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Fish of West Flower Garden Bank, Texas (199 Species)
Generated
with TSNL
Ecological Database Version 1.0. 1996,
2000. Austin: Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.
Other Texas Localities: Colorado River Basin Galveston Bay
Acanthuridae
(Surgeonfishes) Antennariidae (Frogfishes) Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes) Aulostomidae
(Trumpetfishes) Balistidae
(Leatherjackets) Belonidae (Needlefishes)
Blenniidae (Combtooth Blennies) Carangidae (Jacks) Carcharhinidae
(Requiem Sharks) Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes) Chlopsidae (False Morays) Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes) Clinidae (Clinids)
Congridae (Conger Eels) Coryphaenidae (Dolphins) Dasyatidae (Stingrays) Echeneidae (Remoras) Emmelichthyidae
(Rovers) Exocoetidae (Flyingfishes, includes the
Family Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)) Gadidae (Cods) Gobiidae (Gobies) Haemulidae (Grunts)
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes) Kyphosidae (Sea Chubs)
Labridae (Wrasses) Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks) Lutjanidae
(Snappers) Malacanthidae (Tilefishes) Mobulidae (Mantas) Molidae (Molas) Moringuidae (Spaghetti Eels) Mugilidae (Mullets)
Muraenidae (Morays) Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes) Ophichthidae (Snake
Eels) Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) Ostraciidae (Boxfishes) Polynemidae (Threadfins) Pomacanthidae
(Angelfishes) Pomacentridae (Damselfishes) Priacanthidae (Bigeyes) Rhincodontidae
(Carpet Sharks) Scaridae (Parrotfishes) Sciaenidae (Drums)
Scombridae (Mackerels) Scorpaenidae
(Scorpionfishes) Serranidae (Sea Basses)
Sparidae (Porgies) Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead Sharks) Squatinidae (Angel Sharks) Synodontidae (Lizard Fishes)
Elasmobranchiomorphi (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Lamniformes
5 Rhincodontidae
(Carpet Sharks)
9 Ginglymostoma
cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788) nurse shark
8 Lamnidae
(Mackerel Sharks)
16 Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 shortfin mako
10 Carcharhinidae
(Requiem Sharks)
26 Carcharhinus
falciformis (Bibron, 1841) silky shark
Carcharhinus falciformis (Bibron) includes C. floridanus (=Eulamia floridana) (Bigelow, Schroeder
& Springer) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 65).
35 Galeocerdo cuvier (Peron & Lesueur, 1822) tiger shark
40 Rhizoprionodon
terraenovae (Richardson, 1836) Atlantic sharpnose shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae (Richardson) includes Scoliodon
terraenovae (Richardson) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 66).
11 Sphyrnidae
(Hammerhead Sharks)
41 Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) scalloped hammerhead
Squaliformes
13 Squatinidae
(Angel Sharks)
52 Squatina dumeril Lesueur, 1818
Atlantic angel shark
Rajiformes
18 Dasyatidae
(Stingrays)
72 Dasyatis americana Hildebrand & Schroeder, 1928 southern stingray
20 Myliobatidae (Eagle
Rays)
79 Aetobatis narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) spotted eagle ray
81 Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill, 1815) cownose ray
21 Mobulidae
(Mantas)
82 Manta birostris (Walbaum, 1792)
manta
Osteichthyes (Bony Fishes)
Anguilliformes
32 Moringuidae
(Spaghetti Eels)
101 Moringua edwardsi (Jordan & Bohlman, 1889) spaghetti eel
33 Chlopsidae
(False Morays)
103 Kaupichthys nuchalis Böhlke, 1967
collared eel
34 Muraenidae
(Morays)
105 Enchelycore
nigricans (Bonnaterre, 1788) viper moray
108 Gymnothorax moringa (Cuvier, 1829)
spotted moray
109 Gymnothorax
nigromarginatus (Girard, 1859) blackedge moray
Gymnothorax nigromarginatus (Girard) frequently is misidentified
as G. ocellatus Agassiz or G. saxicola Jordan & Davis, and may be the only species to occur in the
Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (editor's note (JDM)).
37 Ophichthidae
(Snake Eels)
127 Myrichthys breviceps (Richardson, 1845) sharptail eel
Myrichthys breviceps (Richardson) includes M. acuminatus (Gronow)
(Robins et al. 1991, p. 73).
133 Ophichthus rex Böhlke & Caruso, 1980 king snake eel
40 Congridae
(Conger Eels)
154 Uroconger syringinus Ginsburg, 1954
threadtail conger
Aulopiformes
60 Synodontidae
(Lizard Fishes)
334 Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1766) inshore lizardfish
335 Synodus intermedius (Agassiz, 1829)
sand diver
337 Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) red lizardfish
Gadiformes
69 Gadidae
(Cods)
388 Urophycis floridana (Bean & Dresel, 1884) southern hake
Lophiiformes
76 Antennariidae
(Frogfishes)
451 Antennarius radiosus Garman, 1896
singlespot frogfish
78 Ogcocephalidae
(Batfishes)
457 Ogcocephalus
corniger Bradbury, 1980 longnose batfish
Ogcocephalus corniger Bradbury includes the North American batfish
formerly known as O. vespertilio (Linnaeus) (Robins et al. 1991, pp.
81-82. Bradbury (1980, p. 276) gives
the range of O. corniger as the southeastern U.S. coast and eastern Gulf.
Atheriniformes
82 Exocoetidae
(Flyingfishes)
468 Cypselurus
cyanopterus (Valenciennes,
1847) margined flyingfish
471 Cypselurus melanurus (Valenciennes, 1847) Atlantic flying fish
Cypselurus melanurus (Valenciennes) includes Gulf of Mexico
specimens previously assigned to C. heterurus (Rafinesque) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 77).
472 Euleptorhamphus
velox Poey, 1868 flying halfbeak
474 Hemiramphus balao (Lesueur, 1821)
balao
475 Hemiramphus
brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758) ballyhoo
477 Hirundichthys
rondeleti (Valenciennes,
1847) blackwing flyingfish
Hirundichthys rondeleti (Valenciennes) includes Prognichthys
rondeleti (Valenciennes) and Danichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes) (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 72; Parin 1986, p. 617; Parin and Gibbs 1990, p. 589).
481 Parexocoetus
brachypterus (Richardson, 1846) sailfin flyingfish
83 Belonidae
(Needlefishes)
483 Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) flat needlefish
484 Platybelone argalus (Lesueur, 1821)
keeltail needlefish
Platybelone argalus (Lesueur) includes Strongylura argala
(Leseur), S. (or Belone) longleyi Breder, Belone platyura Bennett, B. trachura
Valenciennes, and B. lovii Günther
(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 72; Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 152).
487 Tylosurus acus (Lacepède, 1803) agujon
Tylosurus acus (Lacepède) includes Strongylura aca (Lacepède) and
Esox imperialis Rafinesque (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 72; Collette and Parin 1986,
p. 608; 1990, p. 596).
Beryciformes
93 Holocentridae
(Squirrelfishes)
540 Holocentrus
adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765) squirrelfish
541 Holocentrus marianus (Cuvier, 1829)
longjaw squirrelfish
Holocentrus marianus (Cuvier) in Robins et al. (1991, p. 36)
includes Flammeo marianus (Cuvier) in Böhlke and Chaplin (1993) and Neoniphon
marianus (Cuvier) in Randall and Heemstra (1985).
542 Holocentrus poco (Woods, 1965)
saddle squirrelfish
543 Holocentrus rufus (Walbaum, 1792)
longspine squirrelfish
544 Holocentrus
vexillarius (Poey, 1860) dusky squirrelfish
545 Myripristis jacobus Cuvier, 1829
blackbar soldierfish
546 Plectrypops
retrospinus (Guichenot, 1853) cardinal soldierfish
Gasterosteiformes
100 Aulostomidae
(Trumpetfishes)
556 Aulostomus maculatus Valenciennes, 1845 trumpetfish
Scorpaeniformes
105 Scorpaenidae
(Scorpionfishes)
580 Scorpaenodes
caribbaeus Meek & Hildebrand,
1928 reef scorpionfish
Perciformes
109 Serranidae
(Sea Basses)
611 Centropristis
philadelphica (Linnaeus, 1758) rock sea bass
615 Epinephelus
adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765) rock hind
616 Epinephelus
cruentatus (Lacepède, 1802) graysby
Epinephelus cruentatus (Lacepède) includes Petrometopon cruentatum
(Lacepède) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 81).
618 Epinephelus
flavolimbatus Poey, 1865 yellowedge grouper
619 Epinephelus fulvus (Linnaeus, 1758) coney
Epinephelus fulvus (Linnaeus) includes Cephalopholis fulva
(Linnaeus) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 81).
620 Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus, 1758) red hind
621 Epinephelus inermis (Valenciennes, 1833) marbled grouper
Epinephelus inermis (Valenciennes) includes Dermatolepis inermis
(Valenciennes) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 81).
623 Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes, 1828) red grouper
624 Epinephelus nigritis (Holbrook, 1855) Warsaw grouper
625 Epinephelus niveatus (Valenciennes, 1828) snowy grouper
627 Gonioplectrus
hispanus (Cuvier, 1828) Spanish flag
629 Hemanthias leptus (Ginsburg, 1952) longtail bass
630 Hemanthias vivanus (Jordan & Swain, 1884) red barbier
631 Holanthias
martinicensis (Guichenot, 1868) roughtongue bass
Holanthias martinicensis (Guichenot) includes Ocyanthias
martinicensis (Guichenot) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 81).
633 Liopropoma eukrines (Starck & Courtenay, 1962) wrasse bass
Liopropoma eukrines (Starck & Courtenay) includes
Chorististium eukrines Starck & Courtenay (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 74).
634 Liopropoma rubre Poey, 1861
peppermint bass
635 Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey, 1860)
black grouper
636 Mycteroperca
interstitialis (Poey, 1860) yellowmouth grouper
637 Mycteroperca
microlepis (Goode & Bean,
1879) gag
638 Mycteroperca phenax Jordan & Swain, 1884 scamp
640 Mycteroperca tigris (Valenciennes, 1833) tiger grouper
641 Mycteroperca
venenosa (Linnaeus, 1758) yellowfin grouper
642 Paranthias furcifer (Valenciennes, 1828) creole-fish
645 Rypticus
subbifrentus (Gill, 1861) spotted soapfish
The Genus Rypticus sometimes is included in the Family
Grammistidae (soapfishes) (Robins et al. 1991, p. 88).
647 Serranus annularis (Günther, 1880)
orangeback bass
Serranus annularis (Günther) includes Prionodes annularis
(Günther) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 74).
648 Serranus
atrobranchus (Cuvier, 1829) blackear bass
Serranus atrobranchus (Cuvier) includes Prionodes atrobranchus
(Cuvier), P. pomospilus (Ginsburg), and Paracentropristes pomospilus Ginsburg
(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 74; Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 170).
649 Serranus phoebe Poey, 1852
tattler
Serranus phoebe Poey includes Prionodes phoebe (Poey) (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 74).
650 Serranus subligarius (Cope, 1870)
belted sandfish
Serranus subligarius (Cope) includes Serranellus subligarius
(Cope)(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 74).
112 Priacanthidae
(Bigeyes)
695 Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier, 1829
bigeye
696 Priacanthus
cruentatus (Lacepède, 1801) glass-eye snapper
Priacanthus cruentatus Lacepède includes Heteropriacanthus
cruentatus (Lacepède) (Robins et al. 1991, p. 90).
697 Pristigenys alta (Gill, 1862)
short bigeye
Pristigenys alta (Gill) includes Pseudopriacanthus altus (Gill)
(Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 176).
113 Apogonidae
(Cardinalfishes)
699 Apogon maculatus (Poey, 1860)
flamefish
701 Apogon townsendi (Breder, 1927)
belted cardinalfish
706 Phaeoptyx conklini (Silvester, 1916) freckled cardinalfish
Phaeoptyx conklini (Silvester) includes Apogon conklini
(Silvester) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76).
707 Phaeoptyx
pigmentaria (Poey, 1860) dusky cardinalfish
Phaeoptyx pigmentaria (Poey) includes Apogon pigmentaria (Poey)
(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76).
114 Malacanthidae
(Tilefishes)
709 Caulolatilis cyanops Poey, 1866
blackline tilefish
713 Malacanthus plumieri (Bloch, 1787)
sand tilefish
117 Echeneidae
(Remoras)
716 Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758
sharksucker
118 Carangidae
(Jacks)
721 Alectis ciliaris (Bloch, 1787)
African pompano
Alectis ciliaris (Bloch) includes A. crinitus (Mitchill) (Robins
et al. 1980, p. 83; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, p. 730).
722 Caranx bartholomaei Cuvier, 1833
yellow jack
Caranx bartholomaei Cuvier includes Carangoides bartholomaei
(Cuvier) (Robins et al. 1991, p. 91).
723 Caranx crysos (Mitchill, 1815) blue runner
Caranx crysos (Mitchill) includes C. fusus Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire (Smith-Vaniz
1986, p. 823; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, p. 732).
724 Caranx hippos (Linnaeus, 1766) crevalle jack
725 Caranx latus Agassiz, 1831
horse-eye jack
726 Caranx lugubris Poey, 1860
black jack
Caranx lugubris Poey includes C. ascensionis Cuvier (Smith-Vaniz
1986, p. 826; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, p. 734).
727 Caranx ruber (Bloch, 1793)
bar jack
Caranx ruber (Bloch) includes Carangoides ruber (Bloch) (Robins et
al. 1991, p. 91).
730 Elagatis bipinnulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) rainbow runner
737 Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810)
greater amberjack
Serioli dumerili (Risso) includes S. purpurescens Temminck &
Schlegel, S. simplex Ramsay & Ogilby, and S. rhombica Smith (Smith-Vaniz
1986, p. 837; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, p. 747).
739 Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes, 1833 almaco jack
Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes includes S. falcata Cuvier, S.
colburni Evermann & Clark, and S. songora Smith (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76;
Smith-Vaniz 1986, p. 839; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, pp. 748-749).
740 Seriola zonata (Mitchill, 1815) banded rudderfish
744 Trachurus lathami Nichols, 1920
rough scad
119 Coryphaenidae
(Dolphins)
747 Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758
dolphin
120 Emmelichthyidae (Rovers)
748 Emmelichthys ruber (Trunov, 1976)
121 Lutjanidae
(Snappers)
749 Apsilus dentatus Guichenot, 1853
black snapper
753 Lutjanus buccanella (Cuvier, 1828)
blackfin snapper
754 Lutjanus campechanus (Poey, 1860)
red snapper
Lutjanus campechanus (Poey) includes L. blackfordi (Goode &
Bean) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76).
756 Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758) gray snapper
757 Lutjanus jocu (Schneider, 1801) dog snapper
760 Lutjanus vivanus (Cuvier, 1828)
silk snapper
761 Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch, 1791)
yellowtail snapper
762 Pristipomoides
aquilonaris (Goode & Bean,
1896) wenchman
Pristipomoides aquilonaris (Goode & Bean) includes P.
andersoni Ginsburg (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76).
763 Rhomboplites
aurorubens (Cuvier, 1829) vermillon snapper
124 Haemulidae
(Grunts)
777 Haemulon melanurum (Linnaeus, 1758) cottonwick
780 Haemulon striatum (Linnaeus, 1758) striped grunt
125 Sparidae
(Porgies)
788 Calamus leucosteus Jordan & Gilbert, 1884 whitebone porgy
789 Calamus nodosus Randall & Caldwell, 1966 knobbed porgy
793 Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus, 1758) red porgy
Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus) includes P. sedicum Ginsburg (Robins et
al. 1980, p. 85).
794 Stenotomus caprinus Bean, 1882
longspine porgy
126 Sciaenidae
(Drums)
801 Equetus acuminatus (Schneider, 1801) high-hat
Equetus acuminatus (Schneider) includes Pareques acuminatus
(Schneider) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 85).
802 Equetus lanceolatus (Linnaeus, 1758) jackknife fish
803 Equetus punctatus (Schneider, 1801) spotted drum
804 Equetus umbrosus Jordan & Eigenmann, 1889 cubbyu
Equetus umbrosus Jordan & Eigenmann includes Pareques umbrosus
(Jordan & Eigenmann) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 85).
127 Mullidae
(Goatfishes)
816 Mulloidichthys
martinicus (Cuvier, 1829) yellow goatfish
Mulloidichthys martinicus (Cuvier) includes Mulloides martinicus
(Cuvier) (Robins et al. 1991, pp. 91-92).
818 Pseudupeneus
maculatus (Bloch, 1793) spotted goatfish
128 Kyphosidae
(Sea Chubs)
820 Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier, 1831)
yellow chub
821 Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnaeus, 1758) Bermuda chub
130 Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
823 Chaetodon aculeatus (Poey, 1860)
longsnout butterflyfish
Chaetodon aculeatus (Poey) includes Prognathodes aculeatus (Poey)
(Robins et al. 1980, p. 85).
824 Chaetodon aya Jordan, 1886
bank butterflyfish
825 Chaetodon
capistratus Linnaeus, 1758 foureye butterflyfish
826 Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch, 1787
spotfin butterflyfish
827 Chaetodon
sedentarius Poey, 1860 reef butterflyfish
828 Chaetodon striatus Linnaeus, 1758
banded butterflyfish
131 Pomacanthidae
(Angelfishes)
829 Centropyge argi Woods & Kanazawa, 1951 cherubfish
830 Holacanthus
bermudensis Goode, 1876 blue angelfish
Holacanthus bermudensis Goode includes H. isabelita (Jordan &
Rutter) (Bailey et al. 1970, pp. 77-78).
831 Holacanthus ciliaris (Linnaeus, 1758) queen angelfish
832 Holacanthus tricolor (Bloch, 1795)
rock beauty
833 Pomacanthus arcuatus (Linnaeus, 1758) gray angelfish
Pomacanthus arcuatus (Linnaeus) and P. paru (Bloch) often are
confused (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 78; Hoese and Moore 1977, pp. 212-213).
834 Pomacanthus paru (Bloch, 1787)
French angelfish
Pomacanthus arcuatus (Linnaeus) and P. paru (Bloch) often are confused
(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 78; Hoese and Moore 1977, pp. 212-213).
133 Pomacentridae
(Damselfishes)
841 Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) sergeant major
843 Chromis cyanea (Poey, 1860)
blue chromis
844 Chromis enchrysurus Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 yellowtail reeffish
845 Chromis insolata (Cuvier, 1830)
sunshinefish
846 Chromis multilineata (Guichenot, 1853) brown chromis
847 Chromis scotti Emery, 1968
purple reeffish
848 Microspathodon
chrysurus (Cuvier, 1830) yellowtail damselfish
849 Pomacentrus fuscus Cuvier, 1830
dusky damselfish
The Genus Pomacentrus includes the Genus Eupomacentrus (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 78). Pomacentrus fuscus
Cuvier includes P. dorsopunicans (Poey) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 78.
851 Pomacentrus partitus Poey, 1868
bicolor damselfish
The Genus Pomacentrus includes the Genus Eupomacentrus (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 78).
852 Pomacentrus
planifrons Cuvier, 1830 threespot damselfish
The Genus Pomacentrus includes the Genus Eupomacentrus (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 78).
853 Pomacentrus
variabilis (Castelnau, 1855) cocoa damselfish
The Genus Pomacentrus includes the Genus Eupomacentrus (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 78).
134 Cirrhitidae
(Hawkfishes)
854 Amblycirrhitus pinos (Mowbray, 1927)
redspotted hawkfish
135 Mugilidae
(Mullets)
856 Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758
striped mullet
857 Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 white mullet
136 Sphyraenidae
(Barracudas)
859 Sphyraena barracuda (Walbaum, 1792)
great barracuda
137 Po