Key West Fish Species

Amberjack / Amber Fish

Barracuda

Blackfin Tuna

Blacktip Shark

• First, second dorsal fins, pectoral fins, and lower lobe of caudal fin black-tipped
  (black markings may fade in adults; may be indistinct in juveniles)
• Anal fin is white
• First dorsal fin has a short free rear tip
• The first dorsal fin originates slightly over or behind insertion point of pectoral fins along inner margin
• The second dorsal fin originates over or slightly in front of the anal fin origin (src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Blue Marlin

Bonefish

Cero Mackerel

Bloch described the cero mackerel as Scomberomorus regalis in 1793. The genus Scomberomorus is derived from the Latin word "scomber" = mackerel and the Greek word "moros" = silly, stupid. Regalis is from the Latin language, meaning royal. Scomberomorus plumierii Lacepede 1803 and Cybium regale Cuvier 1829 are synonyms referring to this species. The family Scombridae includes tunas, mackerels, and bonitos, all swift predators of tropical and subtropical open seas. They are among the most important of the commercial and sport fishes.

The range of the cero mackerel is limited to the western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts, USA south to Brazil, including the Bahamas and West Indies. It is common in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida.. (src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Dolphin / Mahi Mahi /Dolphinfish

Carl Linnaeus (1758) originally described the dolphinfish as Coryphaena hippurus. Synonyms include Scomber pelagicus Linnaeus 1758, Coryphaena fasciolata Pallas 1770, Coryphaena chrysurus Lacepède 1801, Lepimphis hippuroides Rafinesque 1810, Coryphaena imperialis Rafinesque 1810, Coryphaena immaculata Agassiz 1829, Coryphaena argyrurus Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena dolfyn Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena dorado Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena marcgravii Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena scomberoides Valenciennes 1833, Lampugus siculus Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena suerii Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena virgata Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena vlamingii Valenciennes 1833, Coryphaena nortoniana Lowe 1839, Coryphaena japonica Temminck & Schlegel 1845, and Ecterias brunneus Jordan and Thompson 1914.

The dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It is abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Current, and throughout the Caribbean. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, dolphinfish are found between the Bay of Biscay (France) and the mouth of the Congo and as far south as the southern tip of Africa. Populations in the eastern Pacific Ocean range from the coast of Oregon and California south to the Galapagos Islands and Peru. Dolphinfish are found between latitudes 46°N and 38°S in the western Pacific Ocean, reported around the Philippine Islands, Sea of Japan, Taiwan, and the Sea of Okhotsk. It also occurs in the northern and central Indian Ocean and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. (src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Gray Snapper

Lutjanus griseus, the gray snapper, was described by Linnaeus in 1758. The species name is Latin, translated as gray. Synonyms include Sparus tetracanthus Bloch 1791, Lutjanus cabellerote Bloch and Schneider 1801, Anthias cabellerote Bloch and Schneider 1801, Bodianus vivanetus Lacepede 1803, Lobotes emarginatus Baird and Girard 1855, and Lutjanus stearnsii Goode and Bean 1878.

The gray snapper is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Bermuda, southward to Brazil, including Bermuda, Bahamas, West Indies, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. It is especially abundant around the coastline of Florida.(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Kingfish

King Mackeral

The king mackerel was first described by Cuvier in 1829. The genus Scomberomorus is derived from the Latin word "scomber" = mackerel and the Greek word "moros" = silly, stupid. The species cavalla originates from the Latin word "caballa" meaning horse. King mackerel has appeared in literature under a variety of names. Although these synonyms are no longer valid, they include Cybium acervum Cuvier 1832, Cybium caballa Cuvier 1832, Cybium immaculatum Cuvier 1832, and Scomberomorus caballa Cuvier 1832

The king mackerel is found along the western coast of the Atlantic Ocean from Massachussetts to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico. The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico stocks mix in south Florida waters.(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Mutton Snapper

Lutjanus analis was first described by Georges Cuvier in 1828 from a Hispanolan specimen. Synonyms include Mesoprion sobra Cuvier, 1828, Mesoprion isodon Valenciennes, 1829, and Mesoprion rosaceus Poey, 1870.

The mutton snapper is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, but is most common in the tropical waters of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean Sea. It is also found in the Gulf of Mexico. (src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Permit

(src:dict.die.net)

Red Grouper

The red grouper was originally described as Serranus morio by Valenciennes in 1828. This name was later changed to the currently valid Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes 1828). Synonyms for this species include Serranus erythrogaster DeKay 1842, Serranus remotus Poey 1860, and Serranus angustifrons Steindachner 1864. The genus name, Epinephelus, is derived from the Greek "epinephelos" meaning cloudy.

This non-migratory fish is associated primarily with muddy and rocky bottom habitats at depths of 16-1,083 feet (5-330 m) and they are often seen resting on the bottom substrate. Juvenile red groupers reside in seagrass beds in shallower waters until they reach larger sizes when they move out to rocky bottom and reef habitats.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Sailfish

Shaw and Nodder first described the Atlantic sailfish in 1792 and assigned it the species name Xiphias platypterus. Some scientists believe that the Atlantic and Pacific sailfishes are separate species and apply the name I. albicans to the Atlantic form. Other names that have been used for this species include Histiophorus americanus, H. albicans, H. granulifer, H. indicas, H. orientales, H. pulchellus, Makaira velifera, Skeponopodus guebucu, H. granulifer, Xiphias velifer, Istiophorus amarui, I. americanus, I. brookei, I. gladius, I. grayii, I. immaculatus, I. ludibundus, I. wrighti, I. maguirei, and I. volador.

The Atlantic sailfish swims in the surface epipelagic and oceanic waters. It generally remains above the thermocline, in water temperatures between 70° and 83°F (21° to 28° C). There is evidence that it also swims into deeper water. It is less oceanic than other billfishes, making frequent forays into nearshore water.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Spanish Mackerel

Bloch described the cero mackerel as Scomberomorus regalis in 1793. The genus Scomberomorus is derived from the Latin word "scomber" = mackerel and the Greek word "moros" = silly, stupid. Regalis is from the Latin language, meaning royal. Scomberomorus plumierii Lacepede 1803 and Cybium regale Cuvier 1829 are synonyms referring to this species. The family Scombridae includes tunas, mackerels, and bonitos, all swift predators of tropical and subtropical open seas. They are among the most important of the commercial and sport fishes.

Usually solitary, the cero mackerel occasionally forms schools over coral reefs, wrecks, and along ledges at depths ranging from 3.3-66 feet (1-20 m). It is usually seen in mid-water and near the water's surface.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Star Fish

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Tarpon

Valenciennes described the tarpon in 1847, classifying it under the genus Megalops, which translates from the Greek into "large-eyed," a conspicuous feature of the tarpon. While most agree on the fish's placement in the order Elopiformes, scientists debate whether its family designation should fall within the family Elopidae or the family Megalopidae, a family separate from Elopidae within the suborder Elopoidei. One other species exists in the genus, Megalops cyprinoides, the ox-eye. Synonyms of Megalops atlanticus appearing in the literature include Clupea gigantea, Megalops giganteus, Megalops atlantica (misspelling), Tarpon atlanticus, and Megalops elongatus.

Tarpon populate a wide variety of habitats, but are primarily found in coastal waters, bays, estuaries, and mangrove-lined lagoons within tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates (45° N-30° S). The normal habitat depth extends to 98 feet (30 m). Although a marine fish, tarpon can tolerate euryhaline environments (0-47 parts per thousand) and often enter river mouths and bays and travel upstream into fresh water. In addition, tarpon can also tolerate oxygen-poor environments due to a modified air bladder that allows them to inhale atmospheric oxygen. The only variable that seems to limit their choice of habitat is temperature, and research shows tarpon to be thermophilic. Rapid decreases in temperature have been known to cause large tarpon kills. During such temperature drops, tarpon usually take refuge in warmer deeper waters.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Wahoo

The wahoo was first described by Cuvier in 1831, who named it Cybium solandri. It was changed to Acanthocybium solandri by Cuvier later that same year. The genus name is derived from the Greek words "akantha = thorn" and "kybion" "-ou" = a tunna. Other names used to refer to this fish have included Cybium sara Lay and Bennet 1839, Cybium petus Poey 1860, Acanthocybium petus Poey 1860, Cybium verany Doderlein 1871, and Acanthocybium forbesi Seale 1912. A common misspelling occurring in recent literature is Acanthocybium solanderi.

The wahoo is pelagic, living in solitary or forming small, loose aggregations. They congregate near drifting objects including sargassum. Wahoo move with the changing seasons, traveling into cooler waters during warm summer months.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Yellowfin Tuna

The yellowfin tuna was first described by Bonnaterre in 1788, when it was named Scomber albacares. The fish appeared under a variety of names before Ginsburg first used the combination Thunnus albacares in 1953. The genus name Thunnus is derived from the Greek "thynnos" meaning tunna. Many other names have been used to refer this tuna including Scomber albacorus, Thynnus argentivittatus, Scomber sloanei, Thynnus albacora, Thynnus macropterus, Thunnus argentivittatus, Orcynus subulatus, Orcynus albacora, Orcynus macropterus, Germo macropterus, Thunnus macropterus, Thunnus allisoni, Germo argentivittatus, Germo allisoni, Neothunnus macropterus, Neothunnus catalinae, Neothunnus albacores, Neothunnus allisoni, Kishinoella zacalles, Semathunnus guildi, Semathunnus itosibi, Neothunnus argentivittatus, Germo albacora, Thunnus albacora, Germo itosibi, Neothunnus albacora brevipinna, Neothunnus albacora longipinna, Neothunnus macropterus macropterus, Neothunnus macropterus itosibi, Neothunnus brevipinna, Thunnus zacalles, Thunnus catalinae, Neothunnus albacares, Thunnus albacores, Neothunnus albacora macropterus, Thunnus albacares macropterus, and Thunnus itosibi.

The yellowfin tuna is an epipelagic, oceanic fish, living above and below the thermocline, at temperatures of 65 to 88°F (18-31°C). It is generally found in the upper 330 feet (100 m) of the water column.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

Yellowtail Snapper

The German physician and ichthyologist, Marcus Elieser Bloch whom is often noted today for his detailed and much valued scientific engravings of fishes, described this snapper as Sparus chrysurus in 1791. Synonyms include Anthias rabirubia Bloch and Schneider 1801, Sparus semiluna Lacepede 1802, Mesoprion aurovittatus Agassiz 1829, Ocyurus rijgersmoei Cope 1871, and Lutjanus melanurus Jordan and Gilbert 1883. The currently accepted taxonomy for this species is Lutjanus chrysurus. The species name is derived from the Greek "chryso" which is translated as golden.

Adult yellowtail snappers live over sandy areas near deep reefs at depths of 32-230 feet (10-70m), while small adults tend to congregate over hard bottom habitats. Once established, adult yellowtail snapper tend to remain in the same area for long periods of time. This snapper is usually seen well above the substrate, swimming about in small groups. Juveniles reside inshore in seagrass bed nursery areas that offer protection from predation while they mature.

(src:www.flmnh.ufl.edu)