MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 



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Fig. 144. Reef fish, Chromis marginatus, swarm over reefs in schools, their forked 

 tails reminiscent of ham swallows. Stinging coral, Millepora, and variotis gorgonians 

 are helow the reef fish. 



and appearance. Several facts make this a difficult family to comprehend. There 

 are 450 species in the world, many of which are very confused in both common 

 and scientific names. Furthermore, many of the species change greatly in 

 shape and coloration during growth. During the breeding season the adults 

 take on special nuptial colors. The basic color seems to be green, but many 

 of them are marked with yellow, blue, or red. 



The smaller ones are grouped under the terms "slippery dick" or "razor fish." 

 They are the most common of all reef fishes, swarming like birds literally 

 everywhere. They eat shellfish, molluscs, and other invertebrates, which are 

 crushed in the heavy pharyngeal teeth. 



De Latil (1955) describes the breeding habits of some Mediterranean wrasse. 

 They build nests of stones and seaweed and defend these avidly. Egg-laying is 

 preceded by a strange nuptial dance in which the breeding pair advances and 

 retreats in a vertical position, waving their pectoral fins and opening and closing 

 their mouths. The eggs and milt are shed, and then the seaweed and stones 

 are pushed around the eggs. These little piles of seaweed and stone are common 

 in summer in reef areas. The nest is defended until hatching time. The nature 

 of nesting material would be expected to vary greatly from place to place. 



Most wrasse, big and small, are not schooling, but usually swim near or with 

 others of their own kind or as part of a motley crew composed of species of 

 similar habits. 



TAUTOG (blackfish, oysterfish) : Tatitoga onitis 



Size: Up to 3 feet. 



Weight: Averages 2 to 4 pounds. Up to 22 pounds. 



Distribution: Maine to the Carolinas. Common from Cape Cod to Delaware. 



Identification: The snout is blunt and the body heavy. Ground color is brown 

 to black or olivaceous. There are irregular blotches, and the conspicuously whitish 

 chin makes a good field mark. 



