Title: Saltwater Fish Species #1

Common Name: Yellowfin Tuna

Scientific Name: Thunnus albacares

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: ChordataClass: Actinopterygii Order: PerciformesFamily: Scombridae

Geography/Habitat: Yellowfin tuna inhabit the mixed surface layer of the open Atlantic and Pacific oceans above the thermocline. They mostly range in the top 330 ft of the water column and are capable of diving to considerable depths.

Life Strategy:Yellowfin tuna often travel in schools with similarly sized companions. They sometimes school with other tuna species and mixed schools of small yellowfin and skipjack tuna. They can also school with various species of dolphins or porpoises, as well as whales and whale sharks.

Food / Feed Strategy:Prey includes other fish, pelagic crustaceans, and squid.

Body Form or Style: FusiformSwim / Locomotion Style: ThunniformMouth Position: Terminal

"Yellowfin Tuna Photos | Catching Yellowfin Tuna | Cooking Yellowfin | Buying Yellowfin." Seafood Information, Fishing Directory, Angling, Watersports. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sea-ex.com/fishphotos/yellowfin.htm>.

"Yellowfin Tuna." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowfin_tuna>.

Title: Saltwater Fish Species #2

Common Name: Atlantic Blue Marlin

Scientific Name: Makaira nigricans

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: ChordataClass: Actinopterygii Order: PerciformesFamily: Istiophoridae

Geography/ Habitat:Native to Atlantic Ocean

Life Strategy:Atlantic blue marlin reaches sexual maturity at the age of two - four. Males reach sexual maturity at a weight of 77–97 lb and females at 100–130 lb. Marlin breed in late summer and fall. Females may spawn as many as four times in one season and often release over seven million eggs at once, each approximately 0.039 in” in diameter. The planktonic young drift freely in the ocean's pelagic zone. Larvae inhabit the west central Atlantic and can grow as much as 0.63” in a day. In adolescents, the first dorsal fin is large and concave, gradually reducing in proportion to body size with continued growth. Males may live for 18 years, and females up to 27.

Food/Feed Strategy:Prey includes mackerel, tuna, squid, white marlin, snipefish, and filefish

Body Form or Style: FusiformSwim/ Locomotion Style: SubcarangiformMouth Position: Terminal

"Atlantic Blue Marlin." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_blue_marlin>.Title: Saltwater Fish Species #3

Common Name: Black sea Bass

Scientific Name: Centropristis striata

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: ChordataClass: Actinopterygii Order: PerciformesFamily: Serranidae

Geography/Habitat:Black sea bass inhabit the Maine coasts to northeast Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. They can be found in inshore waters and offshore and spend most of their time close to the sea floor. They are oftenaround bottom formations such as rocks, man-made reefs, piers, and bridge pilings.

Life Strategy:The sea bass spawns in mid-May to late June when it is mature. The eggs are buoyant and their development time is 1.6 days at 23 °C. It appears off the New Jersey coast in the first weeks of May, withdrawing in late October or early November, and wintering offshore at 180'-426' at temperatures above 8 °C.

Food/Feed Strategy:Feed mostly on tilapia.

Body Form or Style: CompressiformSwim/Locomotion Style: CarangiformMouth Position: Terminal

"Black Sea Bass." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_sea_bass>.

Title: Freshwater Fish Species #4

Common Name: Black Crappie

Scientific Name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: ChordataClass: Actinopterygii Order: PerciformesFamily: Centrarchidae

Geography/ Habitat:The black crappie's range is uncertain, since it has been widely transplanted, but populations existin all of the lower 48 states. The black crappie habitat occurs in lakes, reservoirs, borrow pits and navigation pools in large rivers. They prefer areas with little or no current, clear water, and abundant cover such as submerged timber or aquatic vegetation.

Life Strategy:The breeding season varies by location, due to the species’ great range; breeding temperature is 14‒20 °C Spawning occurs between April and June in a nest built by the male, who guards the eggs and eventual young.

Food/Feed Strategy:Other fish, mostly minnows.

Body Form or Style: CompressiformSwim/Locomotion Style: CarangiformMouth Position: Supraterminal

"Crappie." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crappie>.

Title: Saltwater Fish Species #5

Common Name; Ocean Sunfish

Scientific Name: Mola mola

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: ChordataClass: Actinopterygii Order: TetraodontiformesFamily: Molidae

Geography/ Habitat:Native to the temperate and tropical waters of every ocean in the world. Sunfish are pelagic and swim at depths of up to 2,000 ft. They are most often found in water warmer than 10 °C (50 °F)

Life Strategy:Ocean sunfish can live up to ten years in captivity, but their lifespan in a natural habitat is not yet known. The mating practices of the ocean sunfish are poorly understood as well, but spawning areas have been suggested in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Females can produce as many as 300 million eggs at a time, more than any other known vertebrate. Sunfish eggs are released into the water and externally fertilized by sperm.

Food/ Feed Strategy:Prey consists of various jellyfish, salps, squid, crustaceans, small fish, fish larvae, and eel grass.

Body Form or Style: CompressiformSwim/Locomotion Style: CarangiformMouth Position: Supraterminal

"Ocean Sunfish." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_sunfish>.