SYNODIDAE (SYNODONTIDAE) Lizardfishes 



Synodus foetens (Linnaeus) Lizardfish 



Thirty lizardfish were taken in the course of collecting activities. Five were 

 larvae (plankton sets on April 16, 1954; March Z4, 1955; May 14, 1956; and May 

 23, 1957), averaging 6.0 cm. fork-length. One adult, 28.0 cm. in length, was 

 caught by an angler on October 19, 1954. The remainder, varying in length from 

 17.5 to 27.0 cm., were taken in a single seine haul in the northeast corner of the 

 lagoon on November 23, 1955. 



One of the larvae (6.2 cm.) placed in a 30-gallon aquarium, fed voraciously 

 on live larval Clupeidae, Sparidae, Sciaenidae, and other small fish. Its manner 

 of feeding was extremely interesting and worthy of note. The fish would lie buried 

 in the sand at the bottom of the aquarium with just its eyes protruding. When a 

 larval menhaden, for example, was introduced into the tank, the lizardfish would 

 waltuntil the menhaden was about 10 inches away. Then, with lightning-like rapidity, 

 it would dart from its cover, seize its prey, and re -bury itself. Frequently, the 

 only visible part of the process would be two successive clouds of sand, separated 

 by a swirl of water. At its time of death, after 2 nnonths of captivity, the lizardfish 

 had attained a length of 15.5 cm. 



ARIIDAE Marine Catfishes 



Bagre marina (Mitghill) Gafftopsail Catfish 



Gafftopsail catfish were caught infrequently by anglers fishing from the rocks 

 bordering the channel side of the mouth of the lagoon. Such catches were confined 

 to the warmer months, principally in late summer. Although juveniles, 4-5 cm. 

 in length, appeared in large nunnbers in seine hauls along the Gulf beaches in 

 early fall, none were ever taken or observed in the lagoon. 



Galeichthys felis (Linnaeus) Hardhead, Sea Catfish 



This sm^-ll species of catfish was commonly taken by angling in the study 

 area from May to October. Due to their size (average weight less than ^ pound) 

 and their ability to inflict a painful wound with dorsal and pectoral spines, hard- 

 heads are regarded as undesirable pests by the majority of anglers. As with the 

 "gafftop", no juveniles ever appeared in our collections. 



MURAENIDAE Morays 



Gymnothorax ocellatus Agassiz Ocellated Moray 



The only occurrence of this species during the period was a 34.0 -centimeter 

 specimen taken by hook and line on October 6, 1955. However, anglers have re- 

 ported catching small morays in the area, and they are probably more common 

 than indicated by the single capture. 



ECHELIDAE Worm Eels 



Myrophis punctatus Liitken Speckled Worm Eel 



One to two leptocephali of this little -known eel were present in plankton 

 collections made during the months of February and December in 1954, February 

 in 1955 and 1956, and December in 1957. More than 100 leptocephali were taken in 



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