A fish (
PL: fish or fishes) is an
aquatic,
craniate,
gill-bearing animal that lacks
limbs with
digits. Included in this definition are the living
hagfish,
lampreys, and
cartilaginous and
bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of living fish species are ray-finned fish, belonging to the class
Actinopterygii, with around 99% of those being
teleosts.
Fish are abundant in most bodies of water. They can be found in nearly all aquatic environments, from high mountain streams (e.g.,
char and
gudgeon) to the
abyssal and even
hadal depths of the deepest oceans (e.g.,
cusk-eels and
snailfish), although no species has yet been documented in the deepest 25% of the ocean. With 34,300 described species, fish exhibit greater species diversity than any other group of vertebrates.
Fish are an important resource for humans worldwide, especially
as food. Commercial and subsistence fishers hunt fish in
wild fisheries or
farm them in ponds or in cages in the ocean (in
aquaculture). They are also caught by
recreational fishers, kept as pets, raised by
fishkeepers, and exhibited in public
aquaria. Fish have had a role in culture through the ages, serving as deities, religious symbols, and as the subjects of art, books and movies. (Full article...)
The Australian blacktip shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni) is a
species of
requiem shark, in the
family Carcharhinidae,
endemic to northern and eastern
Australia. Favoring the upper and middle parts of the
water column, it can be found from the
intertidal zone to a depth of 50 m (160 ft). Appearance-wise this species is virtually identical to the
common blacktip shark (C. limbatus), from which it can be reliably distinguished only by its lower
vertebra number and by
genetic markers. Generally reaching 1.5–1.8 m (4.9–5.9 ft) in length, it is a fairly stout-bodied, bronze-colored shark with a long snout and black-tipped fins.
Primarily
piscivorous, the Australian blacktip shark forms large groups of similar size and sex that tend to remain within a local area. It exhibits
viviparity, meaning that the unborn young are provisioned through a
placental connection. There is a well-defined annual reproductive cycle with
mating occurring in February and March. Females bear one to six pups around January of the following year, after a 10-month
gestation period. The Australian blacktip shark is among the sharks most commonly caught by northern Australian
commercial fisheries. It is mainly valued for its
meat, which is sold as "
flake". This species was an important catch of a
Taiwanesegillnet fishery that operated from 1974 to 1986, and of the Australian Northern Shark Fishery that continues to the present day. As current fishing levels are not thought to threaten this shark's population, the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as
Least Concern. (Full article...)
Image 2
Roughtail stingray (Bathytoshia centroura) at McGrail Bank, Gulf of Mexico
The roughtail stingray (Bathytoshia centroura) is a
species of
stingray in the
familyDasyatidae, with separate populations in coastal waters of the northwestern and southwestern
Atlantic Ocean. This
bottom-dwelling species typically inhabits sandy or muddy areas with patches of
invertebrate cover, at a depth of 15–50 m (49–164 ft). It is seasonally
migratory, overwintering in offshore waters and moving into coastal
habitats for summer. The largest whip-tail stingray in the Atlantic, the roughtail stingray grows up to 2.6 m (8.5 ft) across and 360 kg (800 lb) in weight. It is plain in color, with an angular, diamond-shaped
pectoral fin disc and a long, whip-like tail bearing a subtle fin fold underneath. The many thorns on its back and tail serve to distinguish it from other stingrays that share its
range.
Rhina ancylostoma, the bowmouth guitarfish, shark ray or mud skate, is a
species of
ray and a member of the
familyRhinidae. Its evolutionary affinities are not fully resolved, though it may be related to
true guitarfishes and
skates. This rare species occurs widely in the
tropical coastal waters of the western
Indo-Pacific, at depths of up to 90 m (300 ft). Highly distinctive in appearance, Rhina ancylostoma has a wide and thick body with a rounded snout and large shark-like
dorsal and
tail fins. Its mouth forms a W-shaped undulating line, and there are multiple thorny ridges over its head and back. It has a dorsal color pattern of many white spots over a bluish gray to brown background, with a pair of prominent black markings over the
pectoral fins. This large species can reach a length of 2.7 m (8.9 ft) and weight of 135 kg (298 lb).
The hardnose shark (Carcharhinus macloti) is a
species of
requiem shark, in the
family Carcharhinidae, so named because of the heavily
calcifiedcartilages in its snout. A small bronze-coloured shark reaching a length of 1.1 m (3.6 ft), it has a slender body and a long, pointed snout. Its two modestly sized
dorsal fins have distinctively elongated rear tips. The hardnose shark is widely distributed in the western
Indo-Pacific, from Kenya to southern China and northern Australia. It inhabits warm, shallow waters close to shore.
The viper dogfish or viper shark (Trigonognathus kabeyai) is a rare
species of
dogfish shark in the
familyEtmopteridae, and the only extant member of its
genus. It has been found in the Pacific Ocean off southern Japan, the
Bonin Islands, Pacific Ocean off northern
Taitung County and the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This species inhabits upper
continental slopes and
seamounts. It may
migrate vertically, shifting between bottom waters 270–360 m (890–1,180 ft) deep during the day and upper waters less than 150 m (490 ft) deep at night. A slender, black shark reaching 54 cm (21 in) in length, the viper dogfish can be recognized by its narrow, triangular jaws and well-spaced, fang-like teeth. It also has two spined
dorsal fins,
dermal denticles with faceted crowns, and numerous light-emitting
photophores concentrated on its ventral surface.
Feeding mainly on
bony fishes, the viper dogfish captures prey by protruding its jaws and impaling them with its teeth. Its impressive gape allows it to swallow relatively large fish whole. The
skeletal and
muscular structure of its head shows unique features that support this feeding mechanism, which is unlike that of other dogfish sharks. This shark
gives birth to live young, which are nourished by
yolk during
gestation; the litter size is probably fewer than 26 pups. Small numbers of viper dogfish are
caught incidentally in
purse seines and
bottom trawls. (Full article...)
Image 6
The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a
species of
requiem shark, in the
family Carcharhinidae, which can be easily identified by the prominent black tips on its fins (especially on the first
dorsal fin and its
caudal fin). Among the most abundant sharks inhabiting the
tropicalcoral reefs of the
Indian and
Pacific Oceans, this species prefers shallow, inshore waters. Its exposed first dorsal fin is a common sight in the region. The blacktip reef shark is usually found over reef ledges and sandy flats, though it has also been known to enter
brackish and
freshwater environments. It typically attains a length of 1.6 m (5.2 ft). Like other sharks, the females are larger than the males.
The blacktip reef shark has extremely small home ranges and exhibits strong site fidelity, remaining within the same local area for up to several years at a time. It is an active
predator of small
bony fish,
cephalopods, and
crustaceans, and has also been known to feed on
sea snakes and
seabirds. Accounts of the blacktip reef shark's life history have been variable and sometimes contradictory, in part reflecting geographical differences within the species. Like other members of its family, this shark is
viviparous, with females giving birth to two to five young on a biennial, annual, or possibly biannual cycle. Reports of the
gestation period range from 7–9, through 10–11, to possibly 16 months.
Mating is preceded by the male following closely behind the female, likely attracted by her chemical signals. Newborn sharks are found further inshore and in shallower water than adults, frequently roaming in large groups over areas flooded by
high tide. (Full article...)
The onefin electric ray or Cape numbfish (Narke capensis) is a common but little-known
species of
electric ray in the
familyNarkidae, native to South Africa and Namibia. It is a
benthic fish found in shallow coastal
bays over sandy or muddy bottoms. This small species reaches 38 cm (15 in) in length, and has a nearly circular
pectoral fin disc and a short, muscular tail that supports a large
caudal fin. It can be identified by its single
dorsal fin, which is located over the large
pelvic fins. Its dorsal coloration is yellowish to dusky brown.
The Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) is a
species of
requiem shark, belonging to the
familyCarcharhinidae. It is found in the tropical waters of the western
Atlantic Ocean from
Florida to
Brazil, and is the most commonly encountered reef shark in the
Caribbean Sea. With a robust, streamlined body typical of the requiem sharks, this species is difficult to tell apart from other large members of its family such as the
dusky shark (C. obscurus) and the
silky shark (C. falciformis). Distinguishing characteristics include dusky-colored fins without prominent markings, a short free rear tip on the second
dorsal fin, and tooth shape and number.
Measuring up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long, the Caribbean reef shark is one of the largest
apex predators in the reef
ecosystem, feeding on a variety of fishes and
cephalopods. They have been documented resting motionless on the sea bottom or inside caves, unusual behavior for an active-swimming shark. If threatened, it may perform a
threat display in which it frequently changes direction and dips its
pectoral fins. Like other requiem sharks, it is
viviparous with females giving birth to 4–6 young every other year. Caribbean reef sharks are of some importance to
fisheries as a source of meat,
leather,
liver oil, and
fishmeal, but recently they have become more valuable as an
ecotourist attraction. In the
Bahamas and elsewhere, bait is used to attract them to groups of divers in controversial "shark feedings". This species is responsible for a small number of
attacks on humans. The shark attacks usually happen in spring and summer. (Full article...)
Yarrell was a
London bookseller and newsagent with the time and income to indulge his interest in natural history. He was a prominent member of several natural history societies and knew most of the leading British naturalists of his day. He was able to draw on his own extensive library and collection of specimens, his wide network of like-minded naturalist friends, and his access to major libraries to garner material for his writings, the most important of which were A History of British Fishes and the 1843 A History of British Birds. (Full article...)
Cretoxyrhina (/krɪˌtɒksiˈrhaɪnə/; meaning 'Cretaceous sharp-nose') is an extinct
genus of large
mackerel shark that lived about 107 to 73 million years ago during the late
Albian to late
Campanian of the
Late Cretaceous. The
type species, C. mantelli, is more commonly referred to as the Ginsu shark, first popularized in reference to the
Ginsu knife, as its theoretical feeding mechanism is often compared with the "slicing and dicing" when one uses the knife. Cretoxyrhina is traditionally classified as the likely sole member of the
familyCretoxyrhinidae but other taxonomic placements have been proposed, such as within the
Alopiidae and
Lamnidae.
Measuring up to 8 meters (26 ft) in length and weighing over 4,944 kilograms (4.866 long tons; 5.450 short tons), Cretoxyrhina was one of the largest sharks of its time. Having a similar appearance and build to the modern
great white shark, it was an
apex predator in its ecosystem and preyed on a large variety of marine animals including
mosasaurs,
plesiosaurs, sharks and other large fish,
pterosaurs, and occasionally
dinosaurs. Its teeth, up to 8 centimeters (3 in) in height, were razor-like and had thick
enamel built for stabbing and slicing prey. Cretoxyrhina was also among the fastest-swimming sharks, with hydrodynamic calculations suggesting burst speed capabilities of up to 70 kilometers per hour (43 mph). It has been speculated that Cretoxyrhina hunted by lunging at its prey at high speeds to inflict powerful blows, similar to the great white shark today, and relied on strong eyesight to do so. (Full article...)
Image 12
The spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) is a type of
requiem shark, in the
family Carcharhinidae, named for the spinning leaps it makes as a part of its feeding strategy. This species occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide, except for in the eastern
Pacific Ocean. It is found from coastal to offshore habitats to a depth of 100 m (330 ft), though it prefers shallow water. The spinner shark resembles a larger version of the
blacktip shark (C. limbatus), with a slender body, long snout, and black-marked fins. This species can be distinguished from the blacktip shark by the first
dorsal fin, which has a different shape and is placed further back, and by the black tip on the
anal fin (in adults only). It attains a maximum length of 3 m (9.8 ft).
Spinner sharks are swift and gregarious
predators that feed on a wide variety of small
bony fishes and
cephalopods. When feeding on
schools of
forage fish, they speed vertically through the school while spinning on their axis, erupting from the water at the end. Like other members of its family, the spinner shark is
viviparous, with females bearing litters of three to 20 young every other year. The young are born in shallow nursery areas near the coast, and are relatively fast-growing. This species is not usually dangerous to humans, but may become belligerent when excited by food. Spinner sharks are valued by
commercial fisheries across their range for their meat, fins,
liver oil, and skin. They are also esteemed as strong fighters by
recreational fishers. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as
near threatened worldwide. (Full article...)
Image 13
The mangrove whipray (Urogymnus granulatus) or whitetail stingray, is a
species of
stingray in the
familyDasyatidae. It is widely distributed in the
Indo-Pacific region from the
Red Sea to northern
Australia and
Micronesia. A
benthic inhabitant of shallow
inshore waters, juvenile mangrove whiprays favor
mangrove and
estuarinehabitats, while adults favor sandy to rocky areas in
lagoons and
coral reefs. This species can be identified by its thick, oval
pectoral fin disc that is dark gray above with numerous white flecks, and by its relatively short, whip-like tail that is white past the stinging spine. It grows up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft) across.
Teleostei (/ˌtɛliˈɒstiaɪ/;
Greekteleios "complete" + osteon "bone"), members of which are known as teleosts (/ˈtɛliɒsts,ˈtiːli-/), is, by far, the largest
infraclass in the class
Actinopterygii, the ray-finned fishes, and contains 96% of all
extant species of
fish. Teleosts are arranged into about 40
orders and 448
families. Over 26,000
species have been described. Teleosts range from
giant oarfish measuring 7.6 m (25 ft) or more, and
ocean sunfish weighing over 2 t (2.0 long tons; 2.2 short tons), to the minute male
anglerfishPhotocorynus spiniceps, just 6.2 mm (0.24 in) long. Including not only torpedo-shaped fish built for speed, teleosts can be flattened vertically or horizontally, be elongated cylinders or take specialised shapes as in anglerfish and
seahorses.
The difference between teleosts and other bony fish lies mainly in their jaw bones; teleosts have a movable
premaxilla and corresponding modifications in the jaw musculature which make it possible for them to
protrude their jaws outwards from the mouth. This is of great advantage, enabling them to
grab prey and
draw it into the mouth. In more
derived teleosts, the enlarged premaxilla is the main tooth-bearing bone, and the maxilla, which is attached to the lower jaw, acts as a lever, pushing and pulling the premaxilla as the mouth is opened and closed. Other bones further back in the mouth serve to grind and swallow food. Another difference is that the upper and lower lobes of the
tail (caudal) fin are about equal in size. The
spine ends at the
caudal peduncle, distinguishing this group from other fish in which the spine extends into the upper lobe of the tail fin. (Full article...)
Image 15
Tetronarce californica also known as the Pacific electric ray is a
species of
electric ray in the
familyTorpedinidae,
endemic to the coastal waters of the northeastern
Pacific Ocean from
Baja California to
British Columbia. It generally inhabits sandy flats, rocky
reefs, and
kelp forests from the surface to a depth of 200 m (660 ft), but has also been known to make forays into the
open ocean. Measuring up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft) long, this species has smooth-rimmed
spiracles (paired
respiratory openings behind the eyes) and a dark gray, slate, or brown dorsal coloration, sometimes with dark spots. Its body form is typical of the
genus, with a rounded
pectoral fin disc wider than long and a thick tail bearing two
dorsal fins of unequal size and a well-developed
caudal fin.
Solitary and
nocturnal, the Pacific electric ray can generate up to 45
volts of
electricity for the purposes of subduing prey or self-defense. It feeds mainly on
bony fishes, ambushing them from the
substrate during the day and actively hunting for them at night. Reproduction is
aplacental viviparous, meaning that the
embryos are initially nourished by
yolk, later supplemented by
histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by the mother. Females bear litters of 17–20 pups, probably once every other year. Care should be exercised around the Pacific electric ray, as it has been known to act aggressively if provoked and its
electric shock can potentially incapacitate a diver. It and other electric rays are used as
model organisms for biomedical research. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this species under
Least Concern, as it is not fished in any significant numbers. (Full article...)
Fugu can be lethally poisonous to humans due to its
tetrodotoxin, meaning it must be carefully prepared to remove toxic parts and to avoid contaminating the meat. (Full article...)
... that although some sources have cited the fish kick as potentially the fastest way for humans to swim, it has not been widely used in competitive swimming?
... that Ivan Beshoff, the last survivor of the mutiny on the Potemkin, emigrated to Ireland where he established a fish and chip shop that is still run by his descendants?
Image 7In the foreground is an
orange-lined triggerfish displaying spines.
Triggerfish have mouths that crush shells. Orange-lined triggerfish are particularly aggressive. The black and white fish are
three-stripe damselfish and the unstriped fish are
blue-green chromis damselfish. If the triggerfish attacks, the damselfish will hide in the nearby
cauliflower coral. If the triggerfish wants to hide, it will squeeze into a coral crevice and lock itself in place with its spines. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 12The
stargazer is an
ambush predator which can deliver both venom and electric shocks. It has been called "the meanest thing in creation". (from Coastal fish)
Image 18Shortfin mako shark make long seasonal migrations. They appear to follow temperature gradients, and have been recorded travelling more than 4,500 km in one year. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 22Scale diagram of the layers of the pelagic zone (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 23Profile illustrating the shelf, slope and rise (from Demersal fish)
Image 24Surgeonfish are among the most common of coral reef
herbivores, often feeding in
shoals. This may be a mechanism for overwhelming the highly aggressive defence responses of small territorial
damselfishes that vigorously guard small patches of algae on coral reefs. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 26The giant
whale shark, another resident of the ocean epipelagic zone, filter feeds on
plankton, and periodically dives deep into the mesopelagic zone. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 33Lanternfish are partial residents of the ocean epipelagic zone During the day they hide in deep waters, but at night they migrate up to surface waters to feed. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 36Most mesopelagic fishes are small filter feeders that ascend at night to feed in the nutrient rich waters of the epipelagic zone. During the day, they return to the dark, cold, oxygen-deficient waters of the mesopelagic where they are relatively safe from predators.
Lanternfish account for as much as 65% of all deep sea fish
biomass and are largely responsible for the
deep scattering layer of the world's oceans. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 37The
stoplight loosejaw has a
lower jaw one-quarter as long as its body. The jaw has no floor and is attached only by a hinge and a modified tongue bone. Large fang-like teeth in the front are followed by many small barbed teeth. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 38An annotated diagram of the basic external features of an
abyssal grenadier and standard length measurements. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 39The huge
ocean sunfish, a true resident of the ocean epipelagic zone, sometimes drifts with the current, eating
jellyfish. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 45Cod-like fishes, like this
morid cod have a
barbel (fleshy filament) on their lower jaw which they use to detect prey buried in the sand or mud. (from Coastal fish)
Image 47The
stoplight loosejaw is also one of the few fishes that produce red
bioluminescence. As most of their prey cannot perceive red light, this allows it to hunt with an essentially invisible beam of light. (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 48Long-snouted lancetfish. Lancetfish are ambush predators which spend all their time in the mesopelagic zone. They are among the largest mesopelagic fishes (up to 2 m). (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 49Whitetip reef sharks spend much of the day lying still on the bottom (from Coral reef fish)
Image 51Coral reefs support flourishing ecosystems,
paradoxically in clear, low nutrient waters, along tropical continental coasts and around volcanic islands.
Coral reef fish are numerous and diverse. (from Coastal fish)
Image 53Young, red
flabby whalefish make nightly vertical migrations into the lower mesopelagic zone to feed on
copepods. When males mature into adults, they develop a massive liver and then their jaws fuse shut. They no longer eat, but continue to metabolise the energy stored in their liver. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 54Bigeye tuna cruise the epipelagic zone at night and the mesopelagic zone during the day (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 56The
daggertooth paralyses other mesopelagic fish when it bites them with its dagger-like teeth (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 57The
humpback anglerfish is a bathypelagic ambush predator, which attracts prey with a bioluminescent lure. It can ingest prey larger than itself, which it swallows with an inrush of water when it opens its mouth. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 66World distribution of plankton (from Coastal fish)
Image 67Red snapper, are generalized reef feeders with standard jaw and mouth structures that allow them to eat almost anything, though they prefer small fish and
crustaceans. (from Coral reef fish)
Image 68Pacific decadal anomalies – April 2008 (from Pelagic fish)
Image 69Demersal fish output in 2005 (from Demersal fish)
Image 70Areas of upwelling in red (from Pelagic fish)
Image 71Many
bristlemouth species, such as the "spark anglemouth" above, are also bathypelagic ambush predators that can swallow prey larger than themselves. They are among the most abundant of all vertebrate families. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 76Most of the rest of the mesopelagic fishes are ambush predators, such as this
sabertooth fish. The sabertooth uses its telescopic, upward-pointing eyes to pick out prey silhouetted against the gloom above. Their recurved teeth prevent a captured fish from backing out. (from Pelagic fish)
Image 78Humans seldom encounter
frilled sharks alive, so they pose little danger (though scientists have accidentally cut themselves examining their teeth). (from Deep-sea fish)
Image 79Oceanic fish inhabit the
oceanic zone, which is the deep open water which lies beyond the continental shelves. (from Pelagic fish)
The spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) is a species of
ray-finned fish in the family
Ostraciidae, native to the
Caribbean Sea and parts of the western Atlantic Ocean. Members of this family are known as boxfishes because they have a hard outer covering consisting of hexagonal, plate-like scales fused together into a solid, triangular or box-like
carapace. Because of this casing, the body of the spotted trunkfish is not flexible, and locomotion is normally limited to slow movements performed by rippling its
dorsal and
anal fins and gently beating its
pectoral fins. If faster motion is required, it can additionally use its
caudal fin for propulsion. This spotted trunkfish was photographed at a depth of about 40 ft (12 m) at Bari Reef,
Bonaire.
In
American English, the name gar (or garpike) is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern
North America,
Central America, and the
Caribbean islands.
Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, the stargazer snake eel, is a marine fish belonging to the family
Ophichthidae. It is native to shallow tropical and subtropical waters in the western Indo-Pacific region. It hunts at night for
crustaceans and small fish, after which it submerges itself into the sediment tail first and remains there all day, with just its eyes and the top of its head projecting, as seen here in
Batangas Bay in the Philippines.
A plate with
fossils of Pseudostacus sp. (lobster, left) and Diplomystus birdii (fish, right), from the
Hakel paleontological formation in Lebanon. The paleontological sites of Lebanon contain deposits of some of the best-preserved fossils in the world, and include some species found nowhere else. The most famous of these is the Lebanese
lagerstätten of the Late
Cretaceous age.
Koi are ornamental domesticated varieties of the
common carpCyprinus carpio, originated from
China and widely spread in
Japan. They are very closely related to
goldfish. The word "koi" comes from
Japanese meaning "
carp".
The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), or fighting betta is a
freshwaterfish related to the
paradise fish. The fighting fish is a species in the
Gourami family which is popular as an
aquarium fish. They are called pla-kad (biting fish) in
Thai or trey krem in
Khmer. They are a very territorial fish and it is unwise to house two males together. Even the females may become territorial towards each other if not housed in a large enough tank.
The Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) is a species of freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. The aggressive fish is known to reproduce rapidly, leading to problems when it is introduced to foreign bodies of water.
The flying gurnard is a fish of
tropical to warm temperate waters on both sides of the
Atlantic Ocean. When excited, it spreads its "wings", semi-transparent appendages tipped with a phosphorescent bright blue coloration which are used to frighten predators.
People jigging—
fishing with a type of
lure known as a "jig"—for
squid in
Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. A jig consists of a lead sinker with a hook molded into it and usually covered by a soft body to attract fish. Jigs are intended to create a jerky, vertical motion, as opposed to
spinnerbaits which move through the water horizontally.
A sketch of a longnose sawshark (Pristiophorus cirratus), a species of
sawshark found in the eastern Indian Ocean around southern Australia on the
continental shelf at depths of between 40 and 310 m (130 and 1,020 ft). It is a medium-sized shark with a saw-like flattened snout which measures up to thirty percent of its body size.
Rhinogobius flumineus, also known as the lizard goby, is a species of
goby in the family
Oxudercidaeendemic to Japan, seen here in
Hamamatsu,
Shizuoka Prefecture. A small freshwater fish found in fast-flowing streams, it maintains its position against the current by gripping a rock with a sucker formed from two of its fins. The fish's mouth is slightly asymmetric; dextral (right-sided) fish tend to curve their bodies to the right as they rest, while sinistral (left-sided) fish tend to adopt a left-curving posture. The fish are omnivorous, picking edible items off the stream bed with the side of the mouth, but dextral and sinistral fish show no preference for which side of the mouth they use for this purpose.
The Peacock flounder (Bothus mancus) is a species of
lefteye flounder found widely in relatively shallow waters in the
Indo-Pacific. This
photomontage shows four separate views of the same fish, each several minutes apart, starting from the top left. Over the course of the photos, the fish
changes its colors to match its new surroundings, and then finally (bottom right) buries itself in the sand, leaving only the eyes protruding.
"You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don't want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something."
The Mini Edition of the Fish Portal is available for you to use on your wikipedia user page or talk page. It uses minimum space but retains many crucial features of the portal. To use it, place {{Portal:Fish/Mini portal}} on the designated page. See
here for an example of the mini portal on a user page.
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