I have a huge backlog of drafts to work on but after watching 2 episodes of "Extreme Fishing with Robson Green", I'm thinking, "why not start with our marine friends?" so here goes - some fishies that I found interesting and hopefully, you may too!
Introduction to Fish Anatomy
Source: http://aquaticnation.org/images/fish%20body%20parts1.JPG
Source: http://fishwrecked.com/files/fishid_Medium.jpg
Species: Coruscans
Genus: Etelis
Family: Lutjanidae (snappers)
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Phylum: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia
The Flame Snapper can be recognised by its deep pink to red colour and deeply forked caudal fin. The species occurs widely throughout the tropical Indo-central-Pacific region. For instance, it has been sighted and/or caught in Japan, Australia and New Caledonia (a French territory in the South Pacific). The Flame Snapper feeds on a diet of small fishes, squids and crustaceans (it is carnivorous) and typically grows up to a length of around 40-50 cm.
Sources:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/flame-snapper-etelis-coruscans#sthash.jZJjd6rL.dpuf
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/1385
II. Artic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus)
Source: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/ravallirepublic.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/95/895016f4-e866-11e3-b7d3-0019bb2963f4/538936b1adeb0.preview-620.jpg
Species: T. arcticus
Genus: Thymallus
Family: Salmonidae
Order: Salmoniformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Phylum: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia
The Artic Grayling, also known as the lady of the stream, is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family Salmonidae. T. arcticus and it is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska and Russia. The Arctic grayling occurs primarily in cold waters of mid-sized to large rivers and lakes, returning to rocky streams to breed. Its most striking physical features are the large, sail-like rainbow-hued dorsal fin and colorful body markings. Coloration can vary from stream to stream and their dorsal fins are typically fringed in red and dotted with large iridescent red, aqua, or purple spots and markings. In contrast, their adipose, anal, pectoral, and tail fins do not usually sport very much color at all. The iris of these fish also usually appears as a striking golden color, which also makes them easily identifiable.
Arctic grayling grow to a maximum recorded length of 76 cm (in Canada) and a maximum recorded weight of 3.8 kg. Of typical thymalline appearance, the Arctic grayling is distinguished from the similar grayling (T. thymallus) by the absence of dorsal and anal spines and by the presence of a larger number of soft rays in these fins. There is a dark midlateral band between the pectoral and pelvic fins, and the flanks may possess a pink iridescence.
The stunning rainbow-hued dorsal fin!
Source: http://wildernessfishing.com/WFI-Web-D.jpg
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_grayling
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=arcticgrayling.printerfriendly
http://troutster.com/trout-species/arctic-grayling/More on barracudas and the rainbow runner next time!
I'm also going to show our deep sea dwellers some love - I was at an exhibition, "Into the Deep", a couple months ago so I have quite a few interesting ones on hand - so keep a lookout for them!
