Transcript Family Sphyraenidae

Family Sphyraenidae
• Barracudas
• Common species:
o Great Barracuda
(Sphyraena barracuda)
o Northern Sennet
(Sphyraena borealis)
o Guaguanche
(Sphyraena
guachancho)
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Sphyraenidae
Characteristics
• Elongated pike-like
bodies, superior
jaws
• Traits:
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Sphyraenids
Guaguanche
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Great Barracuda
• Apex predators
• Can reach 6ft. and
have been known to
attack divers
o Attacks may be due to
reflective metal on
divers
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Family Blenniidae
• Blennies
• Common species:
o Striped Blenny
(Chasmodes
bosquianus)
o Crested Blenny
(Hypleurochilus
geminatus)
o Feather Blenny
(Hypsoblennius hentzi)
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
5
Blenniidae Characteristics
• Important on rocky
inshore habitats in
the tropics and
subtropics (benthic)
o Also, found in
fouling habitats
Seaweed Blenny
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Combtooth Blennies
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Blennies
• “Combtooth” stems from the numerous closely
packed teeth in the jaw
• Blunt heads are topped with cirri
o Cirri are chemosensory in nature and used in sex
recognition
Cirri
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Family Gobiidae
• Gobies
• Common species:
o Darter Goby (Gobionellus boleosoma)
o Clown Goby (Microgobius gulosus)
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Gobiidae Characteristics
• Approximately 1,875
• Recognizable by several
spp., is only slightly
characteristics:
smaller than Cyprinidae
• Found worldwide in
both fresh and
saltwater
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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Gobies have a remarkable ability to adapt
to environments inaccessible to most
fishes
Invertebrate Burrows
Sponges, Sea Urchins, Hard
and soft corals
Mangrove Swamps
Freshwater on oceanic
islands
Mud Flats
Some species have the ability to breathe
air and make short walks to other habitats
Mudskippers (Periopthalamus)
Mutualistic Cleaner
Specialists
Gobiosoma
oceanops
Sphyraenidae, Blenniidae, &
Gobiidae
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