Ocean Fishes

One of the swiftest and sturdiest predators in the open ocean, the Atlantic bluefin tuna is the object of several small- and large-scale fisheries all over its range. The Atlantic bluefin tuna is the largest species of tuna and unquestionably the largest species in the mackerel family, with historical weights of up to 2000 pounds (900 kg) and lengths of about 15 feet (4.6 m). Although Atlantic bluefin tuna consume a wide range of prey, they seem to favor pelagic fish and entire invertebrates.

One of the most well-studied and well-known marine fisheries management success stories in the world is the Atlantic cod. This huge, predatory fish, which can grow to be at least 6.5 feet (2 metres) long and weigh more than 200 pounds (96 kilogrammes), is renowned for its white, flaky meat, which forms the foundation of many cuisines in North America and Europe.

The origin of the name "Atlantic goliath grouper" is obvious. This species is one of the greatest predators on coral reefs and along mangrove forests in the Atlantic Ocean as well as one of the largest groupers in the world, growing to lengths of at least 8 feet (2.5 m) and weighing up to 700 pounds (320 kg).

The Atlantic salmon is a famous species in the north Atlantic Ocean and has historically been a major source of income for substantial fisheries all over its range. The North American, European, and Baltic populations of Atlantic salmon constitute three separate populations. This species, like all salmons, is renowned for making protracted migrations and going through significant physiological changes as its habitat shifts from freshwater rivers to coastal seas and back to freshwater rivers.

The Caribbean Sea and its surrounding waters are home to the timid coral reef fish known as the Atlantic trumpetfish. It is reported to grow to lengths of over three feet and is long, slender, and somewhat compressed from side to side (as opposed to cylindrical, like certain eels) (one meter). Like all trumpetfishes, the Atlantic trumpetfish suction feeds by using its similar-looking head, which it shares with pipefishes and seahorses. Its mouth may appear to be huge, but it is actually quite little and just minimally opens at the tip of its long snout.

Even a cursory glimpse at an Atlantic wolffish, and an observer knows how it gained its common name. It has exceptionally huge teeth that jut out of its mouth, even when closed, giving it a vicious aspect. Despite how they may appear, Atlantic wolffish are not typically hostile towards humans and are not known to bite without being provoked. Despite not being eels, they are commonly referred to as "wolf eels" because of their lengthy, eel-like bodies. Instead, they are highly developed fish with strong ties to sculpins.

Small-bodied fish called the banded butterflyfish on coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean. The Banded butterflyfish, like all butterflyfishes, has a discus-shaped body and a very small mouth, making it ideal for biting its preferred prey, small worms and living, soft coral tissue. The string of vertical, dark bars (or bands) that aid in this species' concealment gave rise to its common name. In order to protect it from potential predators and make it difficult for them to tell which end of the body is the head and which end is the tail, one of the bands always covers the eye.

The largest sturgeon and one of the largest bony fishes in the world, the beluga sturgeon may grow to lengths of 24 feet (7 metres) and weigh more than 3500 pounds (1500 kilogrammes). Its life cycle is similar to that of salmons in that it is born in freshwater rivers, grows up mostly in saltwater, and then returns to the rivers to spawn every year. Beluga sturgeon, unlike salmon, reproduce continuously, and huge individuals can live for over a century.

The blue marlin is one of the swiftest, sturdiest predators in the open ocean and one of the most prized game fish throughout its range. The blue marlin is one of the largest species of bony fish, growing to weights of at least 1800 pounds (820 kg) and lengths of more than 16 feet (5 m).

The surgeonfish, which includes the blue tang, are named after the spine that resembles a scalpel and is located on the side of the body, just before the tail. All surgeonfishes, including blue tangs, employ these spines to protect themselves from predators. To make themselves more difficult to swallow or to hurt their predators, they erect the sharp spines.

A little, vividly colourful fish called the bluebanded goby inhabits the rocky reefs of the eastern Pacific Ocean. They belong to the group of fish species known as cryptobenthic fish, which are small-bodied, stay in close proximity to the reef surface, and rely on crypsis to protect themselves from predators. Despite being small, the species in this category are crucial for nutrient cycling and energy transfer in rocky reef environments.

The Caribbean Sea and its surrounding seas are home to the small-bodied bluehead wrasse, which lives on coral reefs (Florida, Bermuda, and the Gulf of Mexico). The bluehead wrasse is one of the most extensively researched reef fishes on Caribbean reefs because of its intriguing mating system, which is covered below.

One of two silverside species in the genus Leuresthes recognised for their peculiar mating rituals is the California grunion (see below). The nearly related Gulf grunion (Leuresthes sardinas), which is only found in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico, dwells off the coast of California and Baja California.

The Chilean common hake, a medium-sized predator that spends the majority of its time on or near the seafloor, is a significant fisheries species off the coastlines of Chile and Peru. It can be seen or photographed at depths ranging from 165 feet (50 metres) to 1650 feet (500 m).

The Chilean jack mackerel is actually a jack, not a mackerel. So perhaps "mackerel jack" would be a more appropriate name for this species. It inhabits the fruitful waters of upwelling zones, where strong currents bring deep, nutrient-rich seawater to the surface. These areas are where Chilean jack mackerel eat and generate enormous schools that are heavily targeted by commercial fishermen. Chilean jack mackerel have been caught by fishing nations in such huge quantities in recent years that international agreements have been made to regulate these fishing activities among various states.

The Chinook salmon, often known as the King salmon, is a well-known species in the north Pacific Ocean and was formerly among the most prevalent large fishes there. The Chinook salmon is the biggest of the Pacific salmons, growing to lengths of 4.5 feet (1.5 m) and weighing more than 120 pounds (about 55 kg). This species, like all salmons, is renowned for making protracted migrations and going through considerable physiological changes as its habitat shifts from freshwater rivers to coastal waters and back to freshwater rivers.

The Indo-Pacific Ocean's coral reefs are home to the vividly coloured clown triggerfish, which hunts for food there. The clown triggerfish has extremely powerful jaws and broad teeth, like all triggerfishes, making it ideal for consuming its preferred prey, hard-shelled invertebrates including sea urchins, crabs, and mollusks. The clown triggerfish's name makes perfect sense given that its head patterns, lines, and spots practically resemble clown makeup.

The coelacanth is a rare marine fish that is a living representative of a once-common lineage of fishes. This and the closely related Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis) share a number of physical characteristics with few or no other living species. Coelacanths were thought to be extinct for tens of millions of years, so the discovery of this species in the 1930s, followed by the discovery of the Indonesian coelacanth in the 1990s, are among the most significant natural history discoveries in recent history.

Coelacanths are found in deep waters off the coast of southeastern Africa. This species was discovered only after fishermen began fishing deeper and deeper. This entire family of fishes had previously only been known from fossils. Coelacanths are nocturnal predators that can grow to be over 6.5 feet (2 metres) long. They spend the day hiding in caves and other dark places, and at night they hunt small bony fish, squids, and other invertebrates. This species is distinguished by its limb-like fins. The lobe-finned fishes are made up of the coelacanth, the Indonesian coelacanth, and the lungfishes. Unlike most species, their fins are attached to short limbs rather than directly to the body.

The common clownfish is a well-known coral reef species and the star of a popular children's cartoon. Common clownfish, like all clownfishes (also known as anemonefishes), live within the tentacles of various venomous anemones. Mucous coats each individual's body, protecting it from the anemone's stinging cells, which it uses to kill and eat other fish. This relationship protects the common clownfish from predation by other fishes in exchange for the common clownfish removing parasites and chasing away species that may try to eat its host anemone.

The lifecycle of the common clownfish is both fascinating and unusual. This species, like all clownfishes, changes sex throughout its life. Sex change is not uncommon, but most species transition from female to male. Clownfishes transition from male to female. Everyone hatches as a male and eventually joins groups of a few people living in an anemone. The only female in each group is the largest individual, and she and the largest male are the only two who reproduce. The male fertilises the eggs laid on the reef surface by the large, dominant female. They protect the nest from egg predators until the eggs hatch. If the female is killed, the reproductive male switches sexes and becomes the dominant female. Like all others The next largest male in the group then becomes reproductively active, while the other males in the group remain subordinate.

The common dolphinfish has several names, including Dorado and Mahi Mahi. This species is beautifully coloured, with bright blue, green, and gold colours that are almost cartoon-like. It lives in tropical latitudes all over the world and is a popular sport and commercial fishery target throughout its range.

The common dolphinfish is a predator of the open ocean that feeds on small fish, squids, and pelagic crustaceans. It's also a popular prey item for sharks, billfish, and other large predators. As a result, the common dolphinfish, like skipjack tuna, plays an important intermediate role in open ocean food webs. Males are larger than females, reaching lengths of 6.5 feet (2 metres) but weighing only 88 pounds (40 kg). The common dolphinfish is an excellent swimmer known for its ability to catch flyingfish, their favourite prey. The large, broad forehead of this species serves as an attachment point for the strong muscles that run the length of the body.

The common dolphinfish grows extremely quickly and reaches sexual maturity in only 3-4 months. They grow from nearly microscopic larvae to a foot and a half (45 cm) long and a few pounds in that time. They reproduce by broadcast spawning, in which several females release eggs and several males release sperm into the water column at the same time. This method increases the chances that eggs will be fertilised successfully and that fertilised eggs will not be eaten by egg predators. A female produces millions of eggs during her lifetime, and, as with most fishes, older females produce exponentially more eggs than young females, making them some of the most important spawners. Because common dolphinfish spend the majority of the year in warm water, spawning occurs on an irregular basis throughout the year.

It's easy to understand how the common fangtooth got its name. These fish have mouths full of long, pointed teeth, making them ideal for catching and hanging on to prey of any size that wanders by in the deep sea. Deep-sea predators known as common fangtooths have been found at depths of over 16,000 feet (nearly 5000 m).

Common fangtooths are dark in colour, either solid brown or black, and, unlike most deep-sea fishes, lack light-producing organs or cells for communication or attracting prey. Instead, they rely heavily on their sense of smell and benefit from any amount of sunlight that makes its way down to the depths. Though the light is insufficient to see, potential prey species may cast a shadow as they pass overhead. In those circumstances, this species appears to have a "bite first, ask questions later" mentality.

The common fangtooth, along with the only other fangtooth species, is related to shallow-water squirrelfishes rather than other deep-sea fishes. Despite their intimidating appearance and voracious appetite, common fangtooths are harmless to humans. They live in the deep sea and are only 7 inches (18 cm) long.

The deep sea anglerfish, also known as the humpback anglerfish, is a medium-sized (7 inch/18 cm) anglerfish found in the open ocean's bathypelagic zone. This species lives at depths of at least 6600 feet (2000 m) in the complete absence of sunlight. Anglerfishes are named after the modified dorsal fin spine that they use to entice prey.

Because life in the deep sea is difficult, many fish have developed special adaptations to help them feed and mate. Deep sea anglerfish may not encounter suitable prey on a regular basis, so they have very large mouths and stomachs, as well as long, pointy teeth, to help them capture and swallow whatever they find. They, like all anglerfishes, have a lure that they use to attract prey. The deep sea anglerfish's lure contains bacteria that produce their own light. A deep sea anglerfish can hide or reveal its lighted lure by using a muscular skin flap. They successfully attract pelagic crustaceans, fish, and other prey by pulsing the light and moving the lure back and forth.

The lure can also be used to entice a mate. Females are the only people who fit the above description. Females are the large ambush predators with lighted lures. Males are extremely small (one inch/three centimetres) and do not hunt. They expend all of their energy after hatching, searching for mates, biting on larger females, and fertilising their eggs. In many anglerfishes, the male becomes parasitic and never leaves his mate, feeding on her blood and essentially becoming a sperm factory. That is not the case with the deep sea anglerfish. After only a brief union, the male gives up and seeks another mate. Even though they form these strong bonds during mating, reproduction is accomplished through external fertilisation. The female releases her eggs into the deep water column, and the male responds by releasing sperm, which finds and fertilises the eggs.

The flashlight fish is a fascinating species that is related to squirrelfishes, slimeheads, and other species. It lives on coral reefs and rocky outcrops throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The large light organs present under each eye give flashlight fish their name. It is notable for being one of the few shallow-water species capable of producing light.

The French angelfish is found on coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and surrounding waters. Because of its thin, disc-shaped body, it is difficult to see from the front but very easy to see from the side. They are black and gold in colour and look a lot like their close relative, the grey angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus), which lives in the same area.

Great barracudas are some of the sea's fastest fish. The barracuda's long and thin body is built for speed, and their top speed has been estimated to be 36 mph (58 kph). The distinctive silver shine of their scales, as well as the numerous dark bars on the upper half of their body, make them easily identifiable.

The green moray eel has a single long dorsal fin that runs the length of its body and connects to a second fin called the caudal fin. Their nostrils are visible through two small openings in their faces. Moray eels have two full rows of teeth on their upper jaw, but only one row on their lower jaw. Green moray eels have an average length of 5.91 feet from nose to tail.

The guineafowl puffer is a large puffer that can grow to be at least 20 inches (50 cm) long and lives on rocky and coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. This species, like all puffers, is known for its ability to "puff up" when threatened. The common name for the guineafowl puffer comes from its resemblance to guineafowl birds. It is usually black with small white spots on it. Some people, on the other hand, are bright gold with only a few spots. On the same reefs, these two morphs can be seen swimming together.

The John Dory is an unusual-looking fish that lives in the world oceans' tropical and temperate latitudes, except in the Americas (i.e., except in the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic oceans). There are several theories about the common name's origin, but there is little evidence about its actual meaning. The discus-shaped body is broad from the side but very thin from the front, allowing the John Dory to fool predators by "changing size" quickly by turning to the side. The dark spot on its side is also intended to cause confusion.

The leafy seadragon is a striking species native to Australia's southern coast. Though these fish look like seahorses, they are more closely related to pipefishes and may be intermediate between the two groups of fishes. Leafy seadragons get their name from their plant-like appearance, which allows them to blend in with the algae that grows on the seagrass beds and rocky reefs where they live.

The longsnout seahorse is native to the western Atlantic Ocean's tropical and warm temperate zones, and it is one of the largest seahorses in the region, reaching sizes of up to 7 inches (18 cm). The colour is quite variable (yellow, white, brown, and so on), but this species is distinguished by its covering of small, dark spots.

The Mexican lookdown is a silvery fish with an unusual shape and a steep forehead, hence its common name. This fish has a tall, broad profile from the side, but it is extremely thin and difficult to see from the front. The Mexican lookdown can fool both predators and prey by simply changing direction.

The Nassau grouper is a predatory fish found on the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea and its surrounding waters. It gets its name from the Bahamas, where it has historically had a large population. The Nassau grouper, like most groupers, is an ambush predator that feeds on large fish and invertebrates such as large crabs and lobsters.

The northern red snapper, one of the most popular sport fish in the Gulf of Mexico, is a powerful predator that has historically reached sizes of over three feet (one metre) and over 80 pounds (36 kg). Though many snappers in its range look similar, the northern red snapper reaches the largest size and is highly sought after by both sport fishers and the seafood industry. Northern red snapper populations have declined over the last several decades, and several other species of red-colored snappers have been mistakenly or deceptively marketed and sold as northern red snapper. This so-called "seafood fraud" is a major issue throughout the range of this species.

The oarfish is the world's longest bony fish, with claims of individuals reaching 50 feet (15 metres) and confirmed individuals reaching 35 feet (10.5 metres), and it has a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records to prove it. Despite reaching these extreme lengths, oarfish are extremely thin from side to side, with a maximum recorded weight of 600 pounds (272 kg).

The ocean sunfish is a large, oddly shaped fish that gets its name from floating on its side at the sea surface, warming itself in the sun. This species lacks a tail and swims using its massive dorsal and anal fins. It is the world's heaviest bony fish, weighing up to 5100 pounds (2300 kg), and the distance between the top of the dorsal and the bottom of the anal fin can be as much as 14 feet (4+ m).

Orange roughy is the common name for a seafood species known to scientists as slimehead. The seafood industry correctly assumed that people would prefer to eat orange roughy rather than slimehead, and that is now the species' commonly accepted common name. The orange roughy is a predatory species that lives on deep seamounts (undersea mountains) in the majority of the world's ocean basins. Individuals of this species, also known as the Atlantic roughy, have lived for more than 150 years, making it one of the longest living marine fish species. Because of its longevity and other life history characteristics, the orange roughy is vulnerable to overfishing.

The Pacific blackdragon is a deep-sea predator that lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean's deep waters, which range from 700 to 3300 feet (200-1000 metres). Despite spending the majority of their time in these deep waters, Pacific blackdragons are known to migrate to the surface at night in search of their preferred prey, small crustaceans and other fish.

The Pacific halibut is a large fish that lives in the north Pacific Ocean. It is the world's second largest flatfish, trailing only the closely related Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). The Pacific halibut is a large predator near the top of the north Pacific food web, reaching lengths of 8 feet (2.4 m) and weights of 500 pounds (230 kg).

The Pacific herring is a small fish that grows to be about 25cm in length. They are regarded as a keystone species, serving as the foundation of a vast and complex marine food web.

The Pacific sardine is a widespread species found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It has several subspecies and is a significant fishery species wherever it lives. Californian sardine, Chilean sardine, Australian pilchard, Japanese pilchard, and South African pilchard are all subspecies. It lives in the productive waters of upwelling zones, where the prevalent currents bring deep nutrient-rich seawater to the surface. In these zones, Pacific sardines feed and form massive schools that are heavily exploited by commercial fisheries.

The Patagonian toothfish is a large deep-sea predator named after the region where it was discovered (Patagonia, South America) and its strong, pointy teeth. Chilean seabass is commonly marketed in markets and restaurants. This species' name, like that of the orange roughy, was changed to make it more appealing to seafood buyers. When it was first developed as a high-value fisheries species, seafood distributors assumed that people would be more likely to buy a fish called Chilean seabass than one called Patagonian toothfish.

The Peruvian anchoveta is a small fish found primarily off the coasts of Chile and Peru in the southeast Pacific Ocean. It lives in the productive waters of upwelling zones, where the prevalent currents bring deep nutrient-rich seawater to the surface. Peruvian anchoveta feed in these zones, forming massive schools that can span several kilometres. Commercial fisheries heavily exploit these schools, making the Peruvian anchoveta by far the largest fishery in history, both in terms of individuals and weight.

Pink salmon is a well-known species in the north Pacific Ocean and one of the most important fishery species throughout its range. It has a maximum length of 30 inches (76 cm) and a weight of 15 pounds (6.8 kg). It is much smaller than Chinook and other salmons found in the Pacific Ocean. The pink salmon gets its name from the traditional pink colour of its flesh. This species, like all salmons, is known for long migrations and significant physiological changes as it transitions from freshwater rivers to coastal seas and back to freshwater rivers.

Hippocampus bargibanti, also known as the pygmy seahorse, is one of five known pygmy seahorse species. They live exclusively on Muricella gorgonian corals in the Indo-West Pacific at depths ranging from 52.5 to 131 feet (16-40 metres).

The queen angelfish is a well-known, brightly coloured species found on coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and its surrounding waters. Its colours are typically bright yellow, green, and blue, and its name comes from the coloration on its head, which gives the impression that it is wearing a crown. The thin, disc-shaped body of this species makes it difficult to see from the front but very easy to see from the side.

The queen parrotfish is a medium-sized parrotfish found in the Caribbean Sea and its surrounding waters. The parrotfishes are named after their powerful beaks, which are formed by the fusion of teeth into biting plates. The largest queen parrotfish are brightly coloured (blue, green, orange, and so on), and the species gets its name from a series of crown-like markings on the head above the eye. Juveniles and young adults have a drab, brownish appearance.

The red lionfish is a predatory scorpionfish found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and, more recently, the western Atlantic. Its common name comes from its long, colourful fin rays, which resemble a lion's mane. This species, like many scorpionfishes, has venom-filled spines in several of its fins. This species is well known for its successful, human-induced invasion of the western Atlantic Ocean, in addition to being a popular aquarium fish.

The sailfish is named after its sail-like dorsal fin and is widely regarded as the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour. This species is a popular game fish, distinguished by its long upper jaw, which it uses as a spear to strike and stun larger prey such as large bony fish and cephalopods.

The sarcastic fringehead is a small but fascinating fish that lives in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California and Baja California. Combating males in this species are known for their incredible display behaviours when defending adjacent territories. The sarcastic fringehead is a tube blenny, which means it lives in burrows or tube-like structures made by other animals. The shelters used by this species are those made by burrowing clams or empty snail shells. Some people have even been seen living in soda bottles or other man-made materials.

The scarlet frogfish is an ambush predator that lives on the Indian and Pacific oceans' rocky and coral reefs. It is a master of disguise and is extremely difficult to spot on the reef's surface. This species has a wide range of colour morphs depending on location, and even two individuals living on the same reef can look quite different. This species' members spend almost all of their time in constant contact with the reef surface, resting and crawling on modified fins that resemble legs. These "legs" are what give frogfish their common name.

Unlucky scorpionfish prey never see what's coming until it's too late. Members of the scorpionfish family are masters of camouflage, making them excellent ambush predators in their natural habitat. The scorpionfish family includes some of the most poisonous sea creatures. The scorpionfish is a force to be reckoned with in the sea due to their physical appearance and venomous spines.

The skipjack tuna is the most common and heavily fished large-bodied tuna species. For management purposes, it is commonly grouped with yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, and other 'true tunas' (genus Thunnus), but differences in anatomy and physiology have led scientists to classify the skipjack as a separate genus (Katsuwonus). The Skipjack differs from true tunas in that it lacks specialised structures that allow it to raise its body temperature above that of its surroundings. True tunas (and some other fishes) can control their body temperature to some extent (they are warm blooded), but skipjack body temperature is entirely determined by the surrounding water (i.e., they are cold blooded).

The slender sniper eel is a deep-sea predator that lives in the open ocean's mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones. It is long and slender, as the name implies, reaching lengths of at least four feet (1.3 m) but weighing only a few ounces (100 grammes). Its upper and lower jaws are both extended and full of small teeth, with curved tips that give the mouth a beak-like appearance. The slender snipe eel is a true eel, with more bones in the vertebral column (up to 750) than any other species.

Though their bodies resemble those of sharks, sawfishes are more closely related to skates and rays. They are large, coastal fishes distinguished by a long, tooth-covered rostrum (or snout) that protrudes from the front of the head. Unfortunately, overfishing and habitat loss have resulted in the extinction of several sawfish species.

Adult, sexually mature Red bodies and green heads distinguish sockeye salmon. They can weigh up to 15 pounds and grow to be about 2 feet long on average. Sockeye salmon are silver when they hatch, but as they grow into small fry or young fish, their back turns a metallic blue-green colour with fine black speckles. They turn red and green when they return to freshwater to spawn.

The spotted moray is one of several large moray species found on the western Atlantic Ocean's coral and rocky reefs. Spotted morays, as the name implies, are covered in spots from head to tail. All morays are true eels with the characteristic long, skinny body of other eels, and spotted morays can grow to be more than six feet long (two meters).

The spotted porcupinefish is one of several porcupinefishes known for their extremely strong spines and ability to "puff up" like their close relatives, the puffers. The spotted porcupinefish is frequently referred to simply as the porcupinefish, which can lead to confusion with the other 17 species in this group of fishes.

The spotted ratfish is one of 36 species of shortnose chimaeras, which are related to sharks and rays. It gets its common name from its long, thin tail, which early scientists mistakenly thought looked like a rat's. This species spends the majority of its time on or near the seafloor and is typically restricted to depths of less than 330 feet (100 m), but can be seen at much shallower depths at night and has been known to approach SCUBA divers diving after dark.

The stonefish, a close relative of scorpionfishes, is the world's most venomous fish. The stonefish can inject venom through its dorsal fin spines that can kill an adult in less than an hour. In nature, the stonefish uses its venom to avoid predation rather than to capture prey. The venom is extremely painful and is likely effective at repelling even the most powerful potential predators.

The loosejaws are deep-sea predators named after the fact that their jaws appear to be hinged in multiple places, allowing them to open widely and swing down and out to snare relatively large prey. Furthermore, because the mouth is not covered with skin, these fish rely on their long, needle-like teeth to capture and manipulate their prey before swallowing it whole.

Summer flounder is a flatfish found off North America's east coast, from Florida to Canada. It prefers muddy or sandy soft bottoms and lives in nearly constant contact with the seafloor. This species can be observed or captured at depths ranging from estuaries (and even lowland rivers) to more than 500 feet (150 m). Summer flounder can grow to be quite large, with individuals reaching three feet (one metre) in length. This species' common name derives from its proclivity to migrate to nearshore waters in the spring and summer and to offshore waters in the fall and winter. Summer flounder was the most common flounder during the summer when fishermen concentrated their efforts near shore.

The swordfish is one of the open ocean's fastest and most powerful predators, as well as an important fishery species wherever it lives. The swordfish is one of the largest bony fish species, reaching weights of at least 1400 pounds (650 kg) and lengths of nearly 15 feet (4.5 m). The common name for this species comes from the long, sword-like bill that grows from the front of its head. Swordfish stun their prey by slashing their heads side to side, knocking potential prey unconscious and making it easier to catch.

The tan bristlemouth is a small deep-sea fish that lives in the open ocean's mesopelagic zone. Scientists consider the bristlemouth fishes of the genus Cyclothone to be the most abundant vertebrates on the planet. Despite their abundance, they live in a difficult environment to study and are especially vulnerable when caught in deep-sea nets, so little is known about their biology and ecology.

The threespot damselfish can be found on coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and its surrounding waters (Florida and the Gulf of Mexico). Individuals have a series of spots on the body and just in front of the tail fin that fade or darken at different stages of their lives, explaining the common name. Adults are generally a drab, greenish brown colour, with juveniles being bright yellow and covered in tiny blue dots (in addition to their "spots").

The tropical two-wing flyingfish gets its common name from its habitat (the tropics), its greatly enlarged pectoral fins ("wings"), and its ability to glide long distances outside of the water to avoid predation. It is one of about 65 species of flyingfishes, which do not actually fly and are better referred to as "glidingfishes" because they cannot change direction. The two-wing flyingfishes glide with their enlarged pectoral fins, while the four-wing flyingfishes glide with their enlarged pelvic fins.

The wahoo is a large predatory mackerel that lives in the open ocean's epipelagic zone. This species is larger than any other non-tuna in the mackerel family, reaching lengths of nearly seven feet (2 m) and weights of at least 180 pounds (82 kg). (The Atlantic bluefin tuna, the largest true tuna, grows much larger.) Wahoo is widely regarded as excellent table fare, and it is sometimes marketed under its Hawaiian name, Ono.

The whiptail gulper is a deep-sea fish known for its ability to swallow prey at least the size of its own body. Its oversized jaws and stomach, which can stretch to accommodate large prey, allow it to swallow almost anything that swims by. This ability to attack and swallow large prey is one of several adaptations that contribute to the whiptail gulper's success as a deep sea predator.

The white-ring garden eel is a unique species found only on the Baja California Peninsula. It is a true eel with a length of at least three feet (one meter). The white-ring garden eel is one of about 35 garden eel species named after the aggregations they form on sandy bottoms near rocky and coral reefs.

Yellowfin tuna is one of the open ocean's fastest and strongest predators, as well as an important fishery species wherever it lives. The yellowfin tuna is a large species that can reach weights of at least 400 pounds (190 kg) and lengths of nearly 7 feet (2 m) (typically whole). Yellowfin tunas, like many other open ocean bony fishes, begin life as extremely small larvae, no more than a few millimetres long and weighing only a few hundredths of a gramme. Individuals reach sexual maturity and reach 3 feet (1 metre) in length within two years.