Family Sciaenidae
• Drums
• Common species:
o Red Drum (Sciaenops
ocellatus)
o Spot (Leiostomus
xanthurus)
o Weakfish (Cynoscion
regalis)
o Jackknife fish
(Equetus lanceolatus)
1
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Sciaenidae Characteristics
• Sciaenids are another family of noisy, bottom
oriented fishes
o Common in turbid estuaries, sounds, and bays
o Deeply notched dorsal fin
Black
Drum
2
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Commercial Importance
• Commercially important species include:
3
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Red Drum
(Sciaenops ocellatus)
• NC State fish, commonly sold as redfish, puppy drum,
channel bass, or spottail drum
o Ocellus – eye-like spot used as a false eye to avoid
head attacks by predators
4
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Atlantic Croaker
(Micropogonias undulatus)
• One of the most commonly caught nearshore marine
fishes
• Possess a convex caudal fin
5
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
• Found in coastal
waters and usually
possess 2 large
canine teeth in the
upper jaw
o Spawning occurs
nearshore in
estuarine waters
6
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Otoliths
• Otoliths are the inner
ear bones of fishes
which are used for
hearing, equilibrium
and balance
7
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Otoliths in Age
Determination
• As the fish grows
dark and light bands
are usually deposited
(increments)
8
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Investigation of Life Histories
9
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Family Ephippidae (Spadefish)
• Spinous and soft dorsal
are separate
• Adults associate in large
aggregations in areas
with vertical relief
• Characterized by a blunt
face and small mouth
o Highly compressed body
10
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Atlantic Spadefish
(Chaetodipterus faber)
11
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Family Chaetodontidae &
Pomacanthidae
• Both families are
• Both families have
extremely common on
remarkable feeding
coral reefs
habits
o Small protractile
• Acutely compressed
mouths with tiny teeth
bodies, large dorsal
o Feed at various depths
and anal fins
on zooplankton, coral
• Colorful, with striking
polyps, sponges, and
patterns of stripes and
polychaetes
spots
12
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Family Chaetodontidae
• Butterflyfish
• Common species:
o Spotfin Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon ocellatus)
o Foureye Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon capistratus)
13
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Chaetodontidae Characteristics
• Spine on preopercle
absent
• Long term pair bonds
(4-5 yrs.)
• Abundance and
diversity of the family
may be an indicator of
the general health of a
coral reef
Juvenile
Adult
14
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Family Pomacanthidae
• Angelfish
• Common species:
o Blue Angelfish
(Holacanthus
bermudensis)
o French Angelfish
(Pomacanthus paru)
o Queen Angelfish
(Holocanthus ciliaris)
16
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Pomacanthidae Characteristics
• Distinguished from Chaetodontids by the
presence of a posteriorly projecting spine
on the preopercle
o Lacks a snout and reaches a much larger size
• Undergo major ontogenetic changes from
the juvenile to the adult stage
17
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Pomacanthidae
Queen Angelfish
Blue Angelfish
18
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Chaetodontidae &
Pomacanthidae
19
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Family Pomacentridae
• Damselfish
• Common species:
o Sergeant Major
(Abudefduf saxatilis)
o Dusky Damsel
(Pomacentrus fuscus)
Usually territorial defending a small patch of
reef where they feed and hide and reproduce
20
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Damselfish Territoriality
21
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae
Pomacentridae Characteristics
• Clownfish and other species of Pomacentrids
associate closely with sea anemones
22
Sciaenidae thru Pomacentridae