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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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by Bob Fenner
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
| 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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