Caranx hippos This large fish is wonderfully abundant in the Atlantic Ocean, and popular resource for both commercial and sports fishers alike. The juvenile is striped vertically along its sides, but as it matures, it changes to an even greenish-bluish above and silver or golden below. Usually ad
Danger to Humans There have been some reports of ciguatera poisoning associated
Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi These ancient fish lack teeth, and instead of scales, have bony plates called scutes. They have a limited habitat, living in the Gulf of Mexico most of the time, and then swim up rivers to spawn. For years they were so overly fished that they now are listed as pro
Danger to Humans Gulf Sturgeon. Photo courtesy U.S.
Echeneis naucrates These are very recognizable fish because of their highly modified dorsal fin that is an oval shaped sucking disc. They are as long as 43 inches, and slender, with lower jaws that extend much further than upper. They attach themselves to sharks, turtles, whales, large bony fish,
Danger to Humans Although considered harmless to humans, there have been some reports
Carcharias taurus Sand tiger sharks are large, slow-moving, coastal sharks that have a flattened, conical snout. They are light brown on the dorsal surface with some scattered dark spots, and light colored ventrally. They have broad triangular fins and a distinct caudal fin that is asymmetrical (
Image © Doug Perrine Danger to Humans While these animals are not aggressive unless
Trachinotus falcatus This very tall, flat fish is most distinctive for its elongated dorsal and anal fins, and its deeply forked tail. It also has a series of dorsal rays, which give it its name „rough back“. These schooling fish hunt their prey inshore on sandy sea grass flats, but as they get o
Danger to Humans Lemon shark on grass flats where permit feed.
Heterodontus francisci These small sharks are members of the bullhead family. Slow moving and nocturnal, they scavenge close to shore, and return to the same resting place each day. Both dorsal fins sport sharp spines, and should be handled with care. Order – Heterodontiformes Family – Hetero
Danger to Humans Horn sharks may bite when harassed.
Mycteroperca microlepis This oblong fish has small eyes over a pointed snout, and a continuous dorsal fin to a square caudal fin. Their colors vary by age and gender, but they range from gray to light brown with darker blotches or squiggles, giving it a faint marble pattern, or darker to a camouf
Danger to Humans There have been reported cases of ciguatera from human consumption
Orectolobus ornatus This type of carpet shark has a flat head and stocky body with a stout tail. It has nasal barbels and dermal lobes forming a fringe along the front of its face (Compagno 2001) and is usually a golden brown with dark broad saddles (Compagno 2005). A nocturnal hunter, it prefers
Danger to Humans The ornate wobbegong can inflict shallow but painful wounds with
Carcharhinus limbatus This medium sized, stocky shark is dark grey to brown on top transitioning to white underneath. It has characteristically marked black-tipped fins. Blacktip sharks prefer to hunt small schooling fishes, taking out prey as they move quickly through the school, often breac
Danger to Humans Records from The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) show that
Carcharhinus melanopterus A small-medium sized shark with recognizable black fin tips with white highlights. Blacktip reef sharks are abundant on coral reefs, making them a popular species in reef and dive tourism. They are also frequently displayed in aquaria. Order – Carcharhiniformes Famil
Danger to Humans Blacktip reef shark have occasionally been known to bite people
