THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

y other fishes. Live to at least 55 years.
Remarks: Have a habit of “rolling” at the surface.
This behavior helps them take air into
their lunglike swimbladder. This swim bladder,
attached to the esophagus, can be filled
directly with air and permits the fish to live in
oxygen-poor waters.
Tarpon are among the most “primitive” extant
bony fish.
A popular gamefish of sportfishers, due to its
dynamic reaction once hooked. Since the flesh
is of poor quality, they are usually released.
Another source states “The flesh is highly appreciated
despite its being bony.” Marketed
fresh or salted.
Their large (5–8 cm diameter), silvery scales
are fashioned into jewelry.
Pacific Tarpon
Megalops cyprinoids (Megalopidae)
Tarpons
Distribution: Red Sea to Society Islands, north
to Korea, south to SE Australia.
Habitat: Young inhabit river mouths, lakes,
lagoons and swampy blackwaters.
Adults are found in inner coastal bays, mouths
of rivers, and mangroves in marine and fresh
waters, but generally at sea.
Appearance: Very large, silver-sided with bluegreen
dorsal fin and deeply forked tail. Large
mouth with prominent lower jaw. Large scales.
Length to 150 cm. Weight to at least 18 kg.
Diet: Primarily a diurnal predator of fishes
and crustaceans.
Reproduction and Development: Breed
offshore, perhaps all year long. Like true eels,
undergo a leptocephalus larval stage. Unlike
eels, the larvae have forked tails.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: at least 44 yrs.
Conservation: Though the species is not
rated, 2005 article in the journal Biological
Conservation indicated that tarpon are at
present highly vulnerable.
Remarks: A popular sport fish, edible but not
prized (too bony); a minor commercial fishery
target.
Tolerate oxygen-poor water by inhaling air into
a lung-like air bladder.
Systematically, this oddball species is
considered a “primitive” teleost.
California Academy of Sciences
ORDER ANGUILLIFORMES
(EELS)
101
Snowflake Moray
Echidna nebulosa (Muraenidae)
Moray Eels
Distribution: Red Sea and E. Africa to
southwest Japan and Australia, east to Hawaii
and Panama.
Habitat: Shallow lagoons, reef flats and rocky
shorelines in 1–18 m depth, often in open water.
Appearance: Body whitish with pattern of
large black blotches containing yellow spots
and numerous small blackish spots and
scribbly markings between. Length to 75 cm.
Diet: Primarily crustaceans.
Reproduction and Development: Distinctive
leptocephalus larvae.
Mortality/Longevity: There is a minor
commercial fishery.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Not Evaluated.
A 2005 article in the journal Biological
Conservation indicated this fish is presently
highly vulnerable to extinction.
Remarks: Solitary.
Zebra Moray
Gymnomuraena zebra (Muraenidae)
Moray Eels
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Sandy and rocky substrates. In reef
crevices and beneath ledges of exposed seaward
reef flats and seaward slopes from 2–40 m.
Appearance: Length to 1.5 m. Easily recognized
by its zebra striping; usually dark brown
to black with numerous narrow white bars
encircling head, body and fins. Snout very
blunt.
Diet: Primarily crabs. Also preys on other
crustaceans, mollusks, and sea urchins. This
species’ close-set, pebble-like teeth are used to
crush its hard-shelled prey.
Reproduction and Development: External
fertilization. Eggs not guarded. Like most
eels, morays undergo a lengthy pelagic
leptocephalus larval stage. Are protogynous
hermaphrodites.
Mortality/Longevity: There is a minor
commercial fishery, but large individuals may
be ciguatoxic.
Remarks: One source remarks that this moray,