Family Gadidae

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Family Gadidae

• Cods
• Commercially important species
• Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)
• Pollock (Pollachius virens)
• Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Melanogrammus aeglefinus
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Family Gadidae

• Local species
• Southern Hake (Urophycis floridana)
• Spotted Hake (Urophycis regia)

Urophycis floridana
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Gadidae Characteristics

• Bottom oriented marine fishes that play an
  integral ecological role in their communities
• Long dorsal and anal fins
• Cods have 3 sections of the dorsal fin and 2
  sections of the anal fin
• Hakes have 2 sections of the dorsal fin and 1
  section of the anal fin

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Atlantic Cod

• Important because of size and ease of capture
• The fishery has collapsed on both the Grand and
  Georges Bank

Gadus morhua
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Family Ophidiidae

• Cusk-Eels
• Local Species Blotched Cusk-Eel (Ophidion grayi)

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Ophidiidae Characteristics

• Dorsal and anal fins are continuous, with
  modified pelvic fins as barbels on the jaw
• Range in habitats from tide pools to the deepest
  parts of the worlds oceans

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Pearlfishes

• Related family Pearlfishes (Carapidae)
• Closely associated with several marine
  invertebrates.
• Relationships range from commensal - parasitic

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Pearlfishes
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Family Exocoetidae

• Flyingfishes
• Margined Flyingfish (Cypselurus cyanopterus)
• Halfbeaks
• Ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis)
• Halfbeak (Hyporhamphus unifasciatus)

Cypselurus cyanopterus
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Exocoetidae Characteristics

• Single dorsal and anal fins located close to the
  caudal fin
• Well-developed lateral line located near the
  ventral surface

• Coastal and oceanic, tropical and subtropical
  waters

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Exocoetidae Larvae
Fahay
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Flyingfishes

• Long pectoral fin used for gliding after they
  jump from the water
• Lower lobe on caudal fin increases glide distance
  by sculling in the water

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Halfbeaks

• Elongated lower jaw
• Used as funnel for directing plankton into the
  mouth
• Popular bait fish for sportsmen

Ballyhoo
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Family Belonidae

• Needlefishes
• Species
• Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus)
• Atlantic Needlefish (Strongylura marina)

Strongylura marina
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Belonidae Characteristics

• Prey on small fish with long jaws and
  well-developed teeth
• Fast pelagic spp have a habit of skipping on the
  surface
• Houndfish is the largest 5ft. And 10 lbs.

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Family Fundulidae

• Killifishes
• Common species
• Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)
• Striped Killifish (Fundulus majalis)

Fundulus heteroclitus (male)
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Fundulidae Characteristics

• Found in waters that experience extreme changes
  in physical parameters
• Schooling fish occur in bays and estuaries
• Usually small lt 15 cm., omnivores
• Most species are sexually dimorphic
• Mummichog
• Striped Killifish

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Family Poeciliidae

• Livebearers
• Sailfin molly
• Poecilia latipinna