Species Gallery - Caribbean
SIZE: 0-14 in. max. 18 in
French Angelfish
Pomacanthus paruDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black with bright yellow rims on scales. 1. Tail rounded.
DESCRIPTION:
Bright yellow ring around eye. All fins black except base of pectoral which is yellow.
SIZE: 3-5 in. max. 6 in
Banded Butterflyfish
Chaetodon striatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Two wide, black midbody bands.
DESCRIPTION:
Silver to white. black bar on head runs across eye; blackish border on rear of body, base of rear dorsal and anal fins.
SIZE: 3-4 in. max. 6 in
Foureye Butterflyfish
Chaetodon capistratusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black spot, ringed in white, on rear body near upper base of tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Silver-gray. Marked with numerous dark, thin lines that radiate at a diagonal from midbody; black bar on hear runs across eye; yellowish submarginal band on rear dorsal, tail and anal fins.
SIZE: 3-6 in. max. 8 in
Spotfin Butterflyfish
Chaetodon ocellatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Fins (except pectoral) bright yellow. 2. Black dot on outer edge of rear dorsal fin.
DESCRIPTION:
Silver-white. Black bar on head runs across eye; may have darkish spot on rear dorsal fin below distinctive black dot noted above.
SIZE: 8-14 in. max. 18 in
Queen Angelfish
Holacanthus ciliarisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark blue spot on forehead, speckled and ringed with brilliant blue, forms the "crown." 2. Tail yellow.
DESCRIPTION:
Blue to greenish blue, with yellow rims on scales; yellow ventral and pectoral fins; deep blue lips and markings on gill cover; yellowish face.
SIZE: 10-18 in. max 2 ft.
Gray Angelfish
Pomacanthus arcuatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Gray body. 1. Yellow inner face of pectoral fin. 2. Square-cut tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Uniformly gray to grayish brown with light-edged scales.
SIZE: 5-8 in. max 12 in
Rock Beauty
Holacanthus tricolorDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow to yellow-orange forebode and tail. 2. Mid and rear body black.
DESCRIPTION:
Face and lips occasionally navy blue. Individuals along North and South Americn coasts less brilliantly colored.
SIZE: 6-12 in. max. 15 in
Ocean Surgeonfish
Acanthurus bahianusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Uniform color with no body bars.
DESCRIPTION:
Can change from bluish gray to dark brown, and pale or darken dramatically. Markings radiate from eye. Blue or white edging on dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have pale band on base of tail.
SIZE: 6-12 in. max. 14 in
Doctorfish
Acanthurus chirurgusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Always have body bars (10-12), although they may be quite faint.
DESCRIPTION:
Can change from bluish gray to dark brown, and pale or darken dramatically. Several markings radiate from eye. Blue or white edging on dorsal, anal and tail fins. May have pale band on base of tail.
SIZE: 8-14 in. max 2 ft.
Bar Jack
Caranx ruberDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bright blue-and-black border on back runs along dorsal fin and onto lower tail fin.
DESCRIPTION:
Silvery. Can darken almost to black, especially when feeding near bottom.
SIZE: 1 1/2 - 3 ft. max. 6 ft.
Great Barracuda
Sphyraena barracudaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Silver. Long, cylindrical body. 1. Large underslung jaw, pointed teeth often obvious.
DESCRIPTION:
Usually has scattered, dark blotches. Can darken showing side bands. Dorsal fins widely separated.
SIZE: 1-2 ft. max. 2 1/2 ft.
Bermuda Chub/Yellow Chub
Kyphosus sectatrix/incisorDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Gray to silver. "Football-shaped" body. (Note: Reliably distinguishing between these two species visually while underwater is considered impossible.)
DESCRIPTION:
Initially appear uniformly gray to silver; occasionally display whitish blotches. A close look reveals thin yellow to bronze stripes on body and a stripe, bordered in white, under eye from mouth to gill cover.
SIZE: 6-10 in. max 1 ft.
French Grunt
Haemulon flavolineatumDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Yellow stripes below lateral line set on diagonal.
DESCRIPTION:
Yellow stripes on a white to bluish or yellowish silver background. Stripes above lateral line are horizontal. Fins yellow.
SIZE: 8-14 in. max. 18 in.
Bluestriped Grunt
Haemulon sciurusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Dark tail and rear dorsal fin. 2. Blue stripes.
DESCRIPTION:
Blue stripes over yellow-gold. Dark tail and dorsal fins have light margins; other fins yellow.
SIZE: 1-2 ft. max. 2 1/2 ft.
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Brilliant yellow midbody stripe and tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Silvery to white, often tinged with blue. May have yellow spots on upper body. Tail deeply forked.
SIZE: 2 - 3 1/2 in. max. 4 in.
Bicolor Damselfish
Stegastes partitusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Black and white. 1. Forebody is usually black.
DESCRIPTION:
Location of boundary between dark and pale area varies greatly; dark area may cover only upper head or extend past midbody to base of tail; pale area often yellowish near boundary, especially toward belly. Pale fins may have bluish cast. On rare occasion, there is a reverse color phase.
SIZE: 4 - 6 1/2 in. max. 7 1/2 in.
Yellowtail Damselfish
Microspathodon chrysurusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Dark body. 1. Yellow tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Vary from brown to bluish black. Bright blue speckles on head, back and dorsal fin.
SIZE: 4 - 6 in. max. 7 in.
Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Five black body bars. 2. Upper lip does not overhang lower.
DESCRIPTION:
Upper body usually yellow, occasionally with shades of green to blue, and white to bluish silver or light gray below. Male becomes dark blue to purple during mating season when guarding reddish purple egg patches.
SIZE: 3 - 4 in. max. 5 in.
Blue Chromis
Chromis cyaneaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant blue. 1. Slender, deeply forked tail with dark borders.
DESCRIPTION:
Often dark on nape and along back.
SIZE: 3 - 5 1/2 in. max 6 1/2 in.
Brown Chromis
Chromis multilineataDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brown. 1. Border of dorsal fin and tips of tail fin yellow. 2. Dark spot around base of pectoral fin.
DESCRIPTION:
Vary from brownish gray to olive-brown. Usually a white or pale yellow spot located just below last dorsal fin ray; may have black borders on tail, primarily in southern Caribbean. Slender, deeply forked tail.