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Related FAQs: Marine Life of the Tropical West
Atlantic, Tropical West Atlantic 2,
Related Articles: TWA Invertebrates, Algae,
Vascular Plants, Introduction to
Fishwatcher's Guide Series Pieces/Sections,
Lachnolaimus maxiumus/Hogfish,
Hogfishes of the Genus Bodianus,
The Tropical West Atlantic: Bahamas to Brazil, Part 6
To: Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3,
Part 4, Part 5,
Part 7, Part 8,
Part 9, Part 10,
Part 11, |
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| Bob Fenner | |
Lizardfishes, Family Synodontidae. Found lurking about on the
bottom, or even scooting along with divers, hoping for a distracted fish
meal. | Synodus
intermedius (Spix & Agassiz 1829), the Sand Diver. To 46 cm., 1
kg maximum. Western Atlantic. Most common lizardfish there.
Typically found on the sand, near boulders. One in Cancun, Mexico,
and a profile of one off Bonaire. |  
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Pomacanthidae, Marine Angelfishes. All but one of the seven species
of pomacanthids found here are tough and all are valued as aquarium
specimens. The two dwarf or pygmy angels of the genus Centropyge are
highly desired. The Cherubfish, C. argi (1) and Flameback
Angelfish, C. aurontonota (1), stay small (3" max.) ‘but can hold
their own with all types of marine life. Ecotype: typically deep
(80+’) in and amongst heavy growths of corals and gorgonians. The
"midsize" TWA member, the Rock Beauty, Holacanthus tricolor (3),
is the one "problem child" species that frequently "gives up the ghost"
mysteriously or stops feeding. As with all angels, it’s best to start
with a small (few inches in this case) specimen and train it on aquarium
foods. The remaining four true species of West Atlantic angels,
attain a good foot and a half in length, and therefore require large
quarters. Both the French, Pomacanthus paru (1), and Gray,
P. arcuatus (1), start off as gorgeous young, but the former remains
a striker with the Gray turning somber shades of its namesake. The Blue,
Holacanthus bermudensis (1), and Queen, H. ciliaris (1), both
start and finish good looking, the Queen retaining her "crown" with age.
Ecotype: Definite territories on patch and contiguous reefs, defended
against similar appearing fishes. |
Centropyge argi Woods & Kanazawa 1951, the Cherub or Atlantic
(Caribbean) Pygmy Angel (1). To 2.5" overall. Bermuda on down to the
coast of Brazil. Aquarium and a Cozumel, Mexico pix of more adult,
more juvenile individuals. | 
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Centropyge aurantonotus Burgess 1974, the ( Brazilian) Flameback
Angel (1) is very much like the more northerly Centropyge argi
with more orange color on its back, at a much higher price. Found in
southern part of the Caribbean Sea. Note the dark blue caudal fin,
distinguishing it from C. acanthops. To 2.5" overall
length. Pix by Hiroyuki Tanaka and RMF. |  
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Holacanthus tricolor (Bloch 1795), the (Atlantic) Rock Beauty
(3). The one "stinker" in the bunch. Most specimens die
"mysteriously" from the effects of capture and lack of nutrition...
place yours in an established live rock tank, and get it to feed
immediately. To eight inches in length. Below: Juvenile in aquarium,
semi and full adult in the Bahamas. |
Holacanthus bermudensis Goode 1876, the Blue Angelfish (1). Often
confused price-wise with the Queen Angelfish, whose juveniles have bent
mid-body bars and adults are much more colorful overall. Hybrids between
the two abound. Patchy distribution in the tropical west Atlantic. To
thirteen inches or so in length. Below:
Juvenile and mid-size adult in captivity, adult off
of Florida shown. |
Holacanthus ciliaris (Linnaeus 1758), the Queen
Angelfish (1). A true queen of fishes. To seventeen inches in the
wild. Florida to Brazil in the tropical west Atlantic. Juvenile in
captivity and adult in the wild (Bahamas) shown. |  
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Pomacanthus arcuatus Gray 1831, the Gray Angelfish (1). A
beauty as a juvenile (shown). Tropical west Atlantic, Bahamas to
Brazil. To a foot and a half in length, friendly and long-lived in
captivity. Juvenile and sub-adult in the wild. |  
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Pomacanthus paru (Bloch 1787), the French Angelfish (1).
Another standard in the aquarium trade. Beautiful and hardy, and
large (to fifteen inches in length and a foot tall). Tropical west
Atlantic from the Bahamas to Brazil. Pictured: a three inch juvenile
in captivity, foot long adult in Belize. |  
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The Damselfishes, Family Pomacentridae. It’s a shame that due to the
vagaries of economics and airline schedules that a few more of the
damsels of the TWA don’t make it more into pet-fish markets. Of the few
that are regularly available the Yellowtail, Microspathodon chrysurus
(1), is a real giant, attaining some seven inches in length; start with
a smallish one. Ecotype: The Sergeant Major and Blue Damsels tend
to be mid water or over reefs of mid to shallow depths. Other damsels
mentioned occupy rock-rubble and coral habitats. Genus
Abudefduf: The Sergeant Major, Abudefduf saxatilis (1), used
to be a standard in the trade a few decades back. This is a sturdy,
albeit black and silvery-white fish, with a real gusto for swimming
about; well worth the extra cost compared with Pacific possibilities. |
Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus 1758), the Sergeant Major. Both
Atlantic coasts to cooler waters. To six inches in length. This one
from the Bahamas. Very similar to the Indo-west Pacific Abudefduf
vaigensis, discerned by its further back fourth black body bar. | 
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There are a few delightful Chromis from the region, and it’s a
shame they’re not available more often. I’d sell the Blue Chromis, C.
cyanea (1), Yellowtail Reeffish, C. enchrysurus (1), Brown Chromis, C.
multilineata (1), and Sunshinefish, C. insolata (1), all day long. These
are all hardy, stay somewhat colorful and only moderately "mean". |
Chromis cyanea (Poey 1860), the Blue Chromis. One of actually a
few species with this common appellation. This one hails from the
tropical west Atlantic. To four inches in length. One off the coast
of Bimini and another off Cancun. |  
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Chromis multilineata (Guichenot 1853), the Yellow-Edge Chromis.
Tropical west Atlantic. To about four inches maximum length. This is
another unintentional catch Damsel offered infrequently. One in St.
Lucia, another off Bonaire where the species is a common reef
inhabitant. |  
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Chromis insolata (Cuvier 1830), the Olive Chromis. An incidental
Damsel shipped out of the tropical western Atlantic from time to
time. To about five inches maximum length. A juvenile in Cozumel and
adult one in the Bahamas. |  
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Genus Microspathodon: |
Microspathodon chrysurus (Cuvier 1830), the Yellowtail
Damselfish, Atlantic Jewel Damsel. Tropical west Atlantic. To six
inches in length. Shown are a juvenile (about 1") with a clear
caudal fin, an intermediate (2"), and adult (four inch) specimen in
the Bahamas. |
The genus Stegastes (2) is another matter. Folks do sell good
numbers of juvenile Beau Gregorys, S. leucostictus, and a few
(but growing) number of Cocoa Damsels, S. variabilis, Threespot
Damsels (Atlantic), S. planifrons, and Bicolors, S. partitus
as good-looking juveniles. But all except the latter become dull
brownish with age, and they are MEAN; territorial to the nth degree. |
Stegastes diencaeus (Jordan & Rutter 1897), the Longfin Damsel.
Tropical west Atlantic. To five inches in length. Occasionally
imported and sold as juveniles. Adults an overall brown with dark
margins on all scales. Juveniles in the Bahamas and St. Thomas. |  
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Stegastes fuscus (Cuvier 1830), the Dusky or Brazilian
Damselfish. Tropical West Atlantic (and eastern, off Senegal). To
five inches in length. Feeds on benthic algae, hydroids, algae,
copepods by day. Adult off of Cozumel. | 
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Stegastes partitus (Poey 1868), the Bicolor Damselfish. Tropical
west Atlantic. To two and a half inches in length. Occasionally
imported for our use. Not tremendously beautiful looks-wise, but an
interesting aquarium species just the same. St. Lucia and Cancun
photographs. |  
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Stegastes planifrons (Cuvier 1830), the Three-Spot (Atlantic)
Damsel. Tropical west Atlantic. To three and a half inches overall
length. Juveniles, with their bright yellow bodies and bold black
body spots are occasionally caught for aquarium use... ultimately
turning into bland brown behemoths. Juvenile and sub-adult in the
Bahamas. Full size one that bit me in Cozumel. |
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Stegastes variabilis (Castelnau 1855), the Cocoa Damselfish.
Tropical west Atlantic. To three inches long. Similar to Beaubrummel,
but juveniles bear a distinct black ocellus after their dorsal fins.
Adults yellowish below, grading to brown above. Juv. and adult images
taken in the Bahamas. |  
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To: Part 1, Part 2,
Part 3, Part 4, Part
5, Part 7, Part 8,
Part 9, Part 10,
Part 11,
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