Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish - Macaw Pets store

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Mullet Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus White Mullet Mugil curema Distribution. The striped mullet is cosmopolitan in all warm seas worldwide and is the only member of the mullet family found off the Pacific coast of the United States. The fantail mullet occurs in the western Atlantic in Bermuda and from Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. The white mullet is found in the western Atlantic in Bermuda and from Massachusetts south to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California, Mexico, to Iquique, Chile. 136 Mullet Mullet are members of the Mugilidae family, a group of roughly 70 species whose members range worldwide. All are good food fish, and the roe is considered a delicacy. Mullet are important forage for many predator species. Identification. The striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) is bluish-gray or green along the back, shading to silver on the sides and white below. Also known as the black mullet, or fatback, it has indistinct horizontal black bars, or stripes, on its sides; the fins are lightly scaled at the base and unscaled above; the nose is blunt and the mouth small; and the second dorsal fin originates behind that of the anal fin. It is similar to the smaller fantail mullet (M. gyrans) and the white mullet (M. curema), both of which have a black blotch at the base of their pectoral fins, which is lacking in the striped mullet. Size. The striped mullet may reach a length of 3 feet and weigh as much as 12 pounds, although the largest specimens have come from aquariums. Roe specimens in the wild are common to 3 pounds, but most striped mullet weigh closer to a pound. The fantail mullet is small and usually weighs less than a pound. The white mullet is similar in size to the fantail. Life history/Behavior. Mullet are schooling fish found inshore in coastal environs. Many species have the unusual habit of leaping from the water with no apparent cause. Adult striped mullet migrate offshore in large schools to spawn. Fantail mullet spawn in near-shore or inshore waters during the spring and the summer. White mullet spawn offshore, and the young migrate into estuaries and along beaches. Food and feeding habits. Mullet feed on algae, detritus, and other tiny marine forms; they pick up mud from the bottom and strain plant and animal material from it through their sievelike gill rakers and pharyngeal teeth.
Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina There are 32 species in the Belonidae family of needlefish, many of which are also known as longtoms or sea gar. They are often observed by coastal anglers, and some are caught frequently. Needlefish commonly skip (or leap) across the surface when hooked, when alarmed, and when attracted to lights at night. The most distinguishing features of the needlefish are its elongated upper and lower jaws, which have numerous needlelike teeth. The upper jaw is shorter than the lower jaw; however, in two species the lower jaw is shorter. It has a slender, elongate body that is silver on the flanks and bluish or dark green along the back and also features small scales and a wide mouth. One of the most widely dispersed species is the houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus), which is found nearly worldwide in tropical and warm temperate waters. It is common in the western Atlantic, ranging from New Jersey southward through the Caribbean to Brazil. The houndfish averages 2 feet or less in length but occasionally attains a length of 4 to 5 feet. It is also known as hound needlefish, crocodile needlefish, and crocodile longtom, and the all-tackle world record is 7 1 ⁄2 pounds (the record for the Mexican houndfish is 21 pounds, 12 ounces). Compared to other, generally smaller members of the family, the houndfish has a relatively short, stout beak. It is found singly or in small groups, readily strikes artificial lures, and is exciting to take on rod and reel. The Atlantic needlefish (Strongylura marina) is a smaller species that inhabits coastal areas and mangrove-lined lagoons and also enters freshwater. It occurs in the western Atlantic and ranges from the Gulf of Maine to Brazil. It is absent from the Bahamas and Antilles. It grows to 31 inches and can weigh slightly more than 3 pounds. Needlefish Habitat. Most needlefish live in tropical seas, a few inhabit cooler waters of temperate regions, and some stray occasionally into freshwater. Needlefish 137
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• • • • KEN SCHULTZ’S Fie
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certain species were included in bo
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extends from the body of the fish a
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the dark bottom of the water. When
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called anadromous. The most promine
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ANATOMY (Body, Function, and Relati
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Scales A typical fish’s body is c
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In oceanic fish, basic color may be
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Speed Fisheries professionals are f
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Teeth, Food, and Digestion A tremen
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the skin. In fish embryos, various
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lood is not as rich in oxygen as is
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they could feel pain. The fish’s
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excessive sedimentation, or water d
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Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus OTHER
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Amberjack, Lesser Seriola fasciata
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Angelfish, Queen Holacanthus ciliar
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Barracuda, Pacific Sphyraena argent
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Bass, Striped Morone saxatilis OTHE
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Batfish Shortnose Batfish Ogcocepha
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Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleus OTHE
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Bonefish Albula vulpes OTHER NAMES
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Bonito, Atlantic Sarda sarda OTHER
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Bream, Sea Archosargus rhomboidalis
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Butterfish Peprilus triacanthus OTH
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Catfish, Gafftopsail Bagre marinus
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Cobia Rachycentron canadum OTHER NA
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Cod, Pacific Gadus macrocephalus OT
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Corbina, California Menticirrhus un
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Croaker, Atlantic Micropogonias und
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Croaker, White Genyonemus lineatus
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Cutlassfish OTHER NAMES cutlass fis
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Dolphin, Common Coryphaena hippurus
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Dolphin, Pompano Coryphaena equisel
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Drum, Red Sciaenops ocellatus OTHER
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Eel, American Conger Conger oceanic
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Eels, Snake Snake Eel Ophichtus mac
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Flounder, Gulf Paralichthys albigut
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Flounder, Starry Platichthys stella
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Flounder, Winter Pseudopleuronectes
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Gag Mycteroperca microlepis OTHER N
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Graysby Cephalopholis cruentata OTH
Page 88 and 89: Grouper, Goliath Epinephelus itajar
Page 90 and 91: Grouper, Red Epinephelus morio OTHE
Page 92 and 93: Grouper, Yellowfin Mycteroperca ven
Page 94 and 95: Grunt, Bluestriped Haemulon sciurus
Page 96 and 97: Grunt, White Haemulon plumieri OTHE
Page 98 and 99: Guitarfish, Atlantic Rhinobatos len
Page 100 and 101: Hagfish Atlantic Hagfish Myxine glu
Page 102 and 103: Hake, Red Urophycis chuss OTHER NAM
Page 104 and 105: Halfbeaks and Balao Balao Hemiramph
Page 106 and 107: Halibut, California Paralichthys ca
Page 108 and 109: Herring 106 Herring American Shad A
Page 110 and 111: Herring, Pacific Clupea pallasii OT
Page 112 and 113: Hind, Rock Epinephelus adscensionis
Page 114 and 115: Jack, Bar Caranx ruber OTHER NAMES
Page 116 and 117: Jack, Horse-eye Caranx latus OTHER
Page 118 and 119: Killifish Mummichog Fundulus hetero
Page 120 and 121: Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus OTHER NA
Page 122 and 123: Lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus OTHER N
Page 124 and 125: Mackerel, Cero Scomberomorus regali
Page 126 and 127: Mackerel, King Scomberomorus cavall
Page 128 and 129: Mackerel, Pacific Sierra Scomberomo
Page 130 and 131: Marlin, Blue Makaira nigricans and
Page 132 and 133: Marlin, Striped Tetrapturus audax O
Page 134 and 135: Marlin, White Tetrapturus albidus O
Page 136 and 137: Milkfish Chanos chanos OTHER NAMES
Page 140 and 141: Opaleye Girella nigricans OTHER NAM
Page 142 and 143: Perch, Silver Bairdiella chrysoura
Page 144 and 145: Permit Trachinotus falcatus OTHER N
Page 146 and 147: Pilotfish Naucrates ductor 144 Pilo
Page 148 and 149: Pollock Pollachius virens OTHER NAM
Page 150 and 151: Pompano, Florida Trachinotus caroli
Page 152 and 153: Porgy, Jolthead Calamus bajonado OT
Page 154 and 155: Rays and Skates 152 Rays and Skates
Page 156 and 157: Remoras Sharksucker Echeneis naucra
Page 158 and 159: Rockfish, Black Sebastes melanops O
Page 160 and 161: Rockfish, Yelloweye Sebastes ruberr
Page 162 and 163: Runner, Blue Caranx crysos OTHER NA
Page 164 and 165: Sailfish Istiophorus platypterus OT
Page 166 and 167: Salmon, Atlantic Salmo salar OTHER
Page 168 and 169: Salmon, Chinook (continued) thousan
Page 170 and 171: Salmon, Coho Oncorhynchus kisutch O
Page 172 and 173: Salmon, Pink Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Page 174 and 175: Sanddab, Longfin Citharichthys xant
Page 176 and 177: Sand Lance American sand lance Ammo
Page 178 and 179: Sargo Anisotremus davidsonii OTHER
Page 180 and 181: Scorpionfish, California Scorpaena
Page 182 and 183: Scup Stenotomus chrysops OTHER NAME
Page 184 and 185: Sea Bass, Giant Stereolepis gigas O
Page 186 and 187: Sea Robin Northern Sea Robin Priono
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Seatrout, Silver Cynoscion nothus O
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Seatrout, Spotted (continued) rigs,
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Shad, Alabama Alosa alabamae OTHER
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Shad, Hickory Alosa mediocris OTHER
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Sharks (continued) The upper and lo
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Shark, Basking Cetorhinus maximus 1
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Shark, Blue Prionace glauca OTHER N
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Shark, Bull Carcharhinus leucas OTH
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Shark, Lemon Negaprion brevirostris
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Shark, Porbeagle Lamna nasus OTHER
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Shark, Sand Tiger Carcharias taurus
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Shark, Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinc
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Shark, Tiger Galeocerdo cuvier 210
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Sheephead, California Semicossyphus
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Silversides California Grunion Leur
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Sleepers Bigmouth Sleeper Gobiomoru
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Smelt, Rainbow Osmerus mordax OTHER
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Snapper, Gray Lutjanus griseus OTHE
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Snapper, Mutton Lutjanus analis OTH
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Snapper, Red Lutjanus campechanus O
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Snook Fat Snook Centropomus paralle
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Snook, Common Centropomus undecimal
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Sole, Petrale Eopsetta jordani OTHE
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Spearfish, Longbill Tetrapturus pfl
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Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss OTHER
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Sturgeon, White Acipenser transmont
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Surfperch OTHER NAMES Seaperch, sur
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Swordfish (continued) temperatures.
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Tarpon (continued) stock is genetic
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Tilefish Sand Tilefish Malacanthus
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Tomcod, Pacific Microgadus proximus
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Tope Galeorhinus galeus OTHER NAMES
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Triggerfish Queen Triggerfish Balis
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Tuna, Bigeye Thunnus obesus OTHER N
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Tuna, Bluefin Thunnus thynnus OTHER
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Tuna, Skipjack Katsuwonus pelamis O
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Tuna, Yellowfin (continued) 258 Tun
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Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri OTHER
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Wolffish Atlanitc Wolffish Anarhich
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Yellowtail Seriola lalandi OTHER NA
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of freshwater fish that are native
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BONY FISH Fish that have a bony ske
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A winter fishkill occurs when ice a
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annually. Pelagic ocean species mig
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SCHOOLING (1) The behavioral groupi
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Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish - Macaw Pets store

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