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UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



is found in schools. It is, perhaps, not as wary as other snappers, but it is very 

 speedy and active; it can be a frustrating fish to observe and photograph. It feeds 

 on fishes and crustaceans and may also take certain amounts of plant matter. 

 It swims over a wide variety of bottoms, from mud to sand or grass, but it is 

 usually found near reefs. It seems to prefer gorgonian beds. The yellowtail is 

 rather unique among snappers since it is quite commonly seen swimming four to 

 six feet from the bottom in open water of up to twenty-five feet in depth rather 

 than lurking under ledges or in dark places. 



Similar Species: The Pacific rabirubia, Rahiruhia inermis, has the general 

 shape, the forked tail, and the long anal fin of the yellowtail, but it is rose- 

 colored, and there are oblique rows of spots above the lateral line and hori- 

 zontal rows below. It reaches 12 inches and is found from Cape San Lucas to 

 Panama. 



STRIPED PARGO (pARGO RAisERo) : Hoplopagnis gjintheri 



Size: Reaches 2 feet. 



Distribution: From Guaymas and Mazatlan southward to Panama. 



Identification: The heavy body and the coloration are good identifying char- 

 acters. The ground color is dark brown to greenish gold on the upper side, 

 coppery to maroon on the lower side, and there are oblique, downward-running 

 bars, six in number, present on the back. The bars may be lost in older 

 individuals. 



Habits: This is a snapper of rocky shores. Not much is known of its habits, 

 and it is not very abundant. 



GRUNTS OR RONCOS: Family Haemulidae 



These extremely plentiful, tropical fishes are very closelv related to the 

 snappers, but they are usually much smaller, less wary, and do not have en- 

 larged teeth in the front of the mouth. Like snappers, the maxillarv bone slips 



