Common Florida Reef FishCommon Florida Reef Fish

Craig Kasper, Ph. D.Craig Kasper, Ph. D.

Hillsborough Community College Hillsborough Community College

Tampa, FLTampa, FL

BANDED BUTTERFLYFISHBANDED BUTTERFLYFISH

Chaetodon striatusChaetodon striatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Two Two wide, black midbody bands.wide, black midbody bands.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Silver to white, Silver to white, black bar on head runs across black bar on head runs across eye; blackish border on rear of eye; blackish border on rear of body, base of rear dorsal and anal body, base of rear dorsal and anal fins.fins.

FOUREYE BUTTERFLYFISHFOUREYE BUTTERFLYFISH

Chaetodon capistratusChaetodon capistratus DISTINCTIVE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: FEATURES: Black spot, Black spot, ringed in white,ringed in white,on rear on rear body nearbody nearupper baseupper baseof tail.of tail.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Silver-gray. Silver-gray. Marked with numerous dark, thin lines that radiate at a diagonal fromMarked with numerous dark, thin lines that radiate at a diagonal frommidbody; black bar on hear runs across eye; yellowish submarginal midbody; black bar on hear runs across eye; yellowish submarginal

bandbandon rear dorsal, tail and anal fins. on rear dorsal, tail and anal fins.

SPOTFIN BUTTERFLYFISHSPOTFIN BUTTERFLYFISHChaetodon ocellatusChaetodon ocellatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Fins Fins (except pectoral) bright (except pectoral) bright yellow. Also, notice a black yellow. Also, notice a black dot on outer edge of rear dot on outer edge of rear dorsal fin.dorsal fin.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Silver-white. Silver-white. Black bar on head runs across Black bar on head runs across eye; may have darkish spot on eye; may have darkish spot on rear dorsal fin below distinctive rear dorsal fin below distinctive

black dot noted above.black dot noted above.

QUEEN ANGELFISHQUEEN ANGELFISHHolacanthus ciliarisHolacanthus ciliaris

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark 1. Dark blue spot on forehead, speckled blue spot on forehead, speckled and ringed with brilliant blue, and ringed with brilliant blue, forms the "crown." 2. Tail yellow.forms the "crown." 2. Tail yellow.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Blue to greenish blue, Blue to greenish blue, with yellow rims on scales; yellow with yellow rims on scales; yellow ventral and pectoral fins; deep blue ventral and pectoral fins; deep blue lips and markings on gill cover;lips and markings on gill cover;

yellowish face. yellowish face.

FRENCFRENCH ANGH ANGELFISHELFISHPomacanthus paruPomacanthus paru

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:

Black with brightBlack with bright

yellow rims on scales. yellow rims on scales. Rounded Rounded

tail.tail.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Bright yellowBright yellow

ring around eye. All fins blackring around eye. All fins black

except base of pectoral whichexcept base of pectoral which

is yellow. is yellow.

French Angelfish (Juvenile)

GRAY ANGELFISHGRAY ANGELFISHPomacanthus arcuatusPomacanthus arcuatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Gray body.Gray body. Yellow inner Yellow inner face of pectoral fin. Also, face of pectoral fin. Also, square-cut tail.square-cut tail.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Uniformly gray Uniformly gray to grayish brown with light-to grayish brown with light-edged scales. edged scales.

ROCK BEAUTYROCK BEAUTYHolacanthus tricolorHolacanthus tricolor

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow to yellow-orange Yellow to yellow-orange forebody and tail. Mid forebody and tail. Mid and rear body black.and rear body black.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Face and lips Face and lips occasionally navy occasionally navy blue. Individuals blue. Individuals along North and along North and South American South American coasts less coasts less brilliantly colored.brilliantly colored.

BLUE TANGBLUE TANGAcanthurus coeruleusAcanthurus coeruleus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Blue Blue overall. overall. White or yellow White or yellow spine on base of tail.spine on base of tail.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Can change from Can change from powder blue to deep purple, powder blue to deep purple,

and pale or darken. Dorsal and anal and pale or darken. Dorsal and anal fins edged in bright blue. More fins edged in bright blue. More circular than other surgeonfishes.circular than other surgeonfishes.

DOCTORFISHDOCTORFISHAcanthurus chirurgusAcanthurus chirurgus

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Can change from Can change from bluish gray to dark brown, and bluish gray to dark brown, and pale or darken dramatically. pale or darken dramatically. Several markings radiate from Several markings radiate from eye. Blue or white edging on eye. Blue or white edging on dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have pale band on base of tail. Very pale band on base of tail. Very similar to the Ocean similar to the Ocean Surgeonfish...doctors and Surgeonfish...doctors and surgeons....go figure!surgeons....go figure!

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Always have body bars Always have body bars (10-12), although they (10-12), although they may be quite faint.may be quite faint.

OCEAN SURGEONFISHOCEAN SURGEONFISHAcanthurus bahianusAcanthurus bahianus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Uniform Uniform color with no body bars.color with no body bars.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Can change from Can change from bluish gray to dark brown, and bluish gray to dark brown, and pale or darken dramatically. pale or darken dramatically. Markings radiate from eye. Blue or Markings radiate from eye. Blue or white edging on dorsal, anal and white edging on dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have pale band on tail fins. May have pale band on base of tail. base of tail.

BAR JACKBAR JACKCaranx ruberCaranx ruber

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright blue-and-black border Bright blue-and-black border on back runs along dorsal on back runs along dorsal fin and onto lower tail fin.fin and onto lower tail fin.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Silvery. Can Silvery. Can darken almost to black, especially darken almost to black, especially when feeding near bottom.when feeding near bottom.

GREAT BARRACUDAGREAT BARRACUDASphyraena barracudaSphyraena barracuda

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Silver. Silver. Long, cylindrical body. Long, cylindrical body. Large Large underslung jaw, pointed teeth underslung jaw, pointed teeth often obvious.often obvious.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Usually has Usually has scattered, dark blotches. Can scattered, dark blotches. Can darken showing side bands. darken showing side bands. Dorsal fins widely separated.Dorsal fins widely separated.

CHUB (BERMUDA/YELLOW)CHUB (BERMUDA/YELLOW)Kyphosus sectatrix/incisorKyphosus sectatrix/incisor

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Gray Gray to silver. "Football-shaped" to silver. "Football-shaped" body. (Note: Reliably body. (Note: Reliably distinguishing between these distinguishing between these two species visually while two species visually while underwater is considered underwater is considered impossible.)impossible.)

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Initially appear Initially appear uniformly gray to silver; uniformly gray to silver; occasionally display whitish occasionally display whitish blotches. A close look reveals blotches. A close look reveals thin yellow to bronze stripes thin yellow to bronze stripes on body and a stripe, on body and a stripe, bordered in white, under eye bordered in white, under eye from mouth to gill cover.from mouth to gill cover.

FRENCH GRUNTFRENCH GRUNTHaemulon flavolineatumHaemulon flavolineatum

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow stripes below Yellow stripes below lateral line set on lateral line set on diagonal.diagonal.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Yellow stripes Yellow stripes on a white to bluish or yellowish on a white to bluish or yellowish silver background. Stripes silver background. Stripes above lateral line are horizontal. above lateral line are horizontal. Fins yellow. Fins yellow.

BLUESTRIPED GRUNTBLUESTRIPED GRUNTHaemulon sciurusHaemulon sciurus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Dark Dark tail and rear dorsal fin. Blue tail and rear dorsal fin. Blue stripes.stripes.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Blue stripes over Blue stripes over yellow-gold. Dark tail and dorsal yellow-gold. Dark tail and dorsal fins have light margins; other fins have light margins; other fins yellow.fins yellow.

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPERYELLOWTAIL SNAPPEROcyurus chrysurusOcyurus chrysurus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant yellow midbody Brilliant yellow midbody stripe and tail.stripe and tail.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Silvery to white, Silvery to white, often tinged with blue. May often tinged with blue. May have yellow spots on upper have yellow spots on upper body. Tail deeply forked.body. Tail deeply forked.

                                                    

        

BICOLOR DAMSELFISHBICOLOR DAMSELFISHStegastes partitusStegastes partitus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black Black and white. and white. Forebody is usually Forebody is usually black.black.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Location of boundary Location of boundary between dark and between dark and pale area varies pale area varies greatly; dark area greatly; dark area may cover only upper may cover only upper head or extend past head or extend past midbody to base of midbody to base of tail; pale area often tail; pale area often yellowish near yellowish near boundary, especially boundary, especially toward belly. Pale toward belly. Pale fins may have bluish fins may have bluish cast. On rare cast. On rare occasion, there is a occasion, there is a reverse color phase. reverse color phase.

YELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISHYELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISHMicrospathodon chrysurusMicrospathodon chrysurus

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Vary from brown Vary from brown to bluish black. Bright blue to bluish black. Bright blue speckles on head, back and speckles on head, back and dorsal fin. dorsal fin.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Dark body. Dark body. Yellow tail. Yellow tail.

SERGEANT MAJORSERGEANT MAJORAbudefduf saxatilisAbudefduf saxatilis

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Upper body usually Upper body usually yellow, occasionally with shades of yellow, occasionally with shades of green to blue, and white to bluish green to blue, and white to bluish silver or light gray below. Male silver or light gray below. Male becomes dark blue to purple during becomes dark blue to purple during mating season when guarding mating season when guarding reddish purple egg patches. reddish purple egg patches.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Five Five black body bars. Also, upper lip black body bars. Also, upper lip does not overhang lower.does not overhang lower.

BLUE CHROMISBLUE CHROMISChromis cyaneaChromis cyanea

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant blue. Brilliant blue. Slender, Slender, deeply forked tail with dark deeply forked tail with dark borders.borders.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Often dark on Often dark on nape and along back.nape and along back.

BROWN CHROMISBROWN CHROMISChromis multilineataChromis multilineata

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Vary from Vary from brownish gray to olive-brownish gray to olive-brown. Usually a white or brown. Usually a white or pale yellow spot located pale yellow spot located just below last dorsal fin just below last dorsal fin ray; may have black ray; may have black borders on tail, primarily in borders on tail, primarily in southern Caribbean. southern Caribbean. Slender, deeply forked tail. Slender, deeply forked tail.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brown. Brown. Border of dorsal fin Border of dorsal fin and tips of tail fin yellow. and tips of tail fin yellow. Also, dark spot around base Also, dark spot around base of pectoral fin.of pectoral fin.

HARLEQUIN BASSHARLEQUIN BASSSerranus tigrinusSerranus tigrinus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Dark, tiger-like bars.Dark, tiger-like bars.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Upper body has whitish Upper body has whitish undercolor; lower body pale yellow. Series of undercolor; lower body pale yellow. Series of dark dots form diffuse horizontal lines on body. dark dots form diffuse horizontal lines on body. Head more pointed than that of other family Head more pointed than that of other family members.members.

FAIRY BASSLETFAIRY BASSLETGramma loretoGramma loreto

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bicolored – purple to violet front Bicolored – purple to violet front and yellow to gold rear. Dark spot and yellow to gold rear. Dark spot on dorsal fin.on dorsal fin.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Several streaks on Several streaks on head run across eye.head run across eye.

STOPLIGHT PARROTFISHSTOPLIGHT PARROTFISHSparisoma virideSparisoma viride

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Emerald green. Emerald green. Salmon to yellow markings on Salmon to yellow markings on head and fins. Tail is crescent-head and fins. Tail is crescent-shaped.shaped.

FemaleFemale

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright yellow spot at upper Bright yellow spot at upper corner of gill cover. Yellow corner of gill cover. Yellow area at base of tail. Salmon area at base of tail. Salmon to yellow crescent on tail.to yellow crescent on tail.

REDBAND PARROTFISHREDBAND PARROTFISHSparisoma aurofrenatumSparisoma aurofrenatum

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Small yellow blotch with Small yellow blotch with two or more small black two or more small black spots on upper forebody. spots on upper forebody. Also, usually salmon to Also, usually salmon to orange or yellow band orange or yellow band from corner of mouth to from corner of mouth to below eye.below eye.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Greenish Greenish overall, underside lighter; overall, underside lighter; anal fin usually reddish. anal fin usually reddish. Outer tips of tail black. Outer tips of tail black. Tail square-cut.Tail square-cut.

YELLOWHEAD WRASSEYELLOWHEAD WRASSEHalichoeres garnotiHalichoeres garnoti

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow Yellow head and forebody. Dark midbody head and forebody. Dark midbody bar.bar.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Head and forebody Head and forebody vary from bright yellow to yellowish vary from bright yellow to yellowish or greenish tan; dark blue to green or greenish tan; dark blue to green rear body and tail. Dark midbody rear body and tail. Dark midbody bar continues as a wide border bar continues as a wide border along back to tail.along back to tail.

BLUEHEADBLUEHEAD WRASSEWRASSEThalassoma bifasciatumThalassoma bifasciatum

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Blue Blue head, plus two dark bars behind head, plus two dark bars behind head, separated by white bar.head, separated by white bar.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Rear body is green Rear body is green to blue-green. to blue-green.

TRUMPETFISHTRUMPETFISHAulostomus maculatusAulostomus maculatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Long, thin body. Trumpet-Long, thin body. Trumpet-like mouth.like mouth.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Adept at color change. Most common Adept at color change. Most common phase is brown to reddish brown; can be blue-gray, phase is brown to reddish brown; can be blue-gray, bright yellow or many shades between. Have pale bright yellow or many shades between. Have pale lines, scattered small black spots, and a black streak lines, scattered small black spots, and a black streak on upper jaw.on upper jaw.

Pseudupeneus maculatusPseudupeneus maculatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: A row of A row of three dark, rectangular body three dark, rectangular body blotches is normally visible when blotches is normally visible when fish are active (when resting, fish are active (when resting, change to blotched or mottled change to blotched or mottled reddish brown). Two barbels under reddish brown). Two barbels under tip of chin.tip of chin.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: Rapidly and Rapidly and dramatically change color from dramatically change color from white to blotched and mottled red to white to blotched and mottled red to reddish brown when becoming reddish brown when becoming inactive. Light bluish lines often on inactive. Light bluish lines often on head and, occasionally, upper head and, occasionally, upper body. body.

YELLOW GOATFISHYELLOW GOATFISHMulloidichthys martinicusMulloidichthys martinicus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow tail and midbody stripe. Yellow tail and midbody stripe. Two barbels under tip of chin.Two barbels under tip of chin.

DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION: White; upper body White; upper body may have shadings ranging from may have shadings ranging from blue to olive or red. Fins, other than blue to olive or red. Fins, other than tail, may be white or yellowish.tail, may be white or yellowish.