Gray's Reef Common Fish Identification Guide  Damselfishes-Family Pomacentridae  Squirrelfishes-Family Holocentridae  Angelfishes- Family Pomacanthidae  Blennies and Gobies  Surgeonfishes-Family Acanthuridae  Boxfishes/Trunkfishes-Family Ostraciidae  Cardinalfishes-Family Apogonidae  Puffers-Family Tetraodontidae  Porgies-Family Sparidae  Snappers-Family Lutjanidae  Triggerfishes-Family Balistidae  Toadfishes-Family Batrachoididae  Filefishes-Family Balistidae  Barracuda-Family Sphyraenidae  Jacks-Family Carangidae  Cobia-Family Rachycentridae  Sea Basses-Serranidae  Soapfishes-Family Grammistidae  Butterflyfishes-Family Chaetodontidae  Mackerels-Family Scombridae  Spadefishes-Family Ephippidae  Lizardfishes-Family Synodontidae  Drums-Family Sciaenidae  Goatfishes-Family Mullidae  Grunts-Family Haemulidae  Stingrays-Family Dasyatidae  Wrasses-Family Labrida  Nurse Shark- Family Orectolobidae (Please note any fish with an * is missing a picture for identification. Please refer to the illustrated field guide for those species at http://graysreef.noaa.gov/fishguide.html.) Damselfishes-Family Pomacentridae 1) Cocoa Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) Size: <125 mm Characteristics: Damselfish shape -Light adult and juvenille, blue above and rest of the body is yellow. Small dark spot of tail base distinguishes it from the beaugregory. Dark adult, brown above, paler below; dark spot below soft dorsal fin; vertical lines on body     *2) Sargeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) Size:<15 cm Characteristics: Damselfish shape - 5 dark bars *3) Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes variabilis) Size: <10 cm Characteristics: Deep body; blackish front, paler rear; orange cast at center; shallow forked tail Reef top  Angelfishes- Family Pomacanthidae 1) Blue angelfish (Holocanthus bermudensis ) Size: <38 cm Characteristics: Deep body; prominent preopercular spine; yellow-edged caudal fin; hybrids often have incomplete crown on forehead.   Surgeonfishes-Family Acanthuridae *1) Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahanius) Size:<30 cm Characteristics: Oval shape - whitish band and blue, knifelike folding spin on caudal peduncle *2) Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirugus) Size: <25 cm Charactersitics: Oval shape - 10-12 dark bars (sometimes obscure); knifelike folding spine on caudal peduncle Cardinalfishes-Family Apogonidae 1) Twospot Cardinalfish (Apogan psuedomaculatus ) Size:<10 cm Characteristics: Mostly reddish color; large eyes; two dark spots (below second dorsal fin and on caudal peduncle; Usually cryptic     top Porgies-Family Sparidae 1) Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus ) Size:<90 cm Characteristics: Deep body with small mouth and incisorlike teeth; 5-6 bands across body     2) Whitebone porgy (Calamus leucosteus ) Size:<45 cm Characteristics: Blue-silvery color; blue lines above and below eye, small mouth with incisorlike teeth     3) Spottail pinfish (Diplodus holbrooki) Size:<45 cm Characteristics: Deep compressed body; large eye;saddle/ring on caudal peduncle     *4) Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) Size:<35 cm Characteristics: Body deep compressed; smooth curve ventral profile; shoulder spot on lateral line; large eye 5) Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus ) Size: <90 cm Characteristics: Deep compressed body; silvery red with tiny blue spots; large eye; small mouth.     *6) Scup (Stenotomus chrysops ) Size:<45 cm Characteristics: Deeply compressed, dull silvery body; faint dark bars on body top Triggerfishes-Family Balistidae 1) Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus ) Size: <30 cm Characteristics: 1st dorsal has 3 spines with locking device; no pelvic fin; olive-gray coloration     Filefishes-Family Balistidae *1) Orange filefish (Cantherhines pullus ) Size:<60 cm Characteristics: Brownish-orange coloration; thin, nearly always bent dorsal spine top Jacks-Family Carangidae *1) Yellow Jack (Caranx bartholomaei ) Size:<1 m Characteristics: Bony scutes along caudal peduncle; underparts with a yellowish cast *2) Bar Jack (Caranx ruber ) Size:<60 cm Characteristics: Black stripe from soft dorsal fin to lower lobe of caudal fin 3) Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili ) Size:<1.5 m Characteristics: Elongate body form; dark stripe from snout, through eye, to first dorsal       4) Mackeral scad (Decapterus macarellus ) Size:<30 cm Characteristics: Slender, elongate body; black spot at opercle; small scutes     *5) Round scad (Decapterus punctatus ) Size: <23 cm Characteristics: Slender, elongate body; black spots along lateral line; enlarged rear scutes top Sea Basses-Serranidae 1) Belted Sandfish (Serranus subligarius ) Size: <10 cm Characteristics: Body boldly barred; belly abruptly white; large dark blotch at base of soft dorsal fin.       *2) Bank Sea Bass (Centropristus ocyurus ) Size: <30 cm Characteristics: Head/dark areas bluish; some russet in fins;dark spots on lateral line 3) Black sea bass (Centropristus striata )   Size: <60 cm Characteristics: Head/body dark, blotched; caudal, dorsal, anal fin edge white.     *4) Sand perch (Diplectrum formosum ) Size: <30 cm Characteristics: Elongate body form; many dark brown bars; head with many blue lines 5) Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis )   Size: <95 cm Characteristics: Grouper shape with prominent lower jaw; dark wormlike markings; preopercle has bony knob; edge of caudal fin nearly straight.     *6) Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax ) Size: <60 cm Characteristics: Grouper shape with prominent lower jaw; dark spots cover body in lines or blotches; similar to gag; tips of caudal fin extend like a broom. top Butterflyfishes-Family Chaetodontidae 1) Spotfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellatus )   Size: <28 cm Characteristics: Body deep, compressed; bar through eye; large spot base of 2nd dorsal fin; male has spot at tip of second dorsal fin.     *2) Reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius ) Size: <75 mm Characteristics: Body deep, compressed; dark bands through eye and caudal peduncle through anal fin top Spadefishes-Family Ephippidae 1) Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber ) Size: <90 cm Characteristics: Disk shape; silvery with dark bands; large fish may lack bands     Drums-Family Sciaenidae 1) Cubbyu (Equetes umbrosus) Size: <25 cm Characteristics: Small, brown with darker head and fins; dark stripes on side; first dorsal fin high and rounded     2) Highhat (Equetus acuminatus )   Size: <23 cm Characteristics: Dark fins; alternating brown/white stripes; front of head spotted; first dorsal fin high and rounded     top Grunts-Family Haemulidae 1) Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum)   Size: <25 cm Characteristics: Whitish, yellow stripe from snout to caudal fin; inside of mouth orange; often with dark spot at base of caudal peduncle   Wrasses-Family Labridae 1) Painted wrasse (Halichoeres caudalis ) Size: <28cm Characteristics: Male- greenish-blue; spot behind eye; dorsal/anal fins pinkish with blue stripes; striped caudal fin. Female-tan with 2 streaks on side     2) Pearly razorfish (Hemipteronotus novaculaa )   Size: <38 cm Characteristics: Steep forehead with eyes set high; broad, diagonal reddish bar on side; nearly vertical vertical lines below eye.   3) Tautog (Tautoga onitis ) Size: <90 cm Characteristics: Blunt snout; pronounced lips; Males-dark body white chin, blotch on side. Females-mottled and blotched     4) Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus )   Size: <20 cm Characteristics: Elongate body with 2 dark stripes; black spot at base of last dorsal ray; males are brightly colored     top Squirrelfishes-Family Holocentridae *1) Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionis ) Size: <30 cm Characteristics: Dull, light red color; Spiny, clear dorsal fin with yellow spots on edge; short preopercular spine; long second dorsal fin Blennies-(Family Blenniidae) and Gobies- (Family Gobiidae) 1) Crested Blenny (Hypleurochilus geminatus ) Size: <10 cm Characteristics: Common at Gray's Reef, orbital cirri, brownish with cream, gold, and black spots; Male: strongly arched profile, black spot between first dorsal fins. Female: squarish, scattered spots   *2) Redlip blenny (Ophioblennius atlanticus ) Size: <125 mm Characteristics: Vertical head profile; lower lip, part of fins are red; dark spot at eye; clear caudal fin   *3) Seaweed blenny (Parablennius marmoreus ) Size: <85 mm Characteristics: Big head; bulging eye; large mouth; brown spots; dark stripe from eye to caudal fin; branched cirrus above eye. *4) Checkered blenny (Starksia ocellata ) Size: <5 cm Characteristics: Brown-3 rows of blotches;cirrus above eye unbranched; caudal fin separate from dorsal/anal fins. 5) Hovering Goby (Iolossus helenae ) Size: 5-10 cm Characteristics:bluish grayish, dive in their burrows if approached. top Boxfishes/Trunkfishes-Family Ostraciidae *1) Scrawled cowfish (Lactophrys quadricornis ) Size: <48 cm Characteristics: Boxfish shape with bony armor; yellowish color with blue, broad lines and scrawls on body; 2 horns at eyes. Puffers-Family Tetraodontidae *1) Marbled puffer (Sphoeroides dorsalis ) Size: < 20 cm Characteristics: Snout, side of head marbeled; tabs on back; blotches on side; can inflate body; 2 black bands on caudal fin Snappers-Family Lutjanidae *1) Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus ) Size: <60 cm Characteristics: Snapper shape; red stripe at edge of dorsal fin; dark stripe from snout through eye *2) Yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus ) Size: <75 cm Characteristics: Snapper shape with yellow stripe from snout tip to caudal fin; caudal fin yellow-deeply forked. *3) Vermillion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens ) Size: <75 cm Characteristics: Pale red with many blue lines or spots; short diagonal lines or spots on upper body; lower jaw projects. 4) Bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus) Size: <30 cm Characteristics: Eyes large; body compressed; reddish-brown color     top Toadfishes-Family Batrachoididae 1) Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau )   Size: <38 cm Characteristics: Globular body; fleshy tabs on jaw; blotched body with bars on fins; dorsal and opercular spines; wide mouth.     Barracuda-Family Sphyraenidae 1) Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda ) Size: <2 m Characteristics: Elongated body; long jaw, shearing teeth; dark stripe/blotches on side; caudal fin with white tips; seperated dorsal fins  Cobia-Family Rachycentridae 1) Cobia (Rachycentron canadum )   Size: <1.8 m Characteristics: Dark elongate body with with compressed head; dark stripe midside; black fins; protruding lower jaw; first dorsal fin spiny, separate.   top Soapfishes-Family Grammistidae *1) Whitespotted soapfish (Rypticus maculatus ) Size: <20 cm Characteristics: Dark body; white spots along upperside; 2 dorsal spines Mackerels-Family Scombridae *1) King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla ) Size: <1.7 m Characteristics: Elongate body; blue above, silvery below; lateral line drops rapidly; undulates below finlets Lizardfishes-Family Synodontidae *1) Inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) Size: <45 cm Characteristics: Elongated body; large, oblique mouth; diamond shaped markings on side *2) Sandiver (Synodus intermedius ) Size: <45 cm Characteristics: Elongated body; large, oblique mouth; dark shoulder spot; bars on upper side of body Goatfishes-Family Mullidae *1) Dwarf Goatfish (Upeneus parvus ) Size: <25 cm Characteristics: Varied body coloring; four bands on caudal fin; long barbels under chin; widely seperated dorsal fins Stingrays-Family Dasyatidae 1) Southern Stingray (Dasyatis americana ) Size: <1.8 m Characteristics: Rhombus disk with pointed corners; long ventral finfold on tail top Nurse Shark- Family Orectolobidae 1) Nurse Shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum) Size: >3 m Characteristics: Rusty brown, barbel at the front of nostril, no lower lobe on caudal fin