Lionfish Adaptations

The Goliath grouper is a fish that belongs to the cod family. Their family name is serenade (cods and groupers). It's scientific name is Epinephelus lanceolatus. Grouper are the largest specimens that are the biggest in the cod family. Grouper are evenly mottled brown with dark spots as seen in fig 1. On the edges of their soft fins juveniles bear striking black and yellow bars. Description bottom dwelling (demersal) predators they are highly regarded as food fish all of them have mostly small scales they are hard to see lateral lines and usually rounded to emarginate tail fins. Their habitat consists of juveniles being encountered in northern estuary systems and shallow inshore reefs with larger adult specimens preferring slightly deeper

3a. Body more than five times as long as broad; front edge of dorsal fin far

The big difference between the male and female is very visual since there is a 750+ weight gap. The other species of Sea Lion found in Washington is the Stellar Sea Lion which are larger in size and they have also been spotted eating the endangered species the

In Astoria, Oregon, invasive colonies of California Sea Lion have become overpopulated causing depleted populations of native fish, economical issues for the coastal city and they have caused immense damage to the docks. Due to the destructive nature of this invasive species on this ecosystem it becomes necessary to determine what is the most effective way of deterring California Sea Lions from colonizing on the Astoria docks and shoreline. If we relocate the California Sea Lions then, there will be a larger consistent decrease in the sea lion population than when scare tactics were previously used.

Most people would not appreciate a stranger walking into their home unannounced, taking their food, and making themselves at home. That is exactly what lionfish are doing along the Florida coastline. Lionfish are an invasive species that need to be contained. The reefs that they consistently invade off of the coast of the Florida are not the lionfish's natural habitat. This invasive species takes shelter and resources out of the reef that other species need to survive, and they destroy the environment around them. Humans have complicated the balance of the ecosystem by introducing lionfish, and now they need to help rectify the situation.

My critter is fish. The name of the fish is called the Goldfish Saurus meaning it is half dinosaur and half guppy. This type of fish is a hunting fish, it mainly eats and kills tiny animals. It lives in the deep seas of the Pacific Oceans. The Goldfish Saurus hibernate for half a year, it likes to sleep in little burrows of seaweed. The Goldfish Saurus eats small fish and baby octopi and squids that is smaller than itself. It kills its prey by using the scaly fins on top of his back to directly jab its opponent. For self defence the Goldfish Saurus The tail of the Goldfish Saurus is very strong and its function is to move forward in upward swimming strokes. This kind of fish moves pretty quickly and catches its prey instantly. The Goldfish

They are big eaters and usually end up eating all their prey in an area. Soon Lionfish are about all thats left. After they have killed most of the fish they take over the area. Since the water is getting warmer and warmer, they will be able to spread and do this to even more ocean

“Largemouth bass grow 4 to 6 inches during their first year, 8 to 12 inches in to years, 16 inches in three years” According to so and so largemouth can grow up to 4 to 6 inches (Jennings). They are green with dark spots that look like black stripes along both sides. The belly is a light greenish color, sometimes it could be white. The coloration of the fish depends on where it is living at the time if it is under heavy vegetation the fish will have a darker green color, if the fish is out in the open it will be a whiter green color. They have what looks to be a dorsal fin on the arch of their back. Their upper jaw sticks out much farther than their eyes do. “Fry, which are what the baby bass are called feed mainly insects or worms”(Citation). Larger fish prey upon smaller

There are twelve species within the same genus and have subtle variations in physical appearances, all living in freshwater, but due

Identifying Features- Typically 4 to 6 feet, and 660 to 1,100 pounds. Skin is primarily black, with varying pale spots and a pinkish-white underbelly. Lacks a hard shell but instead has a carapace composed of tough, rubbery skin and thousands of tiny bone plates Its carapace is large, elongated and flexible with 7 distinct ridges running the length of the animal. Front flippers lack claws or scales and back flippers are paddle-shaped.

Black sea bass are fairly stout-bodied fish, with a long dorsal fin, and large pectoral and pelvic fins. The rounded tail sometimes has a long streamer trailing out from the top edge. Each gill cover has a flat spine near the outer edge. Mature males have a fleshy dorsal hump just anterior to the dorsal fin. The background color of the black sea bass (smokey gray, brown, or bluish black) is marked with darker patches and light speckles. The belly is only slightly lighter than the sides. Young sea bass are green or brown with a dark lateral stripe running from the head to the tail. Juvenile and adult black sea bass feed upon a variety of benthic invertebrates such as rock crabs, hermit crabs, squids, and razor clams. Black sea bass adults typically

These fish have several spines throughout their body (all on their many fins) that contain toxic substance. No predator wants to eat that. These fish are also unique in the way that they have behavioral defense against predators as well. Lionfish, “…do not flee but rather display their dorsal and pectoral fins equipped with venomous spines.” (Jessica L. Diller, Thomas K. Frazer, Charles A. Jacoby, 2014, p.46). Potential species that may prey on lionfish are confused and deterred by this kind of behavior from a potential prey item.

Steller sea lion pups possess thick rough coats with a mostly dark appearance. After the first molt, their color lightens. The complexion of female and male Steller sea lions is a golden-brown to a reddish brown. They have a somewhat darker shade in their chest and abdomen. Steller sea lions also display sexual dimorphism which means that the males are remarkably larger than females. Similar to all pinnipeds, the Steller sea lions have whiskers to sense prey. They also molt every year which parallels to other pinnipeds, and they are mainly insulated by blubber. In addition, they have flippers that are used for locomotion. Their sensory organs are accommodated to operate both underwater and in the air, but because they are mammals they have to come up to the surface in order to breathe.

The Pastinachus solocirostris, also known as the Roughnose Stingray, is from the Pastinachus genus of stingrays in the family of Dasyatidae. It is found generally in shallow waters of mangroves off of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. They grow to 72 centimeters across, and is characterized by their pointed snout. The fin disc of the Roughnose Stingray is wide, diamond-shape, and rounded on the corners. They have about 20 upper teeth and 25 lower teeth, with five papillae on the floor of the mouth. Like other stingrays, they are reproduced in embryos inside the mother, nourished by yolk, and then later with uterine milk from the mother. The Roughnose Stingray are listed as endangered, prone to being victims of bottom longline fisheries, used for its

Use your sentence starters handout (Page 25)! CER CHART QUESTION (Use the same question from the Lionfish CER document we have been working on): How could the growth of the lionfish population in the Atlantic Ocean affect marine life?