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Family Moronidae. Temperate Basses Local species: Striped Bass ( Morone saxatilis ) Wreckfish ( Polyprion americanus ). Morone saxatilis. Moronidae Characteristics. Easily distinguished by two spines on the operculum Body compressed laterally, large mouth and ctenoid scales
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Family Moronidae • Temperate Basses • Local species: • Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) • Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) Morone saxatilis Moronidae and Serranidae
Moronidae Characteristics • Easily distinguished by two spines on the operculum • Body compressed laterally, large mouth and ctenoid scales • Tail is usually deeply forked, never hermaphrodites Moronidae and Serranidae
Striped Bass • Anadromous species • A large percentage of the eastern U.S. population depends on the Chesapeake water shed for spawning Moronidae and Serranidae
Striped Bass released in the Cape Fear Moronidae and Serranidae
Wreckfish • Commercially important • Found on both sides of the Atlantic Moronidae and Serranidae
Family Serranidae • Sea Basses • Common species: • Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) • Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) • Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) • Warsaw Grouper (Epinephelus nigritus) Moronidae and Serranidae
Large piscivores that associate with temperate and tropical reefs Important food fish Top predators may be ciguatoxic Distinguished by: Large mouth and a heavy head 3 spines on the operculum 3 spines in the anal fin Usually hermaphroditic Serranidae Characteristics Moronidae and Serranidae
Ciguatera • Condition caused by the ingestion of toxic fish flesh • Symptoms • Causative organism is a dinoflagellate called Gambierdiscus toxicus which can bloom in high numbers Moronidae and Serranidae
Sequential hermaphrodite Sex change occurs: Females to Males Protogyny or protogynous Males to Females Protandrous or protandry Simultaneous hermaphrodite Contains both ovaries and testes So are you a guy or a girl? Moronidae and Serranidae
Serranidae Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) Moronidae and Serranidae
Serranidae Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) Adult Juvenile Moronidae and Serranidae
Serranidae Adult Juvenile Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) Moronidae and Serranidae
Serranidae Sand Perch (Diplectrum formosum) Moronidae and Serranidae
Family Grammistidae • Soapfishes • Whitespotted soapfish (Rypticus maculatus) • Freckled soapfish (Rypticus bistrispinus) Moronidae and Serranidae