PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
 or 302/529-1876

 

MARINE 
FISH
of Eastern 
North America 

of & by the Atlantic Ocean

 (other than Whales & Dolphins
 and the Manatee)
including inshore & offshore waters
of coastal North Carolina 


A list compiled by Armas Hill


With those seen during FONT tours 
& pelagic trips with an (*)
Photo at upper right: AMERICAN SHAD, 
a fish in eastern North America in both salt and fresh water  


Links:

A Listing of scheduled Focus On Nature Tours

Upcoming Focus On Nature Tours in North America

FONT Past Tour Highlights

Links, in the following list, to:

Sharks    Sawfishes    Guitarfish    Sturgeons    Gars    Tarpon     Skates & Rays     

Eels    Anchovies     Herrings     Cods     Flying Fish     Seahorses

Dolphin Fish     Remoras     Jacks     Drums     Tunas & Mackerels     Billfishes

Flounders    Sunfish & Molas 


Other Links:

Other Marine Life of Eastern North America  (except Marine Mammals) (with some photos)

Mammals of Eastern North America  (with some photos)

A List & Photo Gallery of North American Birds, in 6 Parts

Other Nature of Eastern North America  (with some photos):  

Butterflies    Moths    Dragonflies & Damselflies    Amphibians & Reptiles 


  

Codes:

All of the following either along the coast or offshore

DE   in Delaware 
FL   in Florida
NC   in North Carolina
NJ   in New Jersey 
NF   in Newfoundland, Canada 

(p)   pelagically 


(ASC:xx)  refers to plate number of photo in the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Seashore Creatures"

(FGCF:xx)  refers to the page with an illustration in the book "A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes, from Maine to Texas", by Val Kells & Kent Carpenter, 2011.    

These classifications by the ICUN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
of Threatened & Near-threatened species; 
(t1):  critically endangered
(t2):  endangered
(t3);  vulnerable  
(nt):  near-threatened 



        THRESHER SHARKS  (Family Alopiidae)  
  

  1. Thresher Shark  (t3)  ______  NJ (p)  (FGCF:65)
    Alopias vulpinus 

     The Thresher Shark grows to 20 feet in length.

  2. Bigeye Thresher  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:65)
     Alopias superciliosus

     The Bigeye Thresher grows to 15 feet in length.


    BASKING SHARK  (Family Cetorhinus)

  3. Basking Shark  (t3) (*)  ______ NJ (p)  (FGCF:67)
    Cetorhinus maximus

    The Basking Shark is the world's second largest fish, can be over 30 feet long and weigh more than 4 tons; it can jump completely out of the water.


    MACKEREL SHARKS  (Family Lamnidae)

  4. Great White Shark  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:67)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
     Carcharodon carcharias
  5. Shortfin Mako  ______  (FGCF:67)
     Isurus oxyrinchus
  6. Longfin Mako  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:67)
     Isurus paucus
  7. Porbeagle  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:67)
     Lamma nasus

    REQUIEM SHARKS  (Family Carcharhinidae) 

  8. Bull Shark  ______  (FGCF:71)  
    Carcharhinus leucas
  9. Blacknose Shark  ______  (FGCF:69)
     Carcharhinus acronotus

  10. Bignose Shark  ______  (FGCF:71)  (species described in 1950) 
     Carcharhinus altimus

  11. Spinner Shark  ______  (FGCF:71)
     Carcharhinus brevipinna

  12. Silky Shark  ______  (FGCF:71)
     Carcharhinus falcifornis

  13. Finetooth Shark  ______  (FGCF:71)
     Carcharhinus isodon

  14. Blacktip Shark  ______  (FGCF:73)
     Carcharhinnus limbatus

  15. Oceanic Whitetip Shark  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:73)
     Carcharhinnus longimannus 
  16. Dusky Shark  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:73)
     Carcharhinnus obscurus

  17. Sandbar Shark  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:73)
     Carcharhinus plumbeus

  18. Tiger Shark  ______  (FGCF:75)
     Galeocerdo cuvier

  19. Lemon Shark  ______  (FGCF:75)
    Negaprion brevirostris

  20. Blue Shark  (nt) (*)  ______ NJ (p)  (FGCF:75)
     Prionace glauca
  21. Atlantic Sharpnose Shark  ______  NC  (FGCF:75)
     Rhizoprionodon terraenovae


     HAMMERHEAD SHARKS  (Family Sphyrindae)
  22. Scalloped Hammerhead  (t2)  ______  (FGCF:77)
    Sphyrna lewini

  23. Great Hammerhead  (t2)  ______  (FGCF:77)
     Sphyrna mokarran

         The Great Hammerhead grows to 19.7 feet in length.  
  24. Bonnethead  ______  (FGCF:77)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)  
         Sphyrna tiburo
  25. Smooth Hammerhead  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:77)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Sphyrna zygaena


     HOUND SHARKS  (Family Triakidae)
  26. Smooth Dogfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:69)
     Mustelus canis

    DOGFISH SHARKS  (Family Squalidae)

  27. Spiny Dogfish  (t3)  ______  NC  (FGCF:79)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Squalus acanthias 

  28. Cuban Dogfish  ______  (FGCF:79)
     Squalus cubensis
  29. Roughskin Dogfish  ______  (FGCF:79)  (species described in 1973)
         Cirrhigaleus asper


     LANTERN SHARKS  (Family Etmopteridae)
  30. Black Dogfish Shark  ______  (FGCF:81)
     Centroscyllium fabricii
  31. Broadband Lantern Shark  ______  (FGCF:81)  (species described in 1968)
         Etmopterus gracilispinis


     SLEEPER SHARKS  (Family Somniosidae)
  32. Portuguese Shark  (nt)  ______   (FGCF:81)
     Centroscymnus coelolepis

         The Portuguese Shark grows to 4 feet in length.
  33. Greenland Shark  (nt)  ______  (FGCF:81)
     Somniosus microcephalus

         The Greenland Shark grows to 21 feet in length. 

    KITEFIN SHARKS  (Family Dalatiidae)
  34. Kitefin Shark  ______  (FGCF:81)
     Dalatias licha


     ANGEL SHARKS  (Family Squatinidae)
  35. Atlantic Angel Shark  ______  (FGCF:83)
     Squatina dumeril


     SAWFISHES  (Family Pristidae)
  36. Smalltooth Sawfish  (t1)  ______  (FGCF:83)
     Pristis pectinata
  37. Largetooth Sawfish  (t1)  ______  (FGCF:83)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Pristis pristis


     GUITARFISHES  (Family Rhinobatidae)
  38. Atlantic Guitarfish  ______  (FGCF:85)
     Rhinobatos lentiginosus     


    SKATES  (Family Rajidae)

  39. Clearnose Skate  ______  NC  (FGCF:89)
    Raja eglanteria


    WHIPTAIL STINGRAYS  (Family Dasyatidae)

  40. Atlantic Stingray  ______  NC  (FGCF:91)
    Dasyatis sabina

  41. Southern Stingray  ______  (FGCF:91)
     Dasyatis americana
  42. Roughtail Stingray  ______  (FGCF:91)
     Dasyatis centroura
  43. Bluntnose Stingray  ______  (FGCF:91)
     Dasyatis say
  44. Pelagic Stingray  ______  (FGCF:91)
     Pteroplatytrygon violacea


     BUTTERFLY RAYS  (Family Gymnuridae)

     BUTTERFLY RAYS form a small family of 2 genera and at least 13 species. They are mainly tropical, and occasionally warm-temperate marine fishes, found throughout the world, mostly in relatively shallow waters.
  45. Spiny Butterfly Ray  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:93)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758) 
         Gymnura altavela

         Spiny Butterfly Rays have a width up to 6.8 feet. 
  46. Smooth Butterfly  ______ (FGCF:93)
     Gymnura micrura
               

    EAGLE RAYS  (Family Myliobatidae)

    EAGLE RAYS     are marine fishes that are found in near-shore tropical to temperate waters worldwide. There are 5 genera and 27 species.
  47. Cownose Ray  ______  NC  (FGCF:95)
    Rhinoptera bonasus 

  48. Spotted Eagle Ray  (ph)  ______  (FGCF:93)
     Aetobatus narinari

  49. Bullnose Ray  ______  (FGCF:93)
     Myliobatis greminvillei

  50. Southern Eagle Ray  ______  (FGCF:93)
     Myliobatis goodei

  51. Giant Manta  (nt) (*)  ______  NC(p)  NJ (p)  (FGCF:95)
    Manta birostris  (was in the Family Mobulidae)

  52. Devil Ray  ______  (FGCF:95)
     Mobula hypostoma


     STURGEONS  (Family Acipenseridae in the Order Acipenseriformes)
    The STURGEONS are an old group of anadromous and freshwater fishes. The family is comprised of 4 genera and 25 species found throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere.

    STURGEONS are oviparous. 

    Some species species make a kind of squeaking sound.  

    In this "old group", among the oldest known are actual fossils from a Late Cretaceous Period in Alberta, Canada, going back about 80 to 85 million years, which are little more than fragments of ornamented bone. 
    But it is thought that  STURGEONS may go back to the Early Cretaceous, perhaps 130 million years ago. Their sister group, the PADDLEFISHES, are known from that period.
    A wonderfully preserved fossil STURGEON (Priscosturion longipinnis) from the Late Cretaceous has been found in the gut of a fossil HADROSAUR.        
  53. Shortnose Sturgeon  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:95)
     Acipenser brevirostrum
  54. Atlantic Sturgeon  (nt)  ______  (FGCF:95)
     Acipenser oxyrinchus

         As of early February in 2012, some populations of the Atlantic Sturgeon were designated by the US government as endangered. Four populations, including the New York bight group in the Delaware River, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Carolina coast, were categorized as endangered. Another group in the Gulf of Maine was listed as threatened.

    In the Delaware River & Bay before 1890, there were an estimated 180,000 adult female Atlantic Sturgeons spawning. Now, the total spawning adults in that area is believed to number less than 300.

    During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number of large bony-backed sturgeons in the Delaware was large enough to support a lucrative fish and caviar industry. 

    Sturgeons are ranked as the most primitive of bony fishes, with ties to species that swan in oceans and rivers during the time of the dinosaurs. (See general note above.)

    The "endangered" classification was justified due to threats by fishing, poor water quality, and either the possibility of dams that could disrupt spawning or dredging in spawning areas (such as the Delaware Bay), along with "vessel hits" in the Delaware River & Bay, where there were vessel strikes that killed 29 sturgeon between 2004 & 2008.

    Atlantic Sturgeon grow to a length of 14 feet and can weigh several hundred pounds.



    Atlantic Sturgeon

    GARS  (Family Lepisosteidae)
  55. Longnose Gar  ______  (FGCF:97)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Lepisosteus osseus

         The Longnose Gar grows to a length of 6.5 feet.

    TENPOUNDERS  (Family Elopidae)
  56. Ladyfish  ______  (FGCF:97)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Elops saurus


         TARPONS  (Family Megalopidae)
  57. Tarpon  ______  (FGCF:97)
     Megalops atlanticus

         The Tarpon grows to a length of 7.2 feet.

    BONEFISHES  (Family Albulidae)

    BONEFISHES     are tropical fishes, although a few species wander into temperate waters. They are found in marine, estuarine, and occasionally freshwater throughout the world. 

    It has been long thought that in the family there were only a few species in 2 genera, but now, based on molecular studies, taxonomists are unsettled  and all is confusion, as what was once thought to be the worldwide Albula vulpes is now understood to be a number of similar-appearing species.

    BONEFISHES are oviparous, and have large leptocephali larvae.   
  58. Bonefish  ______  (FGCF:97)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Albula vulpes
     

    FRESHWATER EELS  (Family Anguillidae) 
  59. American Eel  ______  NC  (FGCF:99)
    Anguilla rostrata  

    The American Eel is a nocturnal forager. The species is catadromous. It grows to a length of 5 feet.
    An excellent book about eels is "Eels, an Exploration from New Zealand to the Sargasso, of the World's Most Mysterious Fish", Harper Collins Publishers, 2010.  

    MORAY EELS  (Family Muraenidae)

     The MURAENIDS are tropical and warm-temperate marine fishes, some of which routinely enter fresh water. There are in all maybe 15 genera and around 185 species.

    MORAYS are oviparous and have planktonic leptocephalus larvae. A Leptocephalus larva is thin, fairly large, and leaf-shaped, and can take a number of months to metamorphose into a juvenile.

    "Moray" seems to be derived from the Greek word for "lamprey".  
  60. Blacktail Moray  ______  (FGCF:101)  (species described in 1980)
         Gymnothorax kolpos
  61. Spotted Moray  ______  (FGCF:101)  
     Gymnothorax moringa
  62. Honeycomb Moray  ______  (FGCF:101)  (also called Ocellated Moray)
         Gymnothorax saxicola
  63. Purplemouth Moray  ______  (FGCF:103)
     Gymnothorax vicinus
  64. Reticulate Moray  ______  (FGCF:103)
     Muraena retifera


         CONGOR EELS  (Family Congridae)
  65. Congor Eel  ______  (FGCF:105)
     Conger oceanicus

         The Congor Eel grows to 6.5 length in length.

    ANCHOVIES  (Family Engraulidae)
  66. Striped Anchovy  ______  (FGCF:107)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Anchoa hepsetus
  67. Dusky Anchovy  ______  (FGCF:107)
     Anchoa lyolepis
  68. Bay Anchovy  ______  (FGCF:107)
     Anchoa mitchilli

    HERRINGS  (Family Clupeidae)
    The CLUPEIDS are close relatives of the ANCHOVIES. They are a large group of marine, estuarine, freshwater, and anadromous fishes that live throughout the world. There are about 57 genera and 190 species worldwide.

    CLUPEIDS are oviparous with planktonic eggs and larvae.

    Fossils of fish described as "clupeomorpha" have been found in Late Jurassic formations (at least 160 million years ago), and the oldest Clupeidae (Knightia spp.) are known at least from the Paleocene (a minimum of 55.8 million years ago).   
  69. Blueback Herring  ______  (FGCF:107)
     Alosa aestivalis
  70. Hickory Shad  ______  (FGCF:109)
    Alosa mediocris
  71. Alewife  ______  (FGCF:109)  (species described by Alexander Wilson in Philadelphia in 1811) 
    Alosa pseudobarengus
  72. American Shad  ______  (FGCF:109)  (species described by Alexander Wilson in Philadelphia in 1811) 
    Alosa sapidissima

         Although the American Shad ranges from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to Florida, its prime breeding ground has been the Delaware River Estuary.

    When Alexander Wilson (who was noted mostly as an ornithologist) described the species for science in 1811, he also described the fish as being "most savory". The Latin word "sapidissima" can also be translated to mean "most delicious".   

    The American Shad grows to 2.3 feet in length.  

    American Shad

  73. Atlantic Menhaden  ______  NC  (FGCF:111)
    Brevoortia tyrannus

  74. Atlantic Herring  ______  (FGCF:111)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Clupea harengus
  75. Gizzard Shad  ______  (FGCF:113)
     Dorosoma cepedianum
  76. Round Herring  ______  (FGCF:113)
     Etrumeus teres
  77. Scaled Sardine  ______  (FGCF:113)
     Harengula jaguana
  78. Atlantic Thread Herring  ______  (FGCF:115)
     Opisthonema oglinum 
  79. Spanish Sardine  ______  (FGCF:115)
     Sardinella aurita


         SMELTS  (Family Osmeridae in the Order Salmonidormes)
  80. Capelin  ______  (FGCF:117)
     Mallotus villosus

         Capelin grow to 10 inches in length.
  81. Rainbow Smelt  ______  (FGCF:117)
     Osmerus mordax


         SALMONIDS  (Family Salmonidae) 

         The SALMONIDS include both salmon & trout, and more including: WHITEFISHES, GRAYLING, and the like. In the family, there are 11 genera and about 66 species. 
  82. Atlantic Salmon  ______  (FGCF:117)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Salmo salar

         The Atlantic Salmon has a relatively complex life history that includes spawning, juvenile rearing in rivers, and extensive feeding migrations in the ocean. This fish has its greatest feeding and growth in salt water.

    Atlantic Salmons have an extraordinary sense of returning back to the same stream where they were hatched, and doing so it has mystified biologists for hundreds of years.

    The coloration of the Atlantic Salmon changes as it grows older. In freshwater, blue and red spots can be marked on their skin, and as they mature those spots disappear and the fish develops a silver blue sheen. At their time of reproduction, the skin color changes to green or red.

    Atlantic Salmons spend their first few years in freshwater (small streams and rivers). feeding on aquatic insects and other food that comes in the current. At that stage in their life, they are known as "parr". Most of their time at that stage goes in fighting for food. When spring comes and they reach if size of about 4 inches, they become "smolts" and begin migrating to the ocean.

    There are generally 3 recognized groups of Atlantic Salmon: North America, European, and Baltic. 
    Atlantic Salmon     reproduce in coastal rivers of northeastern North America, Iceland, Europe, and northwestern Russia. Then the smolts migrate through various parts of the North Atlantic Ocean. At sea, the European and North American types are known to intermingle.
    The Atlantic Salmon has remained a popular fish for human consumption.            

    LIZARDFISHES  (Family Synodontidae)

  83. Largescale Lizardfish  ______  (FGCF:119)  (also called Brazilian Lizardfish)
    Saurida brasiliensis
  84. Shortjaw Lizardfish  ______  (FGCF:119)
    Saurida normani
  85. Inshore Lizardfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:119)
    Synodus foetens 

  86. Sand Diver  ______  (FGCF:119)
     Synodus intemedius

  87. Snakefish  ______  (FGCF:119)
     Trachinocephalus myops

         Snakefish bury themselves and quickly ambush prey.

    GREENEYES  (Family Chlorophthalmidae)
  88. Shortnose Greeneye  ______  (FGCF:121)
     Chlorophthalmus agassizi


         LANCETFISHES  (Family Alepisauridae)
  89. Longnose Lancetfish  ______  (FGCF:121)
     Alepisaurus ferox

         The Longnose Lancetfish grows to 6.5 feet in length. 

    OPAHS  (Family Lampridae)
  90. Opah  ______  (FGCF:121)
     Lampris guttatus


         RIBBONFISHES  (Family Trachipteridaae)
  91. Polka-dot Ribbonfish  ______  (FGCF:121)
     Desmodema polystictum


         OARFISHES  (Family Regalecidae)
  92. Oarfish  (ph)  ______  (FGCF:123)
     Regalecus glesne

         The Oarfish grows up to 26 feet in length. It may be the longest known bony fish.

    BEARDFISHES  (Family Polymixiidae)
  93. Beardfish  ______  (FGCF:123)
     Polymixia lowei

         The Beardfish grows to 8 inches in length.

    CODS  (Family Gadidae)
  94. Cusk  ______  (FGCF:127)
     Brosme brosme
  95. Atlantic Cod  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:127)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Gadus morhua

         The Atlantic Cod grows to 4.5 feet in length.
  96. Haddock  (t3)  ______  (FGCF:127)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Melanogrammus aeglefinus
  97. Atlantic Tomcod  _______  (FGCF: 127)
     Microgadus tomcod
  98. Pollock  ______  (FGCF:127)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Pollachius virens 

    The Pollock grows to 4.2 feet in length.


    TOADFISHES  (Family Batrachoididae)

  99. Oyster Toadfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:135)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Opsanus tau

  100. Atlantic Midshipman  ______  (FGCF:135)
     Porichthys plectrodon


         GOOSEFISHES  (Family Lophiidae)
  101. Goosefish  ______  (FGCF:135)
     Lophius americanus  

    FROGFISHES  (Family Antennariidae)

  102. Ocellated Frogfish  ______  (FGCF:137)
     Antennarius ocellatus
  103. Singlespot Frogfish  ______  (FGCF:137)
     Antennarius radiosus
  104. Striated Frogfish  ______  (FGCF:137)  (also called Split-lure Frogfish)
         Antennarius striatus
  105. Sargassum Fish  (*)  ______ NC(p)  (FGCF:137)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Histrio histrio 

         The Sargassum Fish grows to 7.8 inches in length.

    Histrio histrio has been among the sealife seen in sargassum in the Gulf Stream during FONT North Carolina pelagic trips.



    Above & below: Sargassum Fish
    Below showing how it blends in with the sargassum. 
    This fish in the photo is swimming toward you. 




     MULLETS  (Family Mugilidae)
  106. Striped Mullet  ______  NC  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Mugil cephalus
  107. White Mullet  ______
     Mugil curema


         FLYING FISHES  (Family Exocoetidae)
  108. Margined Flying Fish  ______
     Cheilopogon cyanopterus
  109. Bandwing Flying Fish  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1771)
         Cheilopogon exsiliens
  110. Atlantic Flying Fish  (*)  ______  NC
     Cheilopogon melanurus



    Am Atlantic Flying Fish off the North Carolina coast
  111. Oceanic Two-wing Flying Fish  ______  
     Exocoetus obtusirostris
  112. Tropical Two-wing Flying Fish  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Exocoetus volitans
  113. Fourwing Flying Fish  ______
     Hirundichthys affinis
  114. Blackwing Flying Fish  ______
     Hirundichthys rondeletii
  115. Smallwing Flying Fish  ______  (species described in 1935)
         Oxyporhamphus micropterus similis
  116. Sailfin Flying Fish  ______
     Parexocoetus hillianus


         HALFBEAKS  (Family Hemiramphidae)
  117. Ballyhoo  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Hemiramphus brasiliensis


         TOPMINNOWS  (Family Fundulidae)
  118. Mummichog  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Fundulus heteroclitus


         ROUGHIES  (Family Trachichthyidae)
  119. Big Roughy  ______
     Gephyroberyx darwinii

  120. Silver Roughy  ______
     Hoplostethus mediterraneus


    ALFONSINOS

  121. Splendid Alfonsino  ______
     Beryx splendens   


     SEAHORSES  (in the Family Syngnathidae, along with Pipefishes)
  122. Longsnout Seahorse  (*)  ______  NC (p)  (FGCF:171)
    Hippocampus reidi 

  123. Lined Seahorse  (ph)  ______  (FGCF:171)  
     Hippocampus erectus

  124. Pipehorse  ______  (FGCF:171)
     Amphelikturus dendriticus  (formerly Acentronura dendritica)

         The Pipehorse grows to 3 inches in length.



    Pipehorse
  125. Fringed Pipefish  ______  (FGCF:171)
     Anarchopterus criniger
  126. Sargassum Pipefish  (*)  ______  NC  (FGCF:175)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Syngnathus pelagicus

    The Sargassum Pipefish grows to 8 inches in length.

         Syngnathus pelagicus has been among the sealife seen in sargassum in the Gulf Stream
    during FONT North Carolina pelagic trips.      


    Sargassum Pipefish
  127. Chain Pipefish  ______  (FGCF:175)
     syngnathus louisianae
  128. Northern Pipefish  ______  (FGCF:175)
    Syngnathus fuscus


    BLUEFISHES  (Family Pomatomidae)

  129. Bluefish  ______  NC  (FGCF:239)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Pomatomus saltatrix 


     DOLPHINFISHES  (Family Coryphaenidae)
  130. Dolphinfish  (*)  ______  NC  (FGCF:239)  (other names are Mahi-mahi & Dorado)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Coryphaena hippurus

     The Dolphinfish grows to 6.5 feet in length. 


    Dolphinfish

  131. Pompano Dolphinfish  ______  (FGCF:239)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Coryphaena equiselis  

     The Pompano Dolphinfish schools with and is often misidentified as the Dolphinfish.

    The Pompano Dolphinfish grows to 2.5 feet in length. 

    COBIA  (Family Rachycentridae)
  132. Cobia  ______  (FGCF:239)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Rachycentron canadum


         REMORAS  (Family Echeneidae)
  133. Remora  (*)  ______  (FGCF:241)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Remora remora
  134. Marlinsucker  ______   (FGCF:241)
     Remora osteochir

         The Marlinsucker is associated with billfishes, particularly the White Marlin and Sailfish.
  135. Spearfish Remora  ______  (FGCF:241)
     Remora brachyptera
  136. Sharksucker  ______  (FGCF:241)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Echeneis naucrates
  137. Whitefin Sharksucker  ______  (FGCF:241)
     Echeneis neucratoides

    JACKS  (Family Carangidae)
  138. African Pompano  ______  (FGCF:243)
     Alectris ciliaris
  139. Yellow Jack  ______  (FGCF:243)
     Caranx bartholomaei
  140. Blue Runner  ______  (FGCF:243)
     Caranx crysos

         Juvenile Blue Runners are associated with Sargassum seaweed.
  141. Crevalle Jack  ______  (FGCF:243)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
     Caranx hippos
  142. Horse-eye Jack  ______
     Caranx latus
  143. Black Jack  ______
     Caranx lugubris
  144. Bar Jack  ______
     Caranx ruber
  145. Atlantic Bumper  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Chloroscombrus chrysurus  
  146. Mackerel Scad  ______
     Descapterus macarellus
  147. Round Scad  ______  (also called Cigarfish)
         Decapterus punctatus
  148. Redtail Scad  ______
     Decapterus rabl
  149. Rainbow Runner  ______
     Elagatis bipinnulata
  150. Bluntnose Jack  ______
     Hemicaranx amblyrhynchus
  151. Pilotfish  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
     Naucrates ductor
  152. Leatherjack  ______
     Oligoplites saurus
  153. White Trevally  ______
    Pseudocaranx dentex
  154. Greater Amberjack  ______
     Seriola dumerili
  155. Florida Pompano  ______  NC  (FGCF:251)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Trachinolus carolinus
  156. Permit  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Trachinolus falcatus


         SNAPPERS  (Family Lutjanidae)
  157. Queen Snapper  ______  
     Etelis oculatus
  158. Mutton Snapper  ______
     Lutjanus analis

    GRUNTS  (Family Haemulidae)

  159. Pigfish  ______  NC  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Orthopistis chrysoptera 


    PORGIES  (Family Sparidae)

  160. Sheepshead  ______  NC  (FGCF:273)
    Archosargus probatocephalus
  161. Sea Bream  ______
    Archosargus rhomboidalis

  162. Pinfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:277)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Lagodon rhomboides

  163. Red Porgy  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Pagrus pagrus
  164. Scup  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Stenotomus chrysops   

    DRUMS  (Family Sciaenidae)
  165. Silver Perch  ______
     Bairdiella chrysoura
  166. Silver Seatrout  ______
     Cynoscion nothus
  167. Weakfish  ______
     Cynoscion regalis
  168. Northern Kingfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:285)  (also known as Whiting)
    Menticirrhus saxatilis
  169. Southern Kingfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:285)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
    Menticirrhus americanus
  170. Atlantic Croaker  ______  NC  (FGCF:285)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Micropogonias undulatus
  171. Spot  ______  NC  (FGCF:285)
    Leiostomus xanthurus
  172. Black Drum  (t2)  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
     Pogonias cromis  

  173. Red Drum  ______  NC  (FGCF:289)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766) 
         Sciaenops ocellatus
  174. Spotted Seatrout  ______  NC  (FGCF:281)
    Cynoscion nebulosus


    TUNAS & MACKERELS  (Family Scombridae)
  175. Albacore  ______  
    Thunnus alalunga

  176. Yellowfin Tuna  (*)  ______  NC(p)  NJ(p)  (FGCF:383)
    Thunnus albacares
  177. Blackfin Tuna  ______  
     Thunnus atlanticus
  178. Bigeye Tuna  (t3)  ______
     Thunnus obesus
  179. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna  (t2)  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Thunnus thynnus
  180. Skipjack Tuna  (*)  ______ DE(p)  NJ (p)  (FGCF:381)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Katsuwonus pelamis
  181. Bullet Mackerel  ______  
    Auxis rochei
  182. Frigate Mackerel  ______  (also called Frigate Tuna)
    Auxis thazard
  183. Little Tunny  ______
    Euthynnus alletteratus
  184. Atlantic Mackerel  (*)  ______ NJ (p)  (FGCF:381)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
         Scomber scombrus
  185. Atlantic Chubb Mackerel  ______
     Scomber colias
  186. King Mackerel ______  NC  (FGCF:381)
    Scomberomarus cavalla 

         The King Mackerel grows to 6.2 feet in length.
  187. Spanish Mackerel  ______  NC  (FGCF:383)
    Scomberomarus maculatus 

  188. Cero  ______  
     Scomberomarus regalis
  189. Wahoo  (*)  ______ NC(p)  (FGCF:379)
    Acanthocybium solandri
  190. Atlantic Bonito  ______  
     Sarda sarda 

    BILLFISHES  (Family Istiophoridae)
  191. Atlantic Sailfish  (*)  ______ NC (p)  (FGCF:385)
    Istiophorus albicans

         The Sailfish grows up to 11 feet in length.  
  192. Longbill Spearfish  (*)  ______ NC (p)
    Tetrapturus pfluegeri

         The Longbill Spearfish grows up to 8.2 feet. 
  193. Roundscale Spearfish  ______  
     Tetrapturus georgii

         The Roundscale Spearfish can be misidentified as the White Marlin.
  194. White Marlin  (*)  ______ NC (p)
    Kajikia albidus

         The White Marlin grows up to 9 feet in length.
  195. Blue Marlin  (*)  ______ NC (p)  (FGCF:385)
    Makaira nigricans

     The Blue Marlin grows up to 14.7 feet in length. 


    SWORDFISH  (Family Xiphiidae)
  196. Swordfish  (*)  ______ NJ (p)  (FGCF:385)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)   
    Xiphias gladius


    LEFT-EYE FLOUNDERS  (Family Bothidae)
  197. Eyed Flounder  ______
     Bothus ocellatus
  198. Twospot Flounder  ______
     Bothus robinsi
  199. Spiny Flounder  ______
     Engyophrys senta
  200. Deepwater Flounder  ______
     Monolene sessilicauda

    RIGHT-EYE FLOUNDERS  (Family Pleuronectidae)
  201. Witch Flounder  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
    Glyptocephalus cynoglossus 
  202. American Plaice  ______  
     Hippoglossoides platessoides
  203. Atlantic Halibut  (t2)  ______  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
     Hippoglossus hippoglossus 
    The Atlantic Halibut grows up to 8 feet in length. 

    SAND FLOUNDERS  (Family Paralichthyidae)

  204. Gulf Flounder  ______  NC  (FGCF:399)
    Paralichthy albigutta

  205. Summer Flounder  ______  NC  (FGCF:401)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1766)
         Paralichthys dentatus

  206. Southern Flounder  ______  NC  (FGCF:401)
    Paralichthys lethostigma 


    PUFFERS  (Family Tetraodontidae)
  207. Northern Puffer  ______  NC  (FGCF:421)
    Sphoeroides maculatus


    PORCUPINE FISHES  (Family Diodontidae)
  208. Striped Burrfish  ______  NC  (FGCF:425)
    Chilomycterus schoepfi


    SUNFISHES & MOLAS  (Family Molidae)
    Large fish with disc-like bodies, lacking a tail. 
  209. Ocean Sunfish  (*)  ______ DE(p)  NC(p)  NJ (p)  (FGCF:427)  (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
     Mola mola
    Mola Mola grow up to 11.5 feet in length and can weigh up to 2 tons.




         An Oceanic Sunfish photographed during a FONT pelagic trip 

References include:

 "Sea Life - A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment", edited by Geoffrey Waller, with principal contributors Marc Dando & Michael Burchett, 1996.  


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