Fish Gallery - Caribbean

SIZE: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 in. max. 3 in.

Fairy Basslet

Gramma loreto

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bicolored – purple to violet front and yellow to gold rear. 2. Dark spot on dorsal fin.

DESCRIPTION:

Several streaks on head run across eye.

SIZE: females to 6 feet (1.8 m) wide; males to 2.5 feet (.75 m) wide.

Southern Stingray

Dasyatis americana

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. It has a flat, diamond-shaped body.

DESCRIPTION:

Southern stingrays have large, flat, diamond-shaped disks without distinct heads. Their dark-brown upper bodies and white or whitish underbellies are ideal camouflage for animals that spend their days well buried in sand. From above, only their eyes and huge spiracles (often mistaken for eyes) are visible. . A group or collection of stingrays is commonly referred to as a "fever" of stingrays.

SIZE: 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 in. max. 3 in.

Harlequin Bass

Serranus tigrinus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark, tiger-like bars.

DESCRIPTION:

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

terminal phase

initial phase

SIZE: 1 - 1 1/2 ft. max. 2 ft.

Stoplight Parrotfish

Sparisoma viride

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bright yellow spot at upper corner of gill cover. 2. Yellow area at base of tail. 3. Salmon to yellow crescent on tail.

DESCRIPTION:

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

terminal phase

SIZE: 6-10 in. max. 11 in.

Redband Parrotfish

Sparisoma aurofrenatum

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Small yellow blotch with two or more small black spots on upper forebody. 2. Usually salmon to orange or yellow band from corner of mouth to below eye.

DESCRIPTION:

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

terminal phase

SIZE: 5-6 in. max 8 in.

Yellowhead Wrasse

Halichoeres garnoti

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow head and forebody. 2. Dark midbody bar.

DESCRIPTION:

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

terminal phase

initial phase

SIZE: 4-5 in. max 6 in.

Bluehead

Thalassoma bifasciatum

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Blue head. 2. Two dark bars behind head, separated by white bar.

DESCRIPTION:

Rear body is green to blue-green.

SIZE: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 ft. max. 3 ft.

Trumpetfish

Aulostomus maculatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Long, thin body. 1. Trumpet-like mouth.

DESCRIPTION:

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

SIZE: 5-8 in. max 11 in.

Spotted Goatfish

Pseudupeneus maculatus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. A row of three dark, rectangular body blotches is normally visible when fish are active (when resting, change to blotched or mottled reddish brown). 2. Two barbels under tip of chin.

DESCRIPTION:

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

SIZE: 6-12 in. max. 15 1/2 in.

Yellow Goatfish

Mulloidichthys martinicus

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow tail and midbody stripe. 2. Two barbels under tip of chin.

DESCRIPTION:

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

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