Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

1

Family Coryphaenidae Dolphinfish Common species:

• Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus)

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

2

Coryphaenidae Characteristics

Long continuous dorsal fin and deeply forked caudal fin

Prey on small schooling fishes (flyingfish)

Associate with Sargassum and drift lines

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

3

Dolphinfish Growth

010

2030

40

5060

1 YearOld

2 YearOld

3 YearOld

4 YearOld

Size(inches)

Phenomenal 1st year growth

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

4

Coryphaenidae

Male

Nice forehead

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

5

Family Carangidae Jacks Common species:

• Atlantic Bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus)

• Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus)

• Lookdown (Selene vomer) Atlantic Bumper

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

6

Carangidae Characteristics Family characterized by various body types

• Torpedo - Plate-like• Nearly, all are fast swimming predators

Deeply forked tails and narrow caudal peduncle• First two anal spines are usually detached

Most species form schools and feed on other schooling fish by making slashing attacks

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

8

Carangid Juveniles Juveniles associate with Sargassum and flotsam

Lookdown

Lookdown Development

Supraoccipital crest

Preopercle spines

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

10

Florida Pompano

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

11

Greater Amberjack

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

12

Family Lutjanidae Snappers Common species:

• Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens)

• Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

13

Lutjanidae Characteristics Large triangular

head, and mouth• Usually protractile in

nature and equipped with two large canine teeth

Impt. food fish in the tropics and subtropics

Two ecological groups:• Mid-water foragers

• Benthic rovers

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

14

Red Snapper Considered by

many to be the prize reef fish• High value per

pound at market

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

15

Vermilion Snapper Most frequently

caught snapper and also the smallest in size• Maximum = 25

inches and 6 pounds

B-Liner

Coryphaenidae, Carangidae, & Lutjanidae

16

Cubera Snapper