GTMNERR Fish Species Field Guide

GTMNERR FISH SPECIES FIELD GUIDE Created by Meredith Pratt, PhD Candidate at UCF Marine Ecology & Conservation Lab General Guidelines Not all identifications will be in 100% confidence so try your best. Utilizing this guide, Google, and other field guides make your best educated species ID. A great online guide is from Texas A&M so please reference it: txmarspecies.tamug.edu • A lot of the images in this guide are from this resource. If you cannot ID something in the field. I highly recommend taking a photo of the organism and then research further when out of the field. Some species when they are in their larval or juvenile stages are extremely difficult to identify without microscopes so keep this in mind. You can always ID an organism to the lowest taxonomic level possible (e.g. I catch a 15 mm killifish but can’t identify it down any further. I can document that fish to the Genus level, Fundulus). Anchoa mitchilli (Bay Anchovy) Short * * snout Origin of anal fin anterior to midpoint of dorsal fin Anchoa (Anchovy) Species Anchoa hepsetus (Striped Anchovy) Comparison of snouts bay anchovy striped anchovy Short snout, anal fin is before the middle of the dorsal fin, thinner stripe than the striped anchovy Long shark nose snout, wide and bright stripe that is the size of the eye, anal fin is at or after the middle of the dorsal fin. Anchoa spp (Anchoa species) - unidentifiable or under 40 mm Silverside Species Menidia spp (Atlantic Silverside) “Stair step” gut Membras martinica (Rough Silverside) Straight gut Eucinostomus harengulus (Tidewater Mojarra) Tend to be “skinnier” from dorsal to ventral side, Pit on top of head does not have scales covering the front (This will look like darker coloration) Eucinostomusgula (Silver Jenny) Tend to be “fatter” from dorsal to ventral side, Pit on top of head has scales encompassing the front (will look like darker coloration) Diapterus auratus (Irish Pompano) Eucinostomus spp (Eucinostomus species) -unidentifiable or under 40 mm Gerres cinereus (Yellowfin Mojarra) Bright yellow fins, deeper/fatter body, light bars, not very common Way taller dorsal fin than E. harengulus or E. gula, way larger anal fin than E. harengulus or E. gula, juveniles will look pale white with black stripes and have distinguishable dorsal and anal fins compared to others. Eugerres plumieri (Striped Mojarra) Dark stripes along scales, dark underneath bottom jaw, body shape resembles D. auratus Sardine & Herring Species Harengula jaguana (Scaled Sardine) More visible scales H. jag. O. ogl. Opisthonema oglinum (Threadfin Herring) May have black dot behind gill plate, has thread that extends from dorsal fin distinguishing from sardine Brevoortia spp (Menhaden species) Spots near head distinguishes from H. Jaguana, no thread like O. oglinum Mugil curema (White Mullet) Partially pigmented eye, gold spot on gill cover Pigment in eye more dispersed on iris No gold spot on opercle Stripe on sides Mugil spp (Mullet species) - unidentifiable or under 40 mm Scales are more distinguishable and outlined giving look of dark stripes, fully pigmented eye, no gold spot on gill plate Seabream and Porgy Species Lagodon rhomboides (Pinfish) Will have faint black spot right behind gill cover, faint yellow stripes Archosargusprobatocephalus (Sheepshead) Ctenogobius boleosoma (Darter Goby) Dashed brown spots along body, little pigment below those dashes, may have “ saddle” like pigment on their back Ctenogobius smaragdus (Emerald Goby) More blotchy pigment than C. boleosoma, has similar spots along body, has distinguishable gold spots near lower jaw, males may have longer tails Gobionellus oceanicus (Highfin Goby) Have long tails, tall dorsal fins, distinguishable large spot behind gill cover, tend to look rainbow like in color Evorthodus lyricus (Lyre Goby) Males and females can look different, darker in coloration with random blotchy brown spots/pigment, males may have bright orange tail Gobiosoma bosc (Naked Goby) Microgobius gulosus (Clown Goby) Super dark in color with light/tan bars, bars are not blotchy, sometimes bars can be hard to see so pigment may be all dark brown, pelvic fin reaches less than halfway to anus Bathygobius soporator (Frillfin Goby) Dark/brown spots with no pigment below them, differ from C. boleosoma by having no saddles Very dark with even darker patchy spots/pigment, notched tongue Gobiosoma robostum (Code Goby) Broken bars, splotchy bars, pelvic fins are united into one and are long and extends to anus Light body color with thin black lines (not as dark/thick as F. majalis), breeding season may have spot on dorsal fin Fundulus grandis (Gulf Killifish) Fundulus confluentus (Marsh Killfish) Largest species, males and females look different, light in body color with thicker darker bars than F. Confluentus, tend to have more square tail fin Fundulus heteroclitus (Mummichog) > s- . A* * A ' •• ■ ”" ■ Copyright Robert Muller Females and males can differ, have darker body color and lighter bars compared to F. confluentus and F. grandis, breeding may have black spot on dorsal fin, fins tend to be yellow Fundulus majalis (Striped killifish) Short & pointed snout, dark vertical bars Additional Images on Fundulus Species Fundulus confluentus female Fund ulus majalis: 35 mm SL Fundulus seminoiis: 30 mm SL Fundulus seminolis (Seminole Killfish) More rare species, males and females differ, may look like they have pepper speckles or outlined scales, short pointed snout Fundulus similis (Longnose killifish) Long snout, stripes, sometimes have a dark blotch at the last bar on body, we typically catch F. majalis (shorter snout) Cyprinodon variegatus (Sheepshead Minnow) “Y” or heart shaped bars Poecilia latipinna (Sailfin Molly) Distinct lines of dots down body, males have long dorsal fin “sail” Lucania parva (Rainwater Killfish) Scales are outlined Floridicthys carpio (Goldspotted Killifish) Gambusia holbrooki (Eastern Mosquitofish) Looks similar to C. variegatus but no “Y” bars and tend to be more gold in color Drum & Croaker Species Micropognoias undulatus (Atlantic Croaker) Leiostomus xanthurus (Spot) Juveniles have blotchy pigment, and eyes may look blue (we call them crazy eyes), All life stages have long/flowy tail (not rounded or straight), barbells under chin Have a black spot behind gill Cover, visible lateral line, have “sad” droopy looking eyes, Tail is straight and truncate, no barbells Sciaenops ocellatus (Red Drum) Anal fin with 2 spines (second one longer than fin rays), straight tail, typically die in groups with mouth open, different from L. xanthurus by having no spot Have larger dots and less flowy tail in juvenile stage compared to M. undulatus, fake eyespot develops in ~1 year old fish Bairdiella chrysoura (Silver Perch) Centropomus undecimaiis (Common Snook) Image Credit: FWC on Facebook Distinct lateral line, pointed snout Cynoscion nebulosus (Spotted Seatrout) Heavily spotted on upper body and caudal fin/tail Cynoscion arenarius (Sand Seatrout) Pronounced teeth Tend to be very colorful, Lutjanusgriseus (Mangrove/Gray Snapper) brown/Mahogony/p urple with light stripes Lutjanus synagris (Lane Snapper) All age classes have distinct black spot below dorsal fin Sphyraena barracuda (Great Barracuda) Even small ones have teeth, greenish colored body with dark spots along middle of body Elops saurus (Ladyfish) Larval phase, “leptocephalus”, is clear, juveniles look “sharky” with highly forked and long tail, tall singular dorsal fin, distinct lateral line, and shiny body that looks similar to shine from an anchovy or silverside Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Atlantic Bumper) Caranx latus (Horse-eye Jack) 6$ mm TL 03.b mm SL Roundish body shape, may have dark spot before tail, has 2 anal spines, has distinct lateral line that curves before straightening out Has similar curved lateral line as C. chrysurus, juveniles have light colored stripes, more streamlined and thinner body than C. chrysurus Trachinotus falcatus (Permit) Oligoplites saurus (Leatherjack) Streamlined, thin body shape, has 2 anal spines We have only caught juveniles, juveniles are dark purple in color and the size of a thumb nail, older juveniles will have an orange anal fin and be more silver in color Citharichthys spilopterus (Bay Whiff) Symphurus plagiusa (BlackcheekTonguefish) Not as thin as S. plagiusa, has “furry” sides and has a small tail, Thin, looks like a tongue Achirus lineatus (Lined Sole) Round body, has pectoral fin, right facing compared to left facing of the above species Strongylura notata (Redfin Needlefish) Strongylura marina Strongylura timicu Strongylura timicu, pigment around head region, offset fins Hyporhamphus meeki (Halfbeak) Syngnathus louisianae (Chain Pipefish) Long snout, chain like pattern on body Syngnathus scovelli (Gulf Pipefish) Short snout Ariopsis felis (Hardhead catfish) Synodus foetens (Inshore Lizardfish) Chilomycterus schoepfi (Striped burrfish) Sphoeroides nephelus (Southerm puffer) Opsanus tau (Oyster toadfish) Callinectes sapidus (Blue Crab) Has 4 low blunt spines on shell in between eyes Callinectes similis (Lesser Blue Crab) m W Has 4 spines between eyes with an additional 2 small spines in between (6 total), has dark banding on swimming legs, inner claw blue, greenish body color frontal teeth Callinectes Species Orbital Spines Callinectes bocourti (Bocourt Swimming Crab) All four inner orbital spines are the same height, redish spots/coloration throughout Callinectes exasperatus (Ruggose Swimming Crab) Similar to C. similis and C. ornatus but inner orbital spines are further apart Callinectes ornatus (Ornate Blue Crab) Dark redish band on swimming legs, half-moon ridge on back of shell, two small spines between two larger spines on shell Eurypanopeus depressus (Flatback Mud Crab) No enlarged tooth on major claw, immovable finger on minor claw (looks like a spoon), claws speckled, both claws’ fingers brown and white at tip, red spot under outer mouth part Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Harris Mud Crab) No enlarged tooth in major claw, no red dots near mouth, Color stops on fingers, paler shell than E. depressus Dyspanopeus sayi Color on finger moves past palm onto claw, no enlarged tooth in claw Petrolisthes armatus (Porcelain Crab) 3 spines on arm, green color Menippe mercenaria (Stone Crab) Juveniles are purple color, may have white spots on back, 2 big claws with white only on tips Libinia dubia (Spider Crab) Teeth through rostrum Palaemon spp (Grass Shrimp species) Palaemontes spp (Grass Shrimp species) Rostrum is not serrated to the tip Alpheus heterochaelis (Snapping Shrimp) Enlarged claw, lobster-like tail, eyes not on stalks Tozeuma carolinense (Arrow Shrimp) Long, pointed rostrum, serration on rostrum only on bottom Additional Notes Most Common Species per Each Season • Summer/Fall: Mojarra species, Anchovy species, Silverside species, all Sportfish species • Winter/Spring: Killifish species, Minnow species, Atlantic Croaker juveniles, Spot juveniles Other Observations • Winter (January - March) - blue crabs have more blotchy coloration, looks like an exclamation point or line down the center of their carapace (not sure if this is due to growth, molting, or seasonal differences). • Winter (January - March) - only time that we have seen gill parasites on shrimp. I believe it is in the Genus Probopyrus and may be seasonal. • March - Leeches on shrimp (only time we have seen them, may be seasonal).