Some Marine Life of 
Mexico & Belize 
(other than Whales, Dolphins 
 & the Manatee)

including creatures of the coral reef
& some subterranean creatures
in water in caves of the Yucatan


A list compiled by Armas Hill


With those seen during FONT tours & pelagic trips
with an (*)


PHOTO AT RIGHT:
SEA FAN in Porites Californica 

Codes:


BC:  off Baja California in the Pacific 
BZ:  Belize
CZ:  Cozumel Island (where the Caribbean Sea & the Gulf of Mexico meet)
SC:  Sea of Cortes (or the Gulf of California), Sonora  
YP:  in the area of the Yucatan Peninsula, including coastal & offshore Caribbean & Gulf of Mexico waters 

(p): seen pelagically 

Links:

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in Central America (including Mexico)



        MARINE, or SEA, TURTLES 

1. Leatherback (Sea Turtle) ______  BZ,YP
   Dermochelys coriacea  (the single member of its genus)
   
   The Leatherback is the world's largest turtle. It can weigh half a ton. It is a deep diver. It can go to a depth of about 5,000 feet.
   
   
2. Loggerhead (Sea Turtle) ______  BZ,YP
   Caretta caretta  (the single ember of its genus)
   
   
   
   
   Loggerhead Sea Turtle
   (photo by Alan Brady during a FONT pelagic trip)
   
   
3. Green (Sea) Turtle ______  BZ,YP
   Chelonia mydas
   
   
4. Hawksbill (Sea Turtle)  (*) ______  BZ,YP
   Eretmochelys imbricata  (the single member of its genus)
   
   The Hawksbill (Sea Turtle) favors, among other places, coral reefs. It has a varied diet. 
   It has a long beak and two pairs of prefrontals.
   
   
5. Kemp's Ridley (Sea) Turtle ______  YP
   Lepidochelys kempii
   
   The Kemp's Ridley is said to be the world's rarest sea turtle; it is "endangered'.
   
   
6. Olive Ridley (Sea) Turtle ______
   Lepidochelys olivacea
   
   
   An excellent book about Sea Turtles is "Voyage of the Turtle - In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur", by Carl Safina, Owl Books, 2007.   
   
   
   PLANKTON-FEEDING SHARKS & RAYS
   
   
7. Whale Shark ______  YP
   Rhincodon typus
   
   
   The Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus, is the largest known fish in the world, and the largest known cold-blooded vertebrate.. It can reach up to 14 meters (42 feet) in length, but typical adults are between 7 meters (21 feet) and 10 meters (30 feet) long.
   It has an enormous head, that is wedge-shaped in side profile, flat-fronted, and squarish from above, and it has small barbets, and a cavernous mouth-opening 1.5 meters (almost 6 feet) wide. (See photo above.)
   There are hundreds of tiny, hook-like teeth in each jaw.
   Its eyes are inconspicuous, closed by retracting and rotating the eyeball backwards in its socket.
   The tail-fin of the fish is huge, about one-third of the total body length.    
   
   Another name for the fish is the Domino Shark, coming from its distinctive black skin covered in rows of white dots.
   
   The lifespan of the Whale Shark is long. It can typically live into its 70s.
   
   The Whale Shark is a true shark. Its name, of course, is due to its large size. Unlike vicious Great White Sharks, Whale Sharks are gentle filter-feeders. Plankton is its primary food. When feeding, Whale Sharks glide in circles, as they simply suck up whatever small sea-life is front of them.
   
   Often seen accompanying Whale Sharks are young Golden Trevally, Gnathanodon speciosus.  
   
   Although Whale Sharks populate the tropical zone around the globe, the shallow waters off the north coast of the Mexican province of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan Peninsula, is the ONLY PLACE in the world where a very large population gathers. They occur, there, in pods of ten or twenty, and it has been estimated that total number there, in the waters, is MORE THAN 200. This apparently is due to the swirling waters where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean. Those waters teem with plankton, noted as the Whale Shark's favored food.
   
   The highest number of Whale Sharks off the northern Yucatan Peninsula is said to be in the summer, although it does occur at other times.

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   A mouth of a Whale Shark photographed during a FONT tour
   (photo by Marie Gardner)  

    

8. Basking Shark ______ 
   Cetorhinus maximus
   
   The Basking Shark is the world's second largest fish. It can be over 30 feet long and weigh more than 4 tons, and it can jump completely out of the water. 
   
   
   MANTA AND DEVIL RAYS  (Family Mobulidae)
   
   
9. Manta Ray ______ 
   Manta birostris
   
   
10. Devil Ray ______
    Mobula hypostoma
    
    
    COWNOSED RAYS  (Family Rhinopteridae)
    
    
11. Cownosed Ray ______
    Rhinoptera bonasus
    
    
    EAGLE RAYS
    
    
12. Spotted Eagle Ray ______  BZ,YP
    Aetobatus narinari
    
    
13. Bullnose Ray ______
    Myliobatis freminvillei
    
    
    ELECTRIC RAYS  (Families Narcinidae & Torpedinidae)
    
    
14. Lesser Electric Ray ______  
    Narcine brasiliensis  (in Narcinidae)
    
    
15. Atlantic Torpedo Ray ______
    Torpedo nobilana  (in Torpedinidae)
    
    
    STINGRAYS  (Family Dasyatidae)
    
    
16. Southern Stingray ______  BZ
    Dasyatis americana
    
    
17. Roughtail Stingray ______
    Dasyatis centroura 
    
    
18. Longnose Stingray ______
    Dasyatis guttata
    
    
19. Atlantic Stingray ______
    Dasyatis sabina
    
    
    BUTTERFLY RAYS  (Family Gymnuridae)
    
    
20. Lesser Butterfly Ray ______
    Gymnura micrura 
    
    
    ANGEL SHARK  (Family Squatinidae)
    
    
21. Angel Shark ______
    Squatina dumeril
    
    
    NURSE SHARKS  (Family Ginglymostomatidae)
    
    
22. Nurse Shark ______  BZ,YP
    Ginglymostoma cirratum  
    
    
    REQUIEM or GRAY SHARKS (Family Carcharhinidae) 
    
    
23. Blacknose Shark ______
    Carcharhinus acronotus
    
    
24. Bignose Shark ______
    Carchahinus altimus
    
    
25. Spinner Shark ______  (this species is easily confused with the Blacknose Shark)
    Carchahinus brevipinna
    
    
26. Silky Shark ______
    Carchahinus falciformis
    
    
27. Finetooth Shark ______
    Carcharhinus isodon 
     
    
28. Bull Shark ______  BZ,YP
    Carcharhinus leucas
    
    
29. Blacktip Shark ______
    Carcharhinus limbatus
    
    
30. Caribbean Reef Shark ______
    Carcharhinus perezi
    
    
31. Sandbar Shark ______
    Carcharhinus plumbeus
    
    
32. Nightshark ______
    Carcharhinus signatus
    
    
33. Tiger Shark ______
    Galeocerdo cuvieri
    
    
34. Lemon Shark ______
    Negaprion brevirostris
    
    
35. Blue Shark ______
    Prionace glauca
    
    The Blue Shark is the most widely distributed of all sharks, occurring in all of the tropical and warm temperate seas. It prefers shallow, sunlit, open-ocean habitat. 
    
    
36. Atlantic Sharpnose Shark ______
    Thizoprionodon terraenovae
    
    
    SMOOTHOUND SHARKS  (Family Triakidae)
    
    
37. Smooth Dogfish Shark ______
    Mustelis canis
    
    
38. Florida Smoothound Shark ______
    Mustelis norrisi
    
    
    HAMMERHEAD SHARKS  (Family Sphyrnidae)
    
    
39. Scalloped Hammerhead Shark ______  YP
    Sphyrna lewini
    
    
40. Great Hammerhead Shark ______
    Sphyrna mokarran
    
    
41. Bonnethead Shark ______
    Sphyrna tiburo
    
    
42. Smalleye Hammerhead Shark ______
    Sphyrna tudes 
    
    
43. Smooth Hammerhead Shark ______  BZ
    Sphyrna zygaena
    
    
    SIX- & SEVEN-GILL SHARKS
    
    
44. Seven-gill Shark ______
    Heptranchias perlo
    
    
45. Six-gill Shark ______
    Hexanchus griseus
    
    
46. Bigeye Six-gill Shark ______
    Hexanchus vitulus  
    
    
    THRESHER SHARKS  (Family Alopiidae)
    
    
47. Common Thresher Shark ______ 
    Alopias vulpinus
    
    
48. Bigeye Thresher Shark ______
    Alopias superciliosus
    
    
    MACKEREL SHARKS  (Family Lamnidae)
    
    
49. Great White Shark ______
    Carcharodon carcharias
    
    
50. Shortfin Mako Shark ______
    Isurus oxyrhynchus
    
    
51. Longfin Mako Shark ______ 
    Isurus paucus
    
    
    DOGFISH SHARKS
    
    
52. Cuban Dogfish Shark ______
    Squalus cubensis
    
    
    SAND TIGER SHARK
    
    
53. Sand Tiger Shark ______
    Eugomphodus taurus 
    
    
    CATSHARKS
    
    
54. Marbled Catshark ______
    Galeus arae
    
    
55. Chain Dogfish Shark ______
    Scyliorbinus retifer  
    
    
    SWORDFISH  (Family Xiphiidae)
    
    
56. Swordfish ______ 
    Xiphias gladius
    
    
    OCEAN SUNFISHES  (Family Molidae)
    (Large fish with disc-like bodies, lacking a tail.) 
    
    
57. Ocean Sunfish ______
    Mola mola
    
    The Oceanic Sunfsh can weigh up to 2 tons. 
    
    
    
    
    An Oceanic Sunfish photographed during a FONT pelagic trip
    
    
    FROGFISHES  (Family Antennariidae)
    
    
58. Sargassum Fish ______ 
    Histrio histrio
    
    
    SEA BASSES & GROUPERS
    
    
59. Nassau Grouper ______  BZ,YP
    Epinephelus striatus
    
    
60. Jewfish ______  BZ,YP
    Epinephelus itajara
    
    
61. Graysby ______  BZ,YP
    Epinephelus cruentatus
    
    
62. Red Hind ______  BZ,YP
    Epinephelus guttatus
    
    
63. Coney ______  BZ,YP
    Epinephelus fulvus 
    
    
64. Yellowfin Grouper ______  BZ,YP
    Mycteroperca venenosa
    
    
65. Tiger Grouper ______  BZ,YP
    Mycteroperca tigris
    
    
66. Tobaccofish ______  BZ,YP
    Serranus tabacarius
    
    
67. Barred Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus puella
    
    
68. Indigo Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus indigo
    
    
69. Shy Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus gutta varius
    
    
70. Golden Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus gummigutta
    
    
71. Yellowtail Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus chlorurus
    
    
72. Black Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus nigricans
    
    
73. Blue Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus gemma
    
    
74. Masked Hamlet ______  BZ,YP
    Hypoplectrus sp.
    
    
75. Fairy Basslet ______  YP  (also called Royal Gramma)
    Gramma loreto
    
    
76. Creole-fish ______  BZ,YP
    Paranthias furcider
    
    
    JACKS, POMPANOS, PERMITS, SCAD
    
    
77. Bar Jack (also called Skipjack) ______  BZ,YP
    Caranx ruber
    
    
78. Horse-eye Jack (also called Bigeye Jack or Horse-eye Trevally) ______  BZ,YP
    Caranx latus
    
    
79. Greater Amberjack  (*) ______  BZ
    Seriola dumerili
    
    A roving offshore predator, the Greater Amberjack is the largest and most common of the Atlantic amberjacks.
    
    
    TUNAS & MACKERELS  (Family Scombridae)
    
    
80. Yellowfin Tuna ______ 
    Thunnus albacares
    
    
81. Skipjack Tuna ______ 
    Katsuwonus pelamis
    
    
82. Atlantic Mackerel ______ 
    Scomber scombrus
    
    
83. Wahoo ______ 
    Acanthocybium solandri
    
    
    SNAPPERS
    
    
84. Mutton Snapper ______  BZ,YP
    Lutjanus analis
    
    
85. Cubera Snapper ______  BZ,YP
    Lutjanus cyanoopterus
    
    
86. Mahogony Snapper ______  BZ,YP
    Lutjanus mahogoni
    
    
87. Schoolmaster ______  BZ,YP
    Lutjanus apodus
    
    
88. Yellowtail Snapper ______  BZ,YP
    Ocyurus chrysurus
    
    
    GRUNTS
    
    
89. French Grunt ______  BZ,YP
    Haemulon flavolineatum
    
    
90. White Grunt ______  BZ,YP
    Haemulon plumieri
    
    
91. Blue-striped Grunt ______  BZ,YP
    Haemulon sciurus
    
    
92. Spanish Grunt ______  BZ,YP
    Haemulon macrostomum
    
    
93. Sailor's Choice ______  BZ,YP
    Haemulon parra
    
    
94. Margate ______  BZ,YP
    Haemulon album 
    
    
95. Porkfish ______  BZ,YP
    Anisotremus virginicus
    
    
    GOATFISHES
    
    
96. Yellow Goatfish ______  BZ,YP
    Mulloidichthys martinicus
    
    
    DRUMS, CROAKERS, SEATROUT, & WEAKFISHES
    
    
97. Spotted Drum ______  BZ,YP
    Equetus punctatus
    
    
    PORGIES, SEA BREAMS, CHUBS, & SPADEFISHES
    
    
98. Bermuda Chub ______  BZ,YP
    Kyphosus sectatrix
    
    
99. Atlantic Spadefish ______  BZ,YP
    Chaetodipterus faber
    
    
    ANGELFISHES  (Family Pomacanthidae)
    
    Closely related to the BUTTERFLYFISHES (which follow), the ANGELFISHES  
    
    
100. Queen Angelfish ______  BZ,YP
     Holocanthus ciliaris
     
     
101. French Angelfish  (*) ______  BZ,YP
     Pomacanthus paru
     
     The French Angelfish is a wonderful fish to see on the reef, up to one and a quarter feet in length.
     
     
102. Gray Angelfish ______  BZ,YP
     Pomacanthus arcuatus
     
     
103. Rock Beauty ______  BZ,YP
     Holocanthus tricolor
     
     
     
     BUTTERFLYFISHES
     
     Much like marine butterflies, butterfly fish flash in yellow and black-banded beauty around West Atlantic coral reefs.
     
     
104. Reef Butterflyfish ______  BZ,YP
     Chaetodon sedentarius
     
     
105. Foureye Butterflyfish  (*) ______  BZ
     Chaetodon capistratus 
     
     The Foureye Butterflyfish is the most common butterfly fish in the West Atlantic. 
     
     
106. Spotfin Butterflyfish ______ BZ,YP
     Chaetodon ocellatus
     
     
107. Longsnout Butterflyfish ______ BZ,YP
     Chaetodon aculeatus  
     
     
     DAMSELFISHES
     
     
108. Longfin Damselfish ______  BZ,YP
     Stegastes diencaeus
     
     
109. Dusky Damselfish ______  BZ,YP
     Stegastes fuscus
     
     
110. Threespot Damselfish ______  BZ,YP
     Stegastes planifrons
     
     
111. Cocoa Damselfish ______  BZ,YP
     Stegastes variabilis
     
     
112. Beaugregory ______  BZ,YP
     Stegastes leucostictus
     
     
113. Bicolor Damselfish ______  BZ,YP
     Stegastes partitus
     
     
114. Yellowtail Damselfish  (*) ______  BZ,YP
     Microspathodon chrysurus
     
     The Yellowtail Damselfish is common on coral reefs; both adults & juveniles are splendid with their bright blue or white spots set like rhinestones across their bodies.
     
     
115. Sergeant Major ______  BZ,YP
     Abudefduf saxatilis
     
     
116. Blue Chromis ______  BZ,YP
     Chromis cyanea
     
     
117. Brown Chromis  (also called Yellow-edge Chromis) ______  YP
     Chromis multilineata
     
     
118. Purple Chromis  (also called Purple Reeffish) ______  BZ,YP
     Chromis scotti  
     
     
     WRASSES
     
     
119. Hogfish ______  BZ,YP
     Lachnolaimus maximus
     
     
120. Spanish Hogfish ______  BZ,YP
     Bodianus rufus
     
     
121. Slippery Dick ______  BZ,YP
     Holocentrus ascensionis
     
     
122. Creole Wrasse ______  BZ,YP
     Clepticus parrae
     
     
123. Yellowhead Wrasse ______  BZ,YP
     Halichoeres garnoti
     
     
124. Bluehead Wrasse  (*) ______  BZ,YP
     Thalassoma bifasciatum
     
     The Bluehead is one of the most successful fish in the tropical West Atlantic, with representatives of the species seemingly "everywhere". 
     The name "bluehead" is a misnomer, since only the terminal phase male, constituting about 4% of the population, has a blue head. Adult females, adult males, and juveniles are yellow-jacketed with a midlateral stripe or bar.    
     
     
     PARROTFISHES
     
     
125. Blue Parrotfish ______  BZ,YP
     Scarus coeruleus
     
     
126. Midnight Parrotfish ______  BZ,YP
     Scarus coelestinus
     
     
127. Rainbow Parrotfish  (*) ______  BZ
     Scarus guacamaia 
     
     The Rainbow Parrotfish is one of the largest and most impressive of West Atlantic parrotfishes, up to 4 feet long.  
     
     
128. Queen Parrotfish  (*) ______  BZ,YP
     Scarus vetula
     
     So different are the male & female Queen Parrotfishes that earlier fish experts assumed they were two different species; this fish has been seen to occur in "harems" of 3 or 4 females to 1 supermale, grazing together like cows & a bull. 
     
     
129. Stoplight Parrotfish  (*) ______  BZ,YP
     Scarus viride 
     
     The harlequin-garbed red-bellied female and immature male Spotlight Parrotfishes are lovely creatures to see on the reef; the supermales are distinguished from the others by their lunate, flowing tails.
     
     
130. Yellowtail Parrotfish  (*) ______ BZ
     Sparisoma rubripinne
     
     
     CARDINALFISHES
     
     
131. Flamefish ______  BZ,YP
     Apogon maculatus
     
     
     SQUIRRELFISHES & SOLDIERFISHES
     
     
132. Longjaw Squirrelfish ______  BZ,YP
     Holocentrus ascensionis
     
     
133. Blackbar Soldierfish ______  BZ,YP
     Myripristis jacobis
     
     
     BIGEYES, SWEEPERS, & BOGAS
     
     
134. Glasseye ______  BZ,YP  (also called Glasseye Snapper)
     Priacanthus cruentatus
     
     
135. Bigeye ______  BZ,YP
     Priacanthus arenatus
     
     
     BLUEFISHES, TILEFISHES, & REMORAS
     
     
136. Sand Tilefish ______  BZ,YP
     Malacanthus plumieri
     
     
     FLATFISHES
     
     
137. Peacock Flounder ______  BZ,YP
     Bothus lunatus
     
     
     SURGEONS, TANGS
     
     
138. Blue Tang ______  BZ,YP
     Acanthurus bahianus
     
     
139. Ocean Surgeonfish ______  BZ,YP
     Acanthurus bahianus
     
     
140. Doctorfish ______  BZ,YP
     Acanthurus chirurgus
     
     
     TRIGGERFISHES, FILEFISHES
     
     
141. Queen Triggerfish  (or "Old Wife")  (*) ______  BZ,YP
     Balistes vetula
     
     Unmistakable, the Queen Triggerfish is a mostly-yellow fish with a blue-striped head and long, trailing fin filaments. It has a special fondness for sea urchins. This fish is a reef dweller, but it also ventures into sand, seagrass, and rubble habitats. A good food fish, it's called "Turbot" in the West Indies due to its resemblance to the flatfish when skinned.
     
     
142. Ocean Triggerfish ______  BZ,YP
     Canthidermis sufflamen
     
     
143. Black Durgeon ______  BZ,YP
     Melichthys niger
     
     
144. Scrawled Filefish ______  BZ,YP
     Aluterus scriptus
     
     
     BLENNIES, GOBIES, JAWFISHES
     
     
145. Redtip Blenny ______  BZ,YP
     Ophioblennius atlanticus
     
     
146. Neon Goby ______  BZ,YP
     Gobiosoma oceanops
     
     
147. Yellowline Goby ______  BZ,YP
     Gobiosoma horsti
     
     
148. Cleaning Goby ______  BZ,YP
     Gobiosoma genie
     
     
149. Rusty Goby ______  BZ,YP  (also called Sharknose Goby) 
     Priolepis (or Quisquilius) hipoliti
     
     
150. Yellowhead Jawfish ______  BZ,YP
     Opistognathus aurifrons
     
     
     TUBEMOUTHED FISHES
     
     
151. Trumpetfish ______  BZ,YP
     Aulostomus maculatus
     
     
     MORAYS, CONGER EELS, & SNAKE EELS
     
     
152. Green Moray ______  BZ,YP
     Gymnothorax funebris 
     
     
153. Spotted Moray ______  BZ,YP
     Gymnothorax moringa
     
     
154. Goldentail Moray ______  BZ,YP
     Gymnothorax miliaris
     
     
     TARPON, BONEFISHES, LADYFISHES, HERRINGS, & SHAD
     
     
155. Tarpon  (*) ______ BZ
     Megalops atlantica 
     
     A number of 200-pound Tarpons have been taken by fishermen, but the record is an 8-foot giant that weighed 340 pounds. 
     
     
156. Bonefish ______  BZ,YP
     Albula vulpes
     
     
     COBIAS, SNOOK, & SEA CATFISHES
     
     
157. Common Snook ______  BZ,YP
     Centropomus undecimalis
     
     
     BARRACUDA, SILVERSIDES, MULLETS, & THREADFINS
     
     
158. Great Barracuda  (*)  ______  BZ,YP
     Sphyraena barracuda  
     
     The Great Barracuda occurs up to 10 feet in length, but is rare over 5 feet. Larger fish can carry ciguatera toxin.  
     
     
159. White Mullet ______  BZ,YP
     Mugil curema
     
     
     PUFFERS, PORCUPINEFISHES, & TRUNKFISHES
     
     
160. Checkered Puffer  (*) ______  YP
     Sphoeroides testudineus
     
     
     
     
     Checkered Puffer
     (photo by Marie Gardner during the March 2009 FONT tour in the Yucatan of Mexico)
     
     
161. Porcupinefish ______  BZ,YP
     Diodon hystrix
     
     
162. Smooth Trunkfish ______  BZ,YP
     Lactophrys triqueter
     
     
     ANGLERFISHES, TOADFISHES, GURNARDS, SEA ROBINS, DRAGONETS, & LIZARDFISHES
     
     
163. Splendid Toadfish ______  CZ  (also called Coral Toadfish)
     Sanopus splendidus
     
     The spectacular Splendid Toadfish seems to be endemic to Cozumel Island, Mexico. The flattened head is especially striking with its densely packed black and white stripes. The ventril fins are entirely yellow, while the rest of the fins have an attractive yellow yellow border. There are very prominent barbels around the mouth.
     This is a shy species, most likely to be found in crevices and other dark recesses, where it is supported by its pectoral fins.
     
     
164. Sand Diver ______  BZ,YP
     Synodus intermedius 
     
     The Sand Diver is a common reef inhabitant that belongs to the lizardfish family. It often lies half buried in the sand, which along with its camouflaged coloration, both protects it from predators and allows it to dart out and grab unwary prey. Sand Divers have a mottled reddish coloration but can change hue to blend with the background.  
     
     
     DOLPHIN FISHES  (Family Coryphaenidae)
     
     
165. Dorado / Dolphin ______ 
     Coryphaena hippurus
     
     
     BILLFISHES  (Family Xiphiidae)
     
     
166. Atlantic Sailfish ______ 
     Istiophorus albicans
     
     
167. Longbill Spearfish ______ 
     Tetrapturus pfluegeri
     
     
168. Atlantic White Marlin ______ 
     Tetrapturus albidus
     
     
169. Atlantic Blue Marlin ______ 
     Makaira nigricans 
     
     
     NEEDLEFISHES, HALFBEAKS, FLYING FISHES
     
     
170. Houndfish ______  YP
     Tylosurus crocodiles
     
     
171. Atlantic Flying Fish  (*) ______  YP/CZ
     Cypselurus heterurus
     
     
     SEAHORSES  (in Family Syngnathidae, along with Pipefishes)
     
     
172. Common Seahorse  (*) ______ SC 
     Hippocampus ramulosus
     
     
     OCEAN INVERTEBRATES
     
     
     REEF CORAL
     
     
173. Staghorn Coral ______  BZ
     Acropora cervicornis
     
     
174. Elkhorn Coral ______  BZ
     Acropora palmata
     
     
175. Lettuce Coral ______  BZ  (also called Thin Leaf Coral)
     Agaricia tenuifolia
     
     
176. Fire Coral ______  BZ
     Millepora alcicornis
     
     
177. Large Star Coral ______  BZ
     Montastrea cavernosa
     
     
178. Common Star Coral ______  BZ  (also called Boulder Star Coral)
     Montastrea annularis
     
     
179. Porous Coral ______  BZ  (also called Finger Coral)
     Porites sp.
     
     
180. Common Brain Coral ______  BZ  (also called Smooth or Symmetrical Brain Coral)
     Diploria strigosa
     
     
181. Flower Coral ______  BZ
     Eusmilia fastigiata 
     
     
182. Common Sea Fan ______  BZ  (a soft coral gorgonian)
     Gorgonia ventalina
     
     
     xxx 
     
     
183. Spiny Lobster  (*) ______  BZ
     Panulirus argus
     
     The Spiny Lobster grows up to 21 inches long.
     
     xxx
     
     
184. Long-spined Sea Urchin  (*) ______  BZ
     Diadema antillarum
     
     The Long-spined Sea Urchin has spines up to 15 inches long. 
     
     
     JELLYFISH  (Class Scyphozoa)
     
     
185. Moon Jelly ______  BZ
     Aurelia aurita
     
     
     HYDROIDS  (Class Hydrozoa, Order Siphonophora: not true jellyfish)
     
     
186. Portuguese Man-of-war ______  BZ
     Physalia physalis
     
     The Portuguese Man-of-war is a common siphonophore occurring at the sea surface. Gas-filled, its clear blue float and pink crest are unmistakable. Its long, blue, coiled stinging tentacles are up to over 10 meters in length, hanging below a blue to purple-colored colony.   
     Also known by the name "bluebottles".
     The float is up to 30 centimeters long, and has a crest which acts as a sail. It is blown along by wind and carried by currents. Shows "tumbling" behavior when it dips each side alternately in the water, so keeping the float moist.
     Can deliver a painful sting.
     The Bluebottlefish, Nomeus gronovii, is often found in association with Physalia.          
     
     
     
     
     Portuguese Man-of-War
     
     
     BIVALVES  (Class Bivalvia, in the Phyllum Mollusca, MOLLUSCS) 
     
     
187. Atlantic Black Sea Hare  (or "Tinta" in Spanish) (*)  ______  YP (seen from shore)
     Aplysia morio
     
     
     
     
     This odd creature was seen in the water of a coastal bay 
     from the shoreline in the northern Yucatan,
     after dark, during the FONT Mexico tour in March 2009.
     In English, it's called the Atlantic Black Sea Hare. 
     Its scientific name is Aplysia morio.
     In Spanish, it's a "Tinta", so called because it ejects ink when disturbed.
     The word "tinta" in Spanish means "ink".
     The creature, 16 inches long, and 14 inches across, 
     is in the Phylum Mollusca (the Molluscs),
     and in the Class Bivalva (Bivalves) as are other things such as 
     the Common Periwinkle, the Slipper Limpet, and the Green Ormer.   
     The Sea Hare swims in the direction of its "two-pronged head",
     in other words, toward the upper left of the photo.    
     (photo by Marie Gardner) 
     
     
     xxx
     
     
188. Atlantic Oval Squid ______
     Sepioteuthis sepioidea
     
     
189. Common Atlantic Octopus ______ 
     Octupus vulgaris 
     
     
     
     BENEATH MUCH OF THE LIMESTONE SURFACE THAT MAKES UP MOST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO
     THERE'S WATER, AND IN SOME ODD CREATURES LIVE.
     WE SAW THE FOLLOWING IN POOLS IN A CAVE DURING THE FONT NOVEMBER 2008 YUCATAN, MEXICO TOUR:
     (Spanish names precede the scientific names.) 
     
     
190. Aguila Ciega  ("blind eel") (*) ______  YP
     Ophisternon infernale
     
     
191. Dama Blanca  (an eyeless, white fish) (*) ______ YP
     Ogilbia pearsei
     
     
192. Camaron Ciego  ("blind shrimp") (*) ______ YP
     Creaseria morleyi
     
     
193. Cochinilla aguatica  (an eyeless crustacean) (*) ______ YP
     Creaseriella anops 
     
     
     

References include:

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

"Fishes of the Atlantic Coast: Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean", by Gar Goodson, 1976.