific reefs. Some of the groups of fish species found on coral reefs are as follows; requiem sharks, moray eels, hawk fish, groupers, surgeonfish, parrot fish, butterfly fish, sweepers, damselfish, wrasses, velvet fish, puffers, gobies, filefish, triggerfish, squirrel fish, angelfish, grunts, cardinal fish, halfbeaks, barracudas, blennies, and anemone fish, just to name a few!
Barracudas are in the family of fish called Sphyraenidae. There are 20 species of barracuda in the world's oceans. The species that is most commonly talked about is the Great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda. These fish grow to 3 meters (10 feet) in length (possibly larger) but are rarely seen over 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. They are torpedo shaped, which makes them very fast swimmers. They are predators, and eat many different species of fish. They have a formidable array of teeth, which in some animals are visible as they swim around. They have fairly large scales, and are greenish gray above, silvery on the sides and white on the ventral surface. They are often seen "cruising" in deeper water just off of coral reefs, looking for prey. Attacks on people by barracudas are rare, but may be brought on by wearing shiny, dangling jewellery (remove those earrings before snorkelling!) People who catch and eat barracuda rarely get a type of poisoning called "Ciguatara".
A: As far as we know, there is no such thing as a freshwater barracuda. In the ocean, there are 20 different species of barracuda in the world. They are in the family Sphyraenidae. Probably the most well known of these is the Great Barracuda, found in the Caribbean. It's scientific name is: Sphyraena barracuda.
Q: Is there a fish called a Red Fish? A: I was not able to find
anything by the name of Red Fish but I was able to find something
called a Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) The Red grouper appears
to reach common weights of about 15 pounds and the record is
slightly over 39 pounds.
My guess is that you are referring to Tarpon atlanticus, a large, silvery fish that is common to Atlantic waters. Most fish produce a mucus coating, which serves a variety of purposes. The mucus is secreted from mucus glands which are usually situated in the epidermal layer. The mucus coating may act as a protective "shield" by containing substances which act as antibiotics, or by preventing parasites from attaching to the scales. The mucus may also allow the fish to escape more easily from the mouths of predators (i.e. lubricant). I have also heard that the mucus reduces frictional drag as the fish moves through the water, thereby increasing swimming efficiency.
A. The Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is in the family Istiophorida, which includes the Sailfish, and Billfish, as well as other species of marlin, such as the Black Marlin (Istiompax marlina). The Blue Marlin is a famous sporting fish - they are very fast swimming, and are found in warm, tropical waters. You should be able to find more information in a local library, as the blue marlin is such a popular sport fish. If you search the internet, use the Latin name for the fish, or the family name, rather than the common name. This will make sure that you find exactly what you're looking for, and won't get piles of hits on such things as sports teams (eg. The Florida Marlins!)
Q: Please tell me about a "pine fish". I need to know what they are, habitat, what they eat, and any interesting characteristics about them. I found information on flounders and shrimp, but I could not find them. A: I believe the "pine" fish you're referring to are actually pinecone fishes of the Family Monocentridae. There are only two known species of these fishes, both characterized by an external covering of heavy plate-like scales giving them the appearance of a pinecone. They have one large spine on the outer edge of the pelvic fin, and dorsal fin spines which alternate direction, one pointing towards the right followed by one pointing towards the left. One of the most interesting features of pinecone fishes is the presence of two light organs located under the lower jaw. These organs house symbiotic phosphorescent bacteria which give off flashes of light. Monocentris japonicus (the Japanese pinecone fish) is 13 cm (5 in) in length and schools in deep water throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Monocentris gloriae-maris (the Australian pinecone fish) is the only other known species.
Q: I love to eat Admiral fish steaks. I know it,s herring but would like to know a little more about herring. The encyclopaedia doesn't tell me much and fish is very general. I would like to know exactly what I'm eating. Can you tell me? A: Herring is a type of bony
fish classified in the family Clupeidae. The Pacific Herring
(Clupea
Q: We are doing a project on angelfish and can;t find any info. on it. Do you think you could help we could sure use it. We will take anything.Even a type of angelfish.HELP PLEASE! A: Angelfish are a type of bony fish and are classified in the family Pomacanthidae. Angelfish live in variety of habitats, coral reefs, tropical freshwater, the open ocean. In fact, about three-quarters of all angelfish species live in the Indo-Pacific. Some angelfish can undergo extreme colour changes from when they are juveniles to adults. The colour of angelfish is different between the different species. The colouration of many angelfish has the effect of confusing predators by having stripes (like a zebra) and sometimes a false eye spot on or near the tail. The eye spot usually is a circle-shaped colouration on the tail which a predator may mistaken for the eye. A predator usually attacks the prey's head, where the eye is, and a bite to the tail is definitely less fatal than one to the head. Marine angelfish eat invertebrates that are attached to the bottom, such as sponges, sea squirts and corals. Some species of angelfish actually follow sea turtles and eat their poo! There are also tropical freshwater angelfish, you can see some of these species in your local pet store.
A. We can understand why you'd want to do a report on seahorses - they certainly are interesting animals! Seahorses are an interesting type of fish. They are in the family of fish called "Syngnathidae", which also includes the pipefishes. Seahorses are found in all tropical seas, and may also be found along more temperate coasts. There are around 150 different species of fish in this interesting family. Two different species of seahorse from the Bahamas are the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, and the longsnout seahorse, Hippocampus reidi. Seahorses have the unusual habit of carrying the eggs until hatched in a pouch of skin. The males carry these eggs, and look after them until they are hatched. Seahorses is one of the slowest fishes in the world. To compensate for this slow speed, seahorses and pipefishes have developed very effective camouflage, so they can blend in with their surroundings. General books on aquarium fishes, or aquarium magazines often have articles about seahorses. Try searching the net using the family name "Syngnathidae" for scientific information, or try searching using the terms "seahorse" and aquarium" and "fish" (this will eliminate all of those sites that have the word "seahorse" in the title, such as "Bob's Seahorse Motel".
A. If you've check out other seahorse answer on the OceanLink pages, you'll already know that there are many different species of seahorse - there isn't just one type. Generally, the fish in the family Syngnathidae, which includes seahorses and pipefish, are pretty small. There are around 150 species in the world, ranging from less than an inch to around 30 cm (12 inches) in length (this last measurement is for a pipefish). In the Bahamas, the Dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) grows to 3.8 cm (1.5) inches long, while the Lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus grows to 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length. The New Zealand Seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) reaches 20 cm (7.9 inches) in length with the tail uncurled. We haven't been able to track down any figures for weights of seahorses (most fish are measured by length), but they are not very heavy fish. Seahorses swim very slowly, and rely on camouflage to escape from predators. They generally live in shallow areas, and do not travel very long distances.
Q: I would like to know more about the size of a seahorse, what it eats, the average life span and some fun facts about it. A: There are about 25 species of seahorses which are scientifically classified in the Phylum Chordata, Class Osteichthyes, Subdivision Teleostei, Order Gasterosteiformes, Family Syngnathidae and Genus Hippocampus. Seahorses are some of the most unusually shaped fish, with long tubelike snouts, a body encased in bony rings and a tail that's used for holding onto plant stems. Seahorses swim upright, using fins on their sides (pectoral fins) and back (dorsal fin) to slowly propel themselves along. The largest species of seahorse is approximately 20 cm (8 in) long, while the smallest species is only 4 cm (1.5 in) long. Since seahorses move very slowly, they aren't able to chase their prey. Instead, they have developed a suction mechanism using their long snout. If small planktonic organisms like brine shrimp come within 4 cm (1.5 in) of the seahorse's mouth, they are sucked in quicker than you can blink! Seahorses generally live for two or three years, and are very difficult to keep in captivity. One of the most interesting facts about seahorses is that the male, not the female, looks after the eggs until they hatch. Males have a brood pouch located on the underside of their tail with a very small opening at the top. The female lays her eggs into this pouch, where they remain safe and warm until hatching (at least 8 or 10 days). Once the baby seahorses can swim on their own, the male expels them out of the pouch. Another fun fact is that seahorses can move their eyes independently of each other. They can basically have one eye looking down and the other eye looking up at the same time!
Q: Do seahorse have sexual orientation? If so, is it the male seahorse that have the offsprings? A. Yes, there are male and female seahorses. The female produces the eggs and the male produces sperm. During mating, the mating pair performs a rather peculiar mating ritual in which the fertilized eggs are eventually transferred to the brood pouch of the male. The developing embryos are brooded by the male, and are eventually released through an opening.
Q: how does a sea horse swim? A: Seahorses have a body that is encased in bony rings, therefore their body is not very flexible. The fin they use to swim is their dorsal fin, not the curly tail part of the seahorse. The curly tail is not used for swimming but to hold onto seaweed, objects and other seahorses. The dorsal fin is the fin you would see on their back. They move this dorsal fin back and forth to swim. Seahorses also have two pectoral fins (the fins on the sides of their body), that they use for manoeuvring and steering. In fact, seahorses are the slowest swimming, that we know of, and can only swim at speeds of 0.01 mph.
A. One of the most interesting things about the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) is the migration that they undergo. Young animals migrate down rivers to the Atlantic Ocean, and then make their way to the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda. They then mature into adults, and breed there. The juveniles (called "elvers") then return on the long journey back to the homes of their parents. No one has yet discovered how they accomplish such a long trip, and manage to find a stream that they have never seen.
Q: what is the scientific name for a eel and also what dose it look like and how dose the reproduction system work. Thanks alot. A: There are over 730 species of eels within the Order Anguilliformes, all of which are characterized by the following traits: a reduced skeleton, dorsal and anal fins that are continuous with the caudal (tail) fin, the absence of pelvic (and often pectoral) fins, and a lack of gill rakers. The majority of eels live in shallow tropical and subtropical marine habitats, although they can also be found in the deep sea, the open ocean, and freshwater lakes and streams. In general, eels are mass spawners which release huge numbers of sperm and eggs into the water for external fertilization.
A. The moray eel includes several species of fish in the Family Muraenidae. These animals are heavier and more compressed than most other eels, and the morays are readily distinguished by the small, round gill opening and the absence of pectoral fins. The skin is thick and leathery, the occipital region of he head is elevated, and the powerful jaws are armed with knifelike or molarlike teeth. Morays typically inhabit shallow coral reefs and rocky areas. They are most active at night; by day they hidden holes and crevices. Most of the morays are predators of crabs, shrimps, lobsters and various fishes. Capable of inflicting deep wounds if disturbed, large morays are dangerous to people in or out of the water. Some species cause ciguatera poisoning when eaten. There are approximately 14 species in North America. You should be able to find more information on morays by searching the net using the scientific names for the animals. Some of the scientific and common names for some North American species are as follows: California Moray - Gymnothorax
mordax
Q: What
is a stonefish? A: A stonefish is an amazing
fish! In fact it actually looks like a stone and rests on the
bottom half-buried in sand. A stonefish has a large head and
no swim bladder (which allows it to lay on the ocean floor).
A stonefish has no scales and has warty looking skin glands covering
it's body. At the base of their dorsal fin spines are venom glands.
When threatened or stepped on the stonefish sticks its dorsal
fin spines up and venom is released into whatever touches the
dorsal spines. The venom is a neurotoxin and is the most deadly
of all fish venom and can be fatal to humans! These fish are
found in the tropical marine waters in coastal Indo-Pacific,
South Africa east to Japan, Society Islands and Australia.
Q: I have to do a two-page report for school on the fish called humuhumunukunukuapuaa. My mom says it's near Hawaii. i can't find any information on it. We went to three libraries. Can you help me? I would really be happy if you could. Thank you. A: The
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (also called the Picasso Triggerfish or Rhinecanthus Members of this family have acquired their common name 'triggerfish' from the characteristic locking and unlocking of their first dorsal fin. Normally the dorsal fin is positioned in a flat groove on the top of the body. It can however, be locked in the upright position in order to wedge the fish into some crevice in which it has taken refuge. This keeps the fish from being removed from the crevice and eaten. Triggers are relatively poor
swimmers, most of the time they move by undulating wave motions
of the dorsal and anal fins, only using the tail fin for emergencies!
In the sea they usually live alone and are intolerant of similar
species. This is why you usually see few triggerfish in the same
aquarium. Their teeth are very strong and often stick out which
is ideal for eating shelled invertebrates and sea urchins. Don't
put a triggerfish in an aquarium with invertebrates! When eating
a Crown of Thorns starfish, the trigger will first blow it over
onto it's back in order to get at the soft unprotected underbelly.
A. Mud-skippers are in the family of fish known as Periophthalmidae. There are several different species of mud-skippers in this family and they are found generally in mangrove swamps of Africa and the Indo-Pacific. They are fairly small fish - the different species range in length from 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches). The mud-skippers are an interesting family of fish, because they are truly amphibious, meaning that they can live in or out of the water. They live on the muddy areas of mangrove swamp areas. This location is periodically covered by the tide, but the mud-skippers may spend quite a lot of time out of the water. Their pectoral fins are modified so that they can swim in the water, as well as jump and skip with remarkable speed on land! They can store water in their gill chambers, so that their gills are kept moist in air. They have large protruding eyes with a movable lower lid, which is also an adaptation for living in water and air.They eat a variety of food - they wriggle and skip over rocks and mud in search of prey, and may even climb up mangrove stems in search of crabs, snails and other invertebrates. Eggs are laid in water in the shallow mangrove swamp areas, and the young are very tiny when they hatch. The young do not immediately move about on land - they must first grow larger by feeding on small marine organisms in the water.
Q: What is the average voltage given off by an electric eel? A. The electric eel, Electrophorus (Electrophoridae), can generate electrical pulses of over 500 volts. These pulses are created by several electric organs that are embedded in the lateral muscles of the eel's body. The largest of these electric organs is made up of about 1000 electrocytes (current-generating cells). Pretty impressive!
A. First, for those who may not know, we're referring here to the Dolphin Fish, Coryphaena hippusus, which is not at all related to the different mammal species known as dolphins. Dolphin fish are in the family Coryphaenidae, and are found in tropical oceans around the world. The first thing to do when looking for the relative abundance of the prey of any animal, is to correctly find out what prey they eat! Dolphin fish are typically open ocean fish, and eat mainly other fish, although their diet also includes crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs, as well as cephalopods such as squid. The certainly don't eat clams or mussels! Many of the fish and invertebrates included in their diet come from the community that lives in and on sargassum seaweed.Basic research about the dolphin fish will enable you to determine specifically the names of the prey they eat. After this, you'll be able to look up the prey species, and determine its abundance.
Q: I have lived in south La. all my life and thought I had seen all fish our waters had to offer. On a recent fishing trip I caught what I think was a "Southern Stargazer" or " Astroscophus y-graecum" Although I was able to identify this fish I can't seem to locate any other info on it. Any info you can offer would be appreciated. Thank you! A. The fish that you caught, if it is Astroscopus y-graecum, is a member of the Family Uranoscopidae. The fishes in this group are carnivorous and of singular appearance, living on the sea bottoms in most warm regions. There are a total of 7 Genera containing 20 species in the Uranoscopidae. These fishes are common to the West Indies, and are occasionally found inhabiting waters of the South Atlantic Coast. Since this species is not frequently found in the waters of Southern Louisiana, it is likely considered an accidental species in that region. This means that the species normally does not inhabit the waters of the S.Atlantic Coast, but it is not unheard of to find it there. The area that you live in is probably just outside the normal range for this species. I would imagine that these fish are quite rare in La., which would explain why you have never seen it before. So in a sense, I guess it is kind of a "prize catch" for Louisiana waters!! The species Astroscopus y-graecum is dark brown above, paler below; upper parts densely covered with small rounded white spots, each surrounded by a black ring. The lower jaw and labial fringes are similarly spotted. There is a conspicuous y-shaped bone on top of the head (from which the species gets part of its name), and on each sided of it there is a broad naked area. This area contains electric sensory organs which these fish use for communication, localization of prey and navigation. The signals produced by the electric organs of these fishes can be modified in complex ways, by varying factors such as discharge frequency, wave form, and the times between discharges. As a consequence, electrical discharges have all the functions visual and auditory signals have in other fishes, including courtship, agonistic behaviour and individual recognition.
A. Hello
Tyler. I apologize for taking so long to get back to you the
holidays slowed us down a bit. Yes, you are right, they're are
some fish that are virtually transparent. Many fish actually
start their lives as tiny, transparent larvae but they get colour,
or pigment, as they get older and grow bigger. Some fish however,
seem to remain transparent for much longer. One such fish is
the glass catfish. This tropical fish is popular with aquarists
so if you have an aquarium store nearby you might ask the owners
about this fish. There are also some types of eels that are transparent.
Apparently you can see right through them. These fish don't necessarily
live where it is dark. In fact, being transparent is a great
camouflage to enable these fish to hide from their predators.
These fish do have eyes (although others may not; if you have
some specific names, let us know) and this is the one place where
they do have some colour as eyes need pigment to be functional.
Q: I need the following information on the Dragon Fish: physical characteristics, habitat, movement, prey/nurtrition, predators, protection, babies, special features. I am 8 years old and am having trouble finding any detailed info on this fish. A: The seadragon or dragonfish is a rare and very beautiful fish found only in southern Australian waters. Seadragons belong to the Syngnathid family along with seahorses and pipefish, which are all distinguished by long, slender bodies covered with bony plates. Syngnathid means tube-snouted and thus refers to the distinct tube like mouth shared by these three types of fish. Seadragons live in rocky reef areas, seaweed beds, seagrass meadows or any other area where seaweed grows. Most often seadragons are found in shallow coastal waters however they have been known to travel as deep as 50 meters. There are two species of seadragon, the Weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) and the Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques). Both seadragon species look like floating pieces of seaweed that can make them hard to spot in their natural environment. Although delicate in features and small in size, seadragons have all the appearance of a mighty hunter to the small larvae and shrimp-like sea lice that they prey on. As far as we know seadragons have no predators in the undersea world, however their populations are declining because of pollution and fertilizers that run off shore and collect in the seaweed beds they inhabit. Furthermore, because of their mystical appearance, seadragons have been targeted by curious collectors who have cleaned out the more accessible seagrass areas along Australia's shores. Fortunately in 1991, seadragons were protected from all collection. One of the most amazing things about seadragons is that, like seahorses, it is actually the male that holds the eggs and gives birth to the young. However, unlike seahorses, seadragon males do not have a brood pouch. Instead the female lays her eggs (anywhere from 100-250 eggs) on a special brood patch underneath the tail of the mail. There the eggs are attached and fertilized and the developing babies held for 4-6 weeks. Two to three days after birth, the young seadragons are completely independent from their parents and can hunt for small zooplankton. Also check out this sites
for more info on seadragons:
Q: Where can I get a habitat map for seahorses? A: Aren't seahorses cool?!
Seahorses (generic name: Hippocampus) live in seagrass meadows,
coral reefs and mangroves in temperate and tropical coastal
waters around the world. Currently there is concern that extensive
habitat destruction and pollution may be endangering seahorse
populations. I could not find an actual map with geographic
distributions but I did find this:
Q: Is a sea horse an invertebrate are vertebrate? A: That's a good question! Seahorses are interesting
critters! They are fish, which are vertebrates. You
should check out the site at the Texas State Aquarium,
as they have a special display on right now about Seahorses.
Q: Please tell the life cycle of a seahorse. A: Seahorses are unique animals
in that it is the male that becomes pregnant! Seahorses have
a very social community structure and choose mates for life.
If one of the mates die, the surviving partner will not reproduce
for quite sometime and when he/she "re-pairs", the
reproductive output of the new pair is generally lower. Seahorse
reproductive output is already generally quite low, with each
pair hatching about 1000 young each year (compare with some fish
who produce 200 000 eggs at a time!). The young hatch live from
the father's brood pouch and must immediately start fending for
themselves. Seahorse populations are at risk due to over-fishing,
pollution and habitat destruction.
Q: May you tell me about the habitat, deadly defenses, and distribution of some bony fish? A: A bony fish (class Osteichthyes)
is a "poikilothermic, aquatic chordate with appendage developed
as fins and whose chief respiratory organ are gills and whose
body is usually covered with scales" (from the Diversity
of Fishes by Helfman, Collette and Facey). It would be difficult
for me to tell you about the habitat, distribution and defenses
of bony fish in general because there are 23,000 living species
of bony fish. 41% live in freshwater, 58% in seawater and 1%
move between both. The highest diversity of fishes are found
in the tropics (especially the Indo-west Pacific and Indian Oceans).
They occupy essentially all aquatic habitats from springs to
estuaries to deep ocean to wave pounded coasts. Some defense
strategies include: cryptic coloration, counter-shading (light
on the bottom and dark on top so they are hard to see against
the light of the sky and the dark of the bottom), schooling,
fast swimming or physical defenses like the spines of the balloonfish.
Q: Someone told me that the Mahi-Mahi is a dolphin. Is this true? A: I did some research and
can put your mind at ease that the Mahi-Mahi fish is not dolphin
meat. People probably just confuse this fish with dolphins sometimes
because its common name is the Dolphin fish. The family name
of Dolphin Fish (Mahi-Mahi) is Coryphaenidae and the species
name is Coryphaena Hippurus. Marine dolphins are from the family
name Delphinidae. So if you ever eat a Mahi-Mahi you have no
worries about accidentally eating dolphin meat.
COLD WATER FISH
Q: What exactly do flounder
look like? A: Thanks for your question! When a flounder is young (a larval fish), it looks just like any other fish, with one eye on each side of its body and swims around in the water column. As it grows, the body of a flatfish flattens out and either the right eye moves to the left side of the body or the left eye moves to the right side of the body, so that both eyes are same side of the body. The side the eye moves to depends on the type of flounder, but this can also vary within a species, just like how people can be right or left handed. The bottom side (ventral side) of a flounder is white and the top side (dorsal side) is usually sandy brown in colouration. When flounders are adults they can lie on a sandy or muddy bottom completely camouflaged with their sandy coloured body and both of their eyes peeking out from beneath the sand. I have attached a picture of a CO Sole (a type of flounder) for you to check out!
A. There are a variety of fish that live in the Arctic Ocean but two of the more common species are Arctic cod and Arctic char. Arctic cod are the centre of life in many Arctic waters - many seabirds and mammals rely on them to survive. Arctic cod eat smaller animals such as crustaceans (shrimp, etc.) and are eaten by many animals including: ringed seals, harp seals, narwhals, beluga whales, thick-billed murres, black guillemots and more! You probably asked this question
because you wonder how fish in cold Arctic waters survive? Some
fish, such as the Arctic cod, have a type of antifreeze in their
body. This prevents the fluid inside their body from freezing.
A: The scientific name of the Yellow-eyed mullet is Aldrichetta forsteri. It is also sometimes called "herring" or "sprat" in New Zealand. (So-called "common names" are very confusing!) It is often found in tidal flats and shoals in large numbers, and feeds on small animals and plants. We're not sure what the name would be in German!
A. The longeared sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) is a freshwater fish. It is also known as "Cheery Bream", and lives in freshwater areas west of the Appalachian Mountains, as far North as Quebec, and as far South as North Central Mexico. A search on "Altavista" on
the genus and species revealed over 400 hits. There is more information
in the Texas
Parks and Wildlife site.
Q: My husband saw what I think was an eel in Lake Canderago, New York on a recent visit. Could this be possible? The lake is a natural lake about 1 1/2 hours north east of Binghamton (A half an hour from Coopersown New York). The eel was approx 12 inches in diameter with a length of over 5 feet. I showed him a picture of an eel after we had gotten home that I found on the internet and he is sure that is what he saw. How could an eel survive in a lake with no access to salt water. Everything that I have read indicates that eels spawn in salt water. (at least I am not aware of access to salt water from that lake) Please let me know how I can research this further and whether an eel could exist in a fresh water lake such as Lake Canderago. A. I checked out a map to find out exactly where this lake was, and I was surprised to see how far inland it was. At first I thought it was kind of weird to find an eel (probably Anguilla rostrata) so far away from the ocean. However, after a little bit of digging, I found out that these animals are often found even further inland, as far west as Nebraska. On the map that I found, it appeared that Lake Canderago drained into the Atlantic through a maze of small streams and rivers. In fact, all of the lakes around Binghamton flow to the Atlantic by way of the Delaware River or the Susquehanna. The Delaware Branch follows the PA-NY stateline and the Susquehanna flows generally south from Binghamton. So it is quite reasonable for the eel to have made its way to the lake from the Atlantic. Apparently, it is only the females that ascend rivers, where they remain for a number of years. The eel you saw in the lake was, therefore, probably a female. The family Anguillidae differs from most other eels by having small scales embedded in the skin. In addition, they have pectoral fins and a caudal fin that is continuous with the dorsal and anal fins. After reaching sexual maturity, the freshwater eels migrate out the the Sargasso Sea area of the Atlantic to spawn. The eggs hatch into a leptocephalus (lepto= slender, cephalus= head) larvae that pass through numerous stages as they transform to adults. I have also heard some other
remarkable facts about eels. Apparently, the European eel has
been found to move around very quickly around the English Channel
by swimming with the currents. Some eels have reportedly been
found to move faster than 50 kph, a speed which approximates
the strength of currents in the area.
Q: Please, just tell me how long does a trout live if it doesn't get caught?. A. There are approximately 40 different species of trout (Family Salmonidae) in North America. The life span varies depending on the species that you are dealing with. Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) have a lifespan of about four years. Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) have a lifespan between 3-7 years.
A. The name "King Salmon" is another common name for the Pacific coast chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) It is often called "king" salmon because it can grow to such a large size (up to 126 pounds!) The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) does not reach such sizes, and is not referred to as "king salmon". The Atlantic salmon can inhabit freshwater lakes, but it was fished out of lake Ontario prior to the year 1900. Chinook salmon have never been found anywhere near Lake Ontario! It seems that this may be an explanation for why you have been unable to come up with any information - you're looking for a fish that does not exist! Perhaps "king salmon" is a local name for some type of fish that is not actually a salmon species.
Q: Can you give me some info on the life cycle of a Pacific mackerel. Where do they spawn, how long do they live, what do they feed on. A. I've been waiting for this question to pop up. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Bamfield and the Marine Station.
This species of fish can be
found in Pacific waters from Banderas Bay and Mazatlan, Mexico
and the Gulf of California, through Baja California, California,
Washington, British Columbia to southeast Alaska and the Gulf
of Alaska. In the west Pacific, this species ranges from Russia
all the way down to Japan, Korea and beyond. S. japonicus is
fairly abundant off the west coast of Vancouver Island, but occurs
sporadically, often in conjunction with the northward movement
of warmer waters during El Nino years.
Q: Please tell me about a "pipe fish." I need to know what they are, habitat, what they eat, and any interesting characteristics about them. I found information on flounders and shrimp, but I could not find them. A: Pipefishes are in the Family Syngnathidae along with the seahorses. There are over 150 species of pipefishes found in marine, brackish and freshwater habitats. It has been said that these fishes look like a pipestem cleaner come to life, since they are very long and skinny with pointed snouts. Pipefishes are also characterized by an external armour of bony plates arranged in rings around the body, and the presence of a brood pouch on the underside of the male. The male incubates fertilized eggs in this pouch for at least 8 to 10 days (depending on water temperature), until they hatch and the young swim out. The smallest species of pipefish measures 2.5 cm (1 in) in length, while the largest species can reach 46 cm (18 in) in length. Pipefishes feed on planktonic organisms (such as small crustaceans and fish larvae) by using a special suction method to rapidly draw prey into their tube-like mouths from over 4 cm (1.5 in) away. To learn more about fishes in the Family Syngnathidae, check out the recent question on Characteristics of Seahorses.
Q: What is countershading? A: Countershading refers to the colouration of many fishes that are darker on the back than on the sides and belly. With this arrangement, illumination from above lightens the back and the light coloration on the sides and belly lighten the shadows of the underside. This type of colouration is thought to help conceal the fish from predators.
Q: Say a fish is dark colored on its dorsal side, and light colored on its ventral side, how is that an example of camoflauge?
Q: Why do fish swim in schools?
Another interesting point about fish is that they only form schools when it helps them to hunt or defend themselves better than if they were alone. Fish that form schools generally do not have specialized defense structures such as poison glands or barbs.
Q: I would like information regarding flatfish camoflauge and why they are flattened. A: Most different species
of flatfish have different coloration and not all species have
good camoflauge. One interesting fact is that most species only
have coloration on the side that faces upwards. The side that
faces the bottom of the ocean is usually white or very pale in
coloration. For your second question I found that flatfishes
are laterally compressed fish. When flatfish are born they are
like any other bony fishes but as they reach their juvenile form
they undergo some major changes. First the flatfish eyes move
to one side of the flatfish body. This involves a major change
in the fishes nervous system. Secondly the fish then lives on
its side. The moving of the eyes allows the fish to maintain
vision out of both eyes when the flatfish is living on its side.
Q: I would like to know what the chemical formula for the slime on pacific sockeye salmon is and what type of compound is it (acid/base/salt)? The reasons I ask the question is because recently I handled a live Sockeye salmon with my hands and it left my hands stinging afterwards. A: I talked to a salmon specialist and he informed me that no one really knows the chemical formula for salmon slime. He did say however that its a form of mucus polysaccharide. Its possible that you experienced an allergic reaction to something on the salmon that you handled and it caused the stinging sensation on your hands. Sometimes wild salmon will have skin infections or sea lice and you may even be allergic to that. I wish that I could have been more help on this one.
DEEP SEA FISH
A. These
fish are found in deep waters of the open ocean. You're not likely
to catch one with a hook and line! Gulpers are also deep water fish - there are several different species that are commonly called Gulper Eels. They live at depths of 9,000 feet or more, where there is no light from the surface at all. At these depths, there is very little life, and therefore not much to eat. The gulpers have solved this problem by evolving a huge mouth, and a stomach that can expand to many times its normal size. They can eat other fish that are larger than themselves. They have tiny eyes - a 4.5 foot long specimen has an eye of less than a quarter of an inch in diameter. They have very long whip-like tails, with a reddish glowing spot on the end which may serve to attract prey in the perpetual darkness of the deep sea.
Q: I read in Science News about a fish called a loose jaw or dragon fish. These fish are the only known animals to use chlorophyll in their eyes. They are a rare fish that is only found in the deeper parts of the ocean. Well anyway I am doing a report on them and need some more info. I have checked everywhere on the internet finding nothing. If you have any info whatsoever please tell me. A: While loosejaws and dragon fishes are classified in the same family (Stomiidae), they represent a number of different species all having barbels with light organs located on their chins. I believe the fish you're interested in is the deep-sea dragon fish (Malacosteus niger), which uses a derivative of chlorophyll to enhance its long-wavelength sensitivity. This fish is a mesopelagic zooplanktivore, which means that it lives in the midwaters of the open ocean (between 200 and 1000 m) and preys on zooplankton. M. niger lacks gill rakers, has enlarged teeth, a head that hinges upwards, and lacks a floor in its mouth to allow for jaw expansion. These characteristics initially led deep-sea ichthyologists (fish biologists) to believe that the deep-sea dragon fish went after large prey items. However, a recent study demonstrated that M. niger feeds primarily on copepods. For some pictures and information on deep-sea animals, check out the Deep Sea Pages.
Q: I am looking for information on the "Gulper Eel". Could you please give me some general info in this animal. Thank you. :) There is currently only one recognized species of gulper eel, Eurypharynx pelecanoides, in the Family Eurypharyngidae. This fish is believed to inhabit depths of 500 to 3000 m, although the maximum depth that one has been collected at is only 1532 m. E. pelecanoides has a very large gape, weak jaws and an extremely flaccid body. It has been surmised that the gulper eel behaves like a living net, engulfing prey by slowly swimming over them with its mouth open. Its prey includes fishes, shrimp and zooplankton (copepods).
Q: Are the angler fish and the viper fish located in the twilight zone? A. The twilight zone, or in more technical terms, the Mesopelagic zone, is the area of the ocean bordered by the sunlight, or photic zone above, and the darkness below. It's in this zone where most animals show bioluminescence and very curious features such as large eyes, sharp teeth and expandable jaws and stomachs as a result of the conditions of their deep environment. The viperfish does in fact live in the twilight zone and with its large eyes, sharp teeth and wide jaw, is an example of this kind of deep sea adaptation. Viperfish have a sp |
BACK
TO 
harengus
pallasi) is common in the Pacific Northwest and are an open-water,
pelagic, schooling fish. Herring lay their eggs near shore on
seaweed, such as seagrass, and the juvenile herring spend their
life in large schools in near shore habitats such as seagrass
beds and kelp forests. Adult herring are found in large schools
in the open ocean. Herring have large scales that can fall off
quite rapidly if they frightened and are therefore called deciduous
scales. By dropping some of their scales, the scales will reflect
light and temporarily blind a predator so that they may escape.
The maximum recorded length of a Pacific Herring is 46 cm (18
inches). Herring feed on zooplankton, but are themselves an important
food source for many marine animals, such as humpback whales,
salmon, seals, seabirds, and most large fish.
aculeatus)
is the official state fish of Hawai'i. They are pretty small
(up to 8"), carnivorous, and pretty aggressive when it come
to member of their own species of fish of similar size. Also,
they make a whirring sound when startled.
The
mackerel species that is found in the Pacific is commonly known
as Chub Mackerel, and bears the scientific name Scomber japonicus.
This species is in the Family Scombridae, which includes many
kinds of tropical and temperate marine fishes like the Skipjack,
Bluefin and Albacore tuna.
A:
This type of colouration in fish is thought to be a form of camouflage
because it helps them blend into their background whether you
are looking at them from above of below. From above, the depths
of the sea look very dark, so a fish needs to be dark on top
in order to blend in. Light from the water surface will reflect
off of the top of the fish, so a dark colour helps to correst
for that.
A:
Fish behaviour is a very interesting topic, I'm glad you asked
about fish schooling. Fish generally arrange themselves into
schools for two reasons: