THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

Fish Families 7
All members of the family feed on minute invertebrates sucked into the long snout. Because they
lack teeth and a true stomach, digestion is somewhat inefficient, and syngnathids need to feed
almost continuously on their tiny prey.
Reproductive habit is highly unusual in that parental care is mostly left to the male. Seahorse
males possess a ventral brood pouch where eggs are fertilized and incubated after deposition
by the female. Male pipefishes may have a brooding pouch or a simple patch of spongy
material where eggs adhere. Seadragon males carry eggs on an adhesive brood patch under
the tail.
SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES AND ROCKFISHES)
23 genera 172 species
A large family of mostly marine fishes found in all tropical and temperate seas, the scorpionfish
family takes its name from the venomous spines that adorn nearly all its members. Other
characteristics include a compressed body, and most have spines on the head as well as near and
on the operculum. The dorsal fin, while usually single, is often notched and supported by stout
spines. Spines on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins have venom glands at their bases that, when
compressed, deliver a toxic cocktail to would-be predators or careless humans.
Scorpaenidae is the largest family of fishes along the California coast, where at least 65 species,
including 60 kinds of rockfishes, are known. Rockfishes possess relatively mild toxins, but should
still be handled with care. Fertilization is internal. Some species lay eggs; others give live birth,
including all rockfish species
William Eschmeyer, Curator Emeritus of the Academy, is one of the world’s leading experts on
scorpionfishes.
SERRANIDAE (SEA BASSES, GROUPERS, AND BASSLETS)
62 genera 449 species
Serranidae is a large family of marine fishes. They are usually found over reefs, in tropical to
temperate waters.
The basslets, small, colorful planktivores that in the wild feed primarily on tiny crustaceans
and fish eggs floating in the upper levels of reef waters, are the common serranids found in the
Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit. Like other serranids, basslets are protogynous hermaphrodites; in
other words, they are born female, and a few change sex to become dominant males as breeding
needs arise. They produce large quantities of eggs and their larvae are planktonic, generally at the
mercy of ocean currents until they mature into adults.