PIRANHA

~ ~ ~ - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - -
~ ORDER ~
'IIIIIIIIIIII Cypriniformes 'IIIIIIIIIIII
FAMILY
Characidae Serrasalmus nattereri
""" CARD 1
The relatively small piranha is one of the most feared of all
river fish. It will attack prey many times larger than itself, but its
reputation as a man-eater is questionable.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
Length: Average 8 in., but some
species are up to 20 in. long.
Weight: Seldom more than 3 lb.
BREEDING
Spawning season: March-August.
No. of eggs: Several thousand laid
at a time.
Hatching period: 10-15 days,
according to water temperature.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Move constantly in huge
shoals or packs.
Diet: Primarily fish, but will also
attack mammals and birds as they
swim or stand in the water.
RELATED SPECIES
Of the 18 or so species of piranha,
4 are thought to be dangerous to
humans, and there are many
accounts of fatalities.
THE PIRANHA'S TEET
The piranha's teeth are
triangular and flat with
needle-sharp pOints for
pierci ng into the tough
skin of prey. The razor-
harp sides cut through
flesh and bone.
Range of the piranha.
DISTRIBUTION
Confined to the South American continent, but widespread
throughout the rivers of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana,
Paraguay, Brazil, and central Argentina.
CONSERVATION
Because they will eat any prey and are shunned by fisher-
men, none of the 18 species of piranha is in any danger.
The teeth in the upper
jaw are similar in
shape to those in the
lower jaw, but are
smaller, so that they
fit between the lower
teeth.
The lower jaw protrudes
beyond the upper jaw;
the lips are drawn back
from the teeth.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200041 PACKET 4
Unspectacular in appearance
except for its over-sized mouth and
prominent teeth, the piranha varies in
color from species to species. Most have
olive-green or blue-black backs with
dark to silvery-gray
sides and bellies.
~ H A B I T S
Piranhas live in enormous
packs, or shoals. They spend
most of their time hunting for
food. Rivers are their primary
habitat, although as a result
of massive flooding they may
occasionally find their way
into lakes. But it is thought
that they are unable to breed
outside of rivers.
Piranhas have voracious
appetites and they seek river
locations that have plentiful
fish supplies. They are found
in any well-stocked river
within their natural habitat.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The piranha hunts with speed
and by surprise. The typical
way in which piranhas attack
is by swimming directly into
a shoal of prey fish. The
attacked shoal scatters in all
directions and the piranhas
quickly overpower individual
fish. Small fish are swallowed
whole. Larger prey have
chunks ripped out of them
which the piranha swallows
instantly so it can immedi-
ately take another bite.
Piranhas possess an
advanced sense of smell,
which helps them to locate
prey. The presence of blood in
the water will send piranhas
into a frenzy. They are also,
like sharks, capable of sensing
any unusual vibration of the
water around them. Any
commotion in the water will
immediately attract large
shoals of piranhas.
Piranhas are opportunistic
feeders-they will eat any-
thing. When the water is
muddy and obscures prey
fish, or when food is scarce,
piranhas will attack any
animal that enters the water
to drink.
~ PIRANHA & MAN
Throughout South America,
stories of piranha attacks on
men are numerous. And, while
it is probable that some of
them are true, there are few
verifiable accounts. In any case,
man is certainly not a preferred
quarry, as legend sometimes
sets forth. The piranha is not
selective when it is hungry-it
simply eats whatever food is
available.
A dangerous circumstance
has arisen from man's use of
piranhas as aquarium fish. At
one time, piranhas were ex-
tremely popular as "pets."
However, when people
discovered that the pet
piranhas were as dangerous as
their wild counterparts, they
began dumping them in
Far left: Dead
specimen of
red-bellied
piranha
showing its
sharp teeth.
Left: The
remains of a
common
catfish pulled
from the
Amazon after
it had been
attacked by a
shoal of red-
bellied
piranhas for
just 30
seconds.
ponds, lakes, and reservoirs
across the United States.
In many places where this
happened, the water tem-
perature was too low for the
piranhas to survive. In other
places, the conditions were
ideal. It is not yet known if
piranhas can breed in bodies
of water outside their natural
habitat.
Top: Profile of
a piranha,
easily identified
by its protrud-
ing lower jaw.
Left: Piranhas
hunt in huge
shoals.
Although each
fish only
measures
about 8 inches,
by attacking
together a
shoal can
quickly devour
its prey.
DID YOU KNOW?
The teeth of the piranha are
so sharp t hey can slice
through bone.
Piranhas can consume
animals the size of pigs
within minutes. One account
tells of piranhas attacking
and completely eating the
world's largest rodent, a
capybara, weighing more
than 110 pounds.
It is believed that piranhas
tend to attack fish that are
more than four times as long
as they are wide. Fish that are
less than three times as long
are less likely to be attacked.
SPOTTED GROUPER
... ORDER
'11IIIIIIII Perciformes
FAMILY
Serranidae
GROUP 4: FISH
... GENUS
'11IIIIIIII Epinephe/us and others
Spotted groupers are large, placid-looking fish that have the
startling ability to change their appearance. They may look
harmless, but they are dangerous hunters.
'.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 13ft.
Weight: Up to 650 Ibs.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Spend 2-5 years
as females. Change to males at 7-
10 years.
Spawning season: Late spring
(some species).
No. of eggs: Not known.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sedentary. No fixed
territories. Hunt alone or in
small groups.
Diet: Principally smaller fish.
Lifespan: Not known.
RELATED SPECIES
Groupers are a family of more
than 370 spiny-finned perchlike
fish (Serranidae). They are closely
related to sea basses such as the
North Atlantic's black sea bass,
Centropristis stria/a.
FEATURES OF GROUPERS
Dorsal fin: Long and spined. Some
groupers are named for their spine
color, as is the case with the black-
tipped grouper below.
Range of groupers.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in shallow seas and coral reefs all over the world. Most
live in tropical waters, but some inhabit temperate seas.
CONSERVATION
Spotted groupers are widespread and adaptable fish. Some
of the larger species are popular food and sport fish and may
be fished too heavily.
. ..
":!ti:.;:
Mouth: Usually wide very
roomy, with peglike teeth.
Prey is sucked in with water,
which is later expelled.
Skin: Contains color cells that
can be opened at will, enabling
the fish to change appearance.
Spotted groupers are stealthy hunters that lurk
in the shelter of coral reefs to stalk their prey.
These unusual fish can change color in seconds,
blending in with their background to avoid detection
by their predators. They also change their sex.
All begin as egg-laying females and become males
as they mature.
~ H A B I T A T
Spotted groupers are found
in warm, shallow seas-most
often around coral reefs.
Coral reefs are rich ecosys-
tems, teeming with under-
water life. For big predatory
fish like spotted groupers, a
reef is a plentiful food source.
Small fish, such as "tropical
fish" found in aquariums, are
eaten by larger, meat-eating
fish. These predators in turn
fall victim to sharks, barra-
cudas, and groupers.
There are many species of
grouper, and the biggest are
near the top of this undersea
food chain. Even a shark will
hesitate before taking on a
650-pound jewfish grouper.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
Despite their bulky lines and
placid appearance, groupers
are dangerous predators. They
cannot make a lightning strike
like a shark. Instead, they lurk
in the shelter of coral forma-
tions and watch the smaller
fish feed nearby.
The small fish are wary of
the big groupers, but sooner
or later one ventures too close.
Lunging forward, the grouper
opens its great mouth and
raises its gill covers to suck in
its victim in a mass of water.
Its mouth snaps shut, expel-
ling the water through its gills,
and the prey is gone in an
instant. The other small fish
often do not notice and con-
tinue to feed nearby.
A spotted grouper's teeth
~ BREEDING
Most groupers do not have a
fixed territory and feed wher-
ever the pickings are richest.
But in the breeding season, a
particular species may migrate
many miles and converge on a
traditional spawning site.
For example, Nassau
groupers gather in huge
schools of 30,000 to 100,000
fish, which are easily caught
by local fishermen who know
where to find them. A few
similar sites have been found
elsewhere, but little more
is known about groupers'
breeding behavior.
One fact we do know is that
groupers change sex. When
Left: This dazzling grouper is
called the rock cod.
Inset: A grouper's teeth.
are simple spikes that securely
grip struggling fish, but their
bite is rarely fatal. As a result,
groupers usually swallow their
prey alive. If the prey is spiny,
swallowing it can be painful.
Sharp-tailed eels, for exam-
ple, may pierce their captor's
gut and squeeze through the
slit into the fish IS body cavity.
There the grouper's digestive
juices cannot get at them.
Above: Cleaning fish, such as
these tiny gobies, can approach
the grouper unharmed.
they become sexually mature,
they are all females and can
lay eggs. But their bodies
contain the beginnings of
male sex organs. Those who
survive to be 7 to 10 years
old become males.
The advantage of this shift
is not clear. It is possible that
each older, male fish fertilizes
several females and so passes
on its talent for survival.
DID YOU KNOW?
Although groupers feed
on other fish, they allow
the small cleaner wrasse to
swim into their mouths.
The wrasse helps by tak-
ing parasites from t he
grouper's mouth lining.
Large groupers such as
Epinephelus lanceolatus
may stalk divers. A big
~ DEFENSES
The biggest groupers have no
enemies, but smaller species
are at risk from larger preda-
tors such as sharks. Too slow
to flee and unable to fight
back, they rely instead on
camouflage.
Like many fish, groupers
can alter their appearance to
match the background. Their
skin has tiny color cells that
can be blinked open or shut.
By opening one set of cells
and closing another, groupers
change color.
A single grouper may dis-
playa variety of blotches,
bands, and stripes in a range
of colors. It may change sev-
eral times in succession to
confuse its predators.
Left: In a Red Sea reef, a grouper
waits for prey to swim by. Its skin
has changed color to match the
background.
one could even eat a man.
Most groupers are active
only by day. At night they
doze in shelter spots, and
divers have picked them
up without waking them.
Groupers can be good to
eat, but they may contain
ciguatera, a potentially
deadly natural poison.
"" CARD 3
RAINBOW TROUT
___________________________________ G __ RO_U __ P_4_: F_I_SH __
... ORDER
Sa/manifarmes
.... FAMILY
Sa/manidae
.... GENUS & SPECIES
Sa/ma gairdneri
Native to North America, the magenta-striped rainbow trout is a
popular fish to both catch and eat. It is now farmed
commercially throughout the world.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 20 in.
Weight: Up to 20 lb .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Spawning season: March-April in
the United States.
No. of eggs: 500-3,000.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Form schools while young,
but become solitary and territorial
after reaching about 7 lb. in weight.
Diet: Insects, small fish, frogs,
tadpoles, and worms.
Lifespan: Varies according to
location, but not usually more than
7 years. Some specimens in Eagle
Lake, California, are known to have
lived for 11 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Golden trout, brown trout (Sa/ma
trutta), salmon, and char are
members of the same family.
SPECIAL
./'
Native range of the rainbow trout.
DISTRIBUTION
Native to North America from northern Mexico to the
Aleutian Islands. Since the end of the last century, eggs and
young fish have been shipped all over the world and
naturalized to form new breeding populations.
CONSERVATION
Thriving worldwide. Areas are kept well-stocked by hatching
eggs artificially and releasing fish into the wild.
7
'If
I Right: In murky
waters where the
trout may not be
. Above: In clear easily seen, the
iridescent rosy
stripe takes on a
startling brillianc-
water, the body
becomes almost
invisible.
Left: The head of
the rainbow trout is
smaller and blunter
than that of the
brown trout, and
the upper jaw does
at extend back
nearly as far.
The rainbow trout thrives in
the fast-running, oxygen-rich waters of
clear streams. It is a favorite with sport
fishermen because of the good fight it
puts up when it is hooked, as well
as for its food value.
~ HABITAT
Rainbow trout live primarily
in fast-moving, rocky rivers.
Those that migrate to bodies
of salt water are known as
steel heads due to the steely
blue color of their heads.
Steel heads grow larger than
DID YOU KNOW?
The first exported rainbow
trout eggs were sent to Eng-
land in 1884.
Rainbow trout show a
preference for orange-
colored lures, so fisherman
use orange yarn or feathers .
those that remain entirely in
freshwater lakes and rivers.
Rainbow trout thrive in loca-
tions where they have been
introduced, including reser-
voirs, lakes, ponds, rivers,
streams, and canals.
Rainbow trout raised in
hatcheries can quickly
quadruple their weight.
A recently developed strain
of rainbow trout called
trip/aids show only female
characteristics.
~ BREEDING
In their native habitat, rain-
bow trout spawn (produce
offspring) only in March and
April. Those bred commer-
cially spawn from January to
May. The female chooses a
spot at the mouth of a stream
and makes shallow troughs,
called redds, in the gravel. She
sheds her eggs into the redds,
and the male fertilizes them
with his milt, or sperm.
The eggs hatch at different
times, depending on water
temperature. Newly hatched
trouts, or a/evins, are born
with their yolk sacs still
attached. The yolk sacs serve
as a source of food until the
sacs are absorbed. When the
young begin swimming
freely, they are known as fry.
Very few survive to adult-
hood, as most fall prey to
larger fish.
Right: The pigmentation of the
unhatched fish's eyes can be
clearly seen in the egg. As the
alevin hatches, it stays attached
to the yel/ow yolk sac, which
provides food in its early days.
Unprotected by parents, it will
stay near the gravel bed until
this supply is completely used up,
aI/owing it to swim freely.
Left: The
rainbow trout's
streamlined
shape enables
it to swim
upstream
against the
strong currents
of fast-flowing
rivers.
Below left:
The rainbow
trout is an
aggressive
hunter, living
mainly on
insects, but it
also catches
smaller fish,
which it grasps
in its jaws.
~ TROUT & MAN
Rainbow trout have become
increasingly popular with
fishermen wherever they
have been introduced. Al-
though rainbow trout are
easy to breed artificially, they
are often unable to repro-
duce naturally in captivity.
To overcome this problem,
the eggs and milt are re-
moved from sexually mature
fish and the eggs are artifi-
cially inseminated with the
milt.
Because they are easy to
breed, the success of trout
farming prevents the spe-
cies from becoming endan-
gered.
FOOD & HUNTING
Like all trout, the rainbow trout water. In spring, rainbow
is an aggressive hunter. It pri- trout eat mayflies and haw-
marily eats insects and larvae. thorn flies.
Trout feed on larvae that rest Rainbow trout also feed on
on the bottom of a river or small fish, frogs, tadpoles, and
lake. They also eat hatching worms. Large rainbow trout
insect nymphs and flies that may even eat smaller fish of
land on the surface of the their own species.
TIGER SHARK
ORDER
Carcharhiniformes
FAMILY
Carcharhinidae
CARD 4
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a deadly predator. It is a solitary hunter that will
eat anything it can get down its throat-including other sharks.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 1 0-16ft. average, but
probably up to 23 ft.
Weight: 2,200 lb. average.
BREEDING
Breeding system: Tiger sharks are
ovoviviparous, which means that
they produce eggs that hatch
within the female's body.
Gestation: About 9 months.
No. of young: 10-80.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary, nomadic.
Diet: Anything it can catch.
lifespan: Not known, but probably
30-40 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The tiger is one of the requiem
sharks, a large family which
includes the lemon shark, blue
shark, and bull shark.
Range of the tiger shark.
DISTRIBUTION
Mainly tropical, coastal waters throughout the world in
winter, spreading north and south in summer.
CONSERVATION
The tiger shark has less commercial value than many other
sharks, so although it is prized by sport fishermen, it is under
no direct threat.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE TIGER SHARK
Head: Wedge-shaped head gives
minimum side resistance, allowing
the shark to lI:lm quickly:
victim in water.
Liver-; Ule lar9&"
oily li ver helps
to K& the
shark from-
sinking.
The tiger shark gets its name because of the
dark stripes across its back. It is an efficient killer,
armed with an extraordinary sense of smell and
serrated teeth that can slice through flesh and bone.
A proven man-eater, it is one of the most
feared sharks in the world.
~ HABITS
The large, powerful, solitary
tiger shark cruises the coastal
and offshore waters of
tropical seas. It will travel up
to fifty miles a day, rarely
stopping except to eat.
In summer, the tiger shark
may follow warm water cur-
rents as far south as New
Zealand, or north to Japan or
the northern United States. In
winter it stays closer to the
equator near the coral reefs of
the Caribbean and the Pacific
and Indian Oceans where it is
the largest and most domi-
nant of all the reef predators,
eating anything it can find.
The tiger shark tends to
stay in the deep waters on
the fringe of reefs, occasion-
ally penetrating the channels
to attack in the shallows. It
glides day and night over the
reef and ocean bed.
Above: The dark stripes that
give the tiger shark its name are
clearly visible on this young
animal but will eventually fade
as it grows older.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The tiger shark is an indis-
criminate feeder; it will eat
anything. In addition to its
main diet of fish, squid, sea
turtles, seals, and smaller
sharks, items such as car
license plates and gasoline
cans have been found in its
stomach.
A tiger shark has a large
mouth and massive, powerful
jaws lined with flat, triangular,
DID YOU KNOW?
Sharks were once thought
to be instinctive killing ma-
chines, but it is now believed
that they learn to hunt by ex-
perience.
The sense of smell is so
important to a shark that
I
nearly two-thirds of its brain
is devoted to processing scent
information.
~ TIGER SHARK & MAN
The tiger shark has been
responsible for more fatal
attacks on man than any
other species of shark. Be-
cause it will eat anything,
including man, it is one of the
most feared sharks in tropical
waters.
Most killer sharks are not
man-eaters; they may attack
or kill people, but they won't
actually eat the remains. But
accounts of tiger sharks swal-
lowing their human victims
abound. In one report, a tiger
shark attacked two men and
a woman on a life raft, killed
and swallowed one of the
men, then came back and
snatched the woman . Their
notched teeth with serrated
edges. As teeth are broken or
lost, new teeth grow in to
replace them.
The tiger shark has good
eyesight, but it relies mostly
on other senses to track and
catch its prey. It has an acute
sense of smell, which enables
it to pick up even the faintest
traces of blood in the water
and follow them to their
source. It is also sensitive to
low-frequency pressure waves
produced by movements in
companion reached the
safety of a nearby reef and
escaped unharmed.
Still, despite such tales,
some shark experts and divers
insist that tiger sharks are
really quite gentle. But the
the water. Even tiny nerve
and muscle twinges reach its
sensitive electro receptors, so
the shark can pinpoint prey in
the darkest, murkiest water.
Once the tiger shark has
located its prey, it may circle
it for a while or nudge it with
its snout before making the
kill. The final attack is fren-
zied; the shark will devour
anything in its path.
Below: The powerful jaws and
teeth are pushed out as the tiger
shark closes in on its prey.
common perception for most
people is that the tiger shark
means trouble.
Below: This trusting shark expert
proves that the tiger's fearsome
reputation can be taken too
seriously.
~ BREEDING
Most fish produce large num-
bers of eggs that are fertilized
by sperm ejected into the
water. Sharks, however, breed
by internal fertilization, in
much the same way as mam-
mals do.
During mating, one of the
male's pelvic fins is introduced
into the female's genital
opening to act as a guide for
the sperm. Mating can be
painful for the female, since
the male will often use his
teeth to hold her still.
The young (between 10 and
80 in each brood) are nour-
ished inside their mother's
body for approximately nine
months. When they are born,
they are completely independ-
ent and equipped with a full
set of teeth. They are able to
swim away as soon as they
emerge and begin to hunt for
themselves immediately.
MUDSKIPPER
ORDER
Percifarmes
... FAMilY
"11IIIIIIII Cabiidae
... GENUS
"11IIIIIIII Periapthalmus
It is likely that the first fish to move from sea to land
millions of years ago resembled the strange-looking, bulbous-eyed
mudskippers found in the tidal mangrove swamps of the tropics.
KEY FACTS
~ - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
length: 6-12 in .
BREEDING
Mating season: May to July.
No. of eggs: Several hundred laid
in burrows.
Hatching time: 2-3 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary, lives in burrows
dug out of mud.
Diet: Smaller species: algae and
minute forms of aquatic life. Larger
species: small crabs, insects, and
small fish.
Range of the mudskipper.
DISTRIBUTION
lifespan: Approximately 5 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are approximately 600
species in the family Cabiidae. They
are generally small, spiny-finned
fishes with elongated bodies,
Found in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the
Indian Ocean in a range extending from Africa to Australia.
Able to live on land as well as in water, they particularly
frequent mangrove swamps.
CONSERVATION
found in coastal or brackish waters.
Because they have no commercial value and their habitats
are not threatened, mudskippers are not endangered.
FEATURES OF THE MUDSKIPPER
The mudskipper has an elongated,
muscular body with huge, bulbous
eyes on the top of its head. These are
protected by a thick layer of clear
skin. The mudskipper uses its large
and muscular pectoral fins like a pair
of legs to skip over the mud.
Eyes: Its eyes are
large and round
and can swivel
around in their
sockets to give
maximum field of
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Fins: Some species
have no dorsal fin;
the male in other
species has a high,
brightly colored
fin.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
In many species of mudskipper the
pelvic fins are modified into leglike
appendages. In other species, these
fins form an adhesive pad.
0160200151 PACKET 15
There are several different species
of mudskipper, all belonging to the
family of fish known as gobies.
Mudskippers are unusual in that they
spend most of their time on land,
using their large, muscular pectoral
fins like a pair of legs to skip over the
mud and sand of their habitat.

Mudskippers are most com-
monly found in mangrove
swamps, where they live in
burrows among tree stems
and roots. Although some
may climb up the trunks and
branches of the trees, they
dart back down and into their
burrows at the first sign of
danger.
The trees provide shelter
and cover from predators
such as gulls and terns.
Below: The mudskipper can
retract its prominent eyes into
their sockets.
SPECIAL
1!1:' ADAPTATIONS
A mudskipper can take in oxy-
gen through the mass of tiny
blood vessels in its mouth and
throat. But, as with other fish,
most of its oxygen comes
through its gills.
The gills are contained in an
enlarged chamber that must
be kept filled with water for
oxygen exchange to occur. By I
frequently splashing about in
shallow pools, the fish keeps
I
the two pulpy reservoirs above
its gill chambers filled with
oxygen-containing water.
L __
DID YOU KNOW? J
Mudskippers dig burrows
that are 20 inches or deeper
by spitting large mouthfuls of
mud away from the burrow's
entrance.
The mudskipper's eyes are
adapted for both above and
below water. They can also
be moved separately.
Mudskippers do not move
with the tide. Instead, they
spend most of their time out
of water. But at high tide
they can remain completely
I
submerged in their burrows
for up to two hours.
FOOD &: FEEDING
Some types of mudskipper
feed on diatoms (microscopic
algae) that live in the mud.
To catch them, mudskippers
scrape off a thin layer of mud
by skimming their heads
across its surface.
Above:
Mudskippers
defend their
burrows by
charging and
snapping at
intruders while
raising their
dorsal fins.
Right: A pair
of mudskippers
watches for
insects from a
dry perch.
Other species of mudskipper
feed on larger prey, including
shrimp, worms, and insects.
They also eat crabs, despite
the thick shells. But some-
times mudskippers fall prey
themselves to larger crabs.
Left: Different
species of
mudskipper
vary in color
and appear-
ance. This male
has a promi-
nent, brightly
colored dorsal
fin.

Male and female mudskip-
pers look identical except in
breeding season, when the
males develop brighter colors
on their backs and sides.
Males attract females by
moving up and down rhyth-
mically. When a female
shows interest, the male leads
her into his burrow. The
female then lays her eggs and
the male fertilizes them.
When the eggs hatch two
to three weeks later, the
hatchlings swim from the
burrow while it is submerged
at high tide. The young mud-
skippers can fall prey to a
variety of marine predators,
including adult mudskippers.
STINGRAY
ORDER
Hypotremata
FAMILY
Oasyatidae
GENUS
Oasyatis
Varying in shape from almost rectangular to circular, with spotted
or mottled markings, stingrays are found in all the world's tropical
and temperate seas.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Width: Depending on species,
from 1-15 ft.
Length: Up to 14 ft.
Weight: 1-750 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Not known.
Breeding season: Spring.
Gestation: 4 months to 1 year.
No. of young: 2-9 young are born,
depending on species, from the
late summer to winter.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary, bottom dwelling.
Diet: Mollusks, crustaceans, fish.
Lifespan: Not known.
RELATED SPECIES
Over 100 species of stingray are
distributed worldwide. The
European O. pastinaca reaches 8 ft.
in length. O. americana measures
just 5 ft.
THE STINGRAY'S STING
The stingray's sting is actually a poi- Eyes
sonous spine located on its long,
whiplike tail. When the fish is
disturbed in any way, it thrashes its
tail along with its spine from side to
side. Even though the spine is rigid, Fin
the tail is so flexible that together
they make a formidable defense
weapon that has been known to
seriously injure and even kill
unsuspecting swimmers.
Range of the stingray.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in tropical and temperate seas worldwide. Ranges as
far north as southern Scandinavia.
CONSERVATION
In general, the stingray is not under threat of extinction,
although it is dependent on shellfish for much of its food and
shellfish are adversely affected by pollution.
Spine
OMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PR'NTFn IN II S A
The size of the
stingray's spine
varies. In some
stingrays it may be
up to 16 in. long.
The spine is
grooved on the
underside and filled
with poison-
secreting tissue.
There are over a hundred species of stingray,
ranging in size from 1 to 15 feet across and weighing
between 1 and 750 pounds. All have the ability to
inflict a severe wound with their long tails and
poisonous, swordlike spines.
~ HABITS
Stingrays prefer to live in
shallow water and like to
spend time buried in soft
sand or mud. They are strong,
active swimmers, moving rap-
idly through the water with
their large, winglike fins.
Some scientists believe that,
with the onset of winter,
stingrays make long migra-
tions to warmer waters.
Others believe that the fish
dig themselves into the soft
seabed and spend the winter
in hibernation. Nevertheless,
stingrays are usually found in
colder waters only during
the summer.
Top: A blue-
spotted
stingray glides
over the
seabed.
left: Lying
covered in
sand, this D.
americana
stingray of the
Caribbean
displays its
ability to
conceal itself
from view.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Stingrays feed mainly on
worms, mollusks, and crusta-
ceans that they dig out of the
seabed. Larger stingrays may
also eat dead fish and squid.
The stingray's mouth is on
the underside of its body. Its
wide jaws and several rows of
blunt, broad teeth are used to
crush the shells of its prey. Its
muddy coloration provides a
good camouflage. Still, the
stingray often gives its pres-
ence away by creating a cloud
of sediment in the water.
Right: The ray's harmless-looking
closed mouth conceals rows of
strong teeth.
~ DIFFERENT SPECIES
In the oceans surrounding
North and South America, the
most common species is the
southern stingray, D. ameri-
cana. The species native to the
Indian Ocean is the huge D.
brevicaudata, which reaches a
length of 14 feet.
Some species, such as the
South American potamotrygon,
travel up rivers and spend their
entire lives in fresh water.
~ BREEDING
Little is known about the
stingray's mating behavior.
Still, it is known that stingrays
produce two to nine young
which hatch from eggs inside
the female's body.
As they are first developing,
the young feed from the yolk.
Later they take in food that is
secreted through the female's
uterine wall. At birth, the
stingrays measure 7 inches
across. Most are born in late
spring or early summer.
The color of the stingray
varies according to where it is
found. In some areas,
stingrays are dark brown and
black, while elsewhere they
are dark gray. The underside
is a white or cream color.
Large specimens weighing
over 50 pounds tend to be
very dark in color, and their
white undersides have a
bluish appearance.
DID YOU KNOW?
Stingray spines have been
used to make spear tips,
daggers, needles, and awls.
When stingrays are caught
in commercial fishing nets,
the fishermen often cut off
their spines before throwing
them back in the sea.
Hammerhead sharks often
prey on small to medium-
sized stingrays. Some
scientists believe that the
strange hammer-shaped
Right: A
common
stingray rests
on the seabed
off the coast of
Minorca, near
Spain. Sting-
rays live in
both temperate
and tropical
seas, and some
species are
even found in
waters off
Scandinavia.
head of this shark has evolved
so as to keep its eyes clear of
the stingray's lashing tail and
poisonous spine.
In Mexican waters, hun-
dreds of stingrays gather in
seabed depressions known as
ray pits.
In southern England, there
is a belief among old fisher-
men that the oil extracted
from the stingray's liver is a
preventive for pneumonia.
~ STINGRAY & MAN
The stingray has little com-
mercial value, although it is
killed for its meat, spines, and
oil . It is a dangerous animal
because it can inflict serious
wounds with its tail and
spine. People have been killed
by stingrays, often as a result
of standing on one buried in
the sand and being struck by
its lashing tail and spine.
Stingrays are also a nui-
sance because of their habit
of raiding oyster and shellfish
farms. Even the hard shell of
an oyster can be cracked by
the stingray's strong, blunt
teeth.
"" CARD 7
MANTA RAY
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
,. ORDER
"11IIIIIIII Batoidea
. ... FAMILY
"11IIIIIIII Mobulidae
.. GENUS & SPECIES
"11IIIIIIII Manta birostris
The largest member of the ray family, the manta looks like a
giant bat. It has been known to leap out of the water, occasionally
destroying small fishing boats.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 10-1 6 ft.
Span: 14-20 ft.
Weight: Estimated at up to
3,000 lb.
BREEDING
Mating season: Year round.
Gestation: Not known.
No. of young: 1 .
Lifespan: Not known.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Large specimens solitary;
smaller fish may move in shoals of
five or six in food-rich areas.
Diet: Mainly shrimp and plankton;
occasionally small fish such as
mullet.
RELATED SPECIES
Other members of the ray family
include the common eagle ray
(Myliobatis aquila), spotted eagle
ray (Actobatus narinari), and blunt
nosed sting ray (Dasyatis sayii).
THE MANTA RAY'S
FI.l TRA TION SYSTEM
The manta ray has two gigantic fins on either
Range of the manta ray.
DISTRIBUTION
The western Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, in both
inshore and offshore waters.
CONSERVATION
Manta rays have little commercial value and are not consid-
ered good sport fish by fishermen, so they are generally left
in peace. It is not known how many manta rays exist.
The manta's
fil tration
system is
used for
feeding as well
as respiration.
or breathing.
of Its head. They resemble large. soft paddles and are
used to channel food directlY into its wide mouth. The manta
has no teeth-its food is sucked. along with water, into its gill arches which
act as a filter. W."I$ then pumped back out through the gills and the food
is siphoned Into its stomach.
Known as the devilfish because of its terrifying habit
of slowly circling small boats, in reality the manta ray
is one of the ocean's more harmless giants.
Right: The
manta ray may
look menacing
as it glides
through the
water, but its
giant mouth is
toothless.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Manta rays feed mainly on
shrimp and plankton, al-
though they will occasionally
eat small fish such as mullet.
The manta's gill arches help
it to feed by operating as a
filtration system. During
respiration, water is sucked in
t hrough the mouth and
pumped out through the gill
slits. The plankton that is
sucked into the manta's
mouth along with the water
is caught by the gill arches
and siphoned into its
stomach.
When mantas encounter a
shoal of fish, they quickly
move in to feed, swallowing
as many fish as they can.
The span of the manta's winglike
fins can reach 22 ft , The wingspan
of a Piper Cherokee plane is only
slightly longer at 26 ft ,
~ MANTA & MAN ,
The manta ray has long been
regarded by fishermen as
dangerous. Stories of mantas
killing scuba divers and
deliberately jumping onto
small boats are numerous, but
unsubstantiated.
However, the manta's habit
of circling small boats can be
frightening to those aboard.
And, although mantas do oc-
l
casionally jump onto boats,
the damage they cause is
thought to be accidental. In
the process of leaping out of
the water, done possibly as an
Its strange appearance is enhanced by the way its aid in giving birth or for
T ~ _I - - ~ -
b
--- ;iiiiiiI""'" sport, manta rays have
road, flat fins move slowly up and down to
______________________ [, ~ ;:: ;} CJ c : : J ~ wrecked small boats, earning
propel it through the water. ):J c : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~ ~ : : : = = ~ ~ 1 them the name devilfish.
I J II
~ HABITAT
The manta ray is found both
inshore and offshore in the
warmer oceans. Although
mantas can be found on the
seabed, they spend much of
their time feeding near the
ocean's surface.
Large species of ray, such
as the manta, tend to be
solitary, although they are
often accompanied by a
shoal of pilot fish. While
feeding, small and medium-
sized species of ray may form
shoals.
~ BREEDING
Manta rays bear live young.
The single fertilized egg
develops inside the mother. It
appears that mantas
do not breed until their
winglike pectoral fins reach
a length of 1 3-15 feet.
There is no specific breeding
season: males and females
mate year round. The new-
borns are fairly large, weigh-
ing 20-30 pounds, have fins
that span 4 feet, and can gen-
erally protect themselves from
predators.

DID YOU KNOW?
- Manta rays can grow to a
huge size: it is common for
fin ns to reach more than
20 feet . One 17-foot-
long manta caught in
the Bahamas had fins
that spanned 22 feet .
- The word manta is Spanish for
cloak or blanket. When swim-
ming, the manta resembles a
spread-out cape.
I
-The blue whale, basking shark'i
and whale shark have feeding
systems similar to the manta's.
"" CARD 8
SEA HORSE
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Gasterosteiformes
FAMILY
Syngnathidae
GENUS
Hippocampus
The sea horse is a member of the pipefish family.
Swimming upright-and looking a little like a chesspiece-
it is a graceful inhabitant of the warmer seas.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: From 1 in. for the dwarf
pygmy sea horse to 14 in. for the
large Eastern Pacific sea horse.
BREEDING
Mating season: Year-round in
tropical seas. Spring and summer
in cooler waters. Coincides with
full moon.
Gestation: Usually 14 or 28 days.
No. of young: About SO, depend-
ing on species.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social.
Diet: Planktonic crustacea, tiny
fish, and other marine life.
Lifespan: Not known.
RELATED SPECIES
Close relatives are the pipefish and
shrimp fish.
FEATURES OF THE SEA HORSE
Range of the sea horse.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Indo-Australia; the Atlantic coasts of Europe, Africa,
and North America; and the Pacific coast of North America.
CONSERVATION
Little is known about its status, but shrimp trawlers catch
thousands around the full moon when sea horses congregate
to breed. Shrimp trawls also damage the shallow seabed that
forms the sea horse's home.
in size. The
lest, 1 inch long,
, at 14 inches,
Swivel eyes I ~ t
the sea horse
watch prey
without moving.
The sea horse
r---:::;:::---------::----, uses a clever
l1BBfJ
camouflage
technique to
deceive
predators. It
simply adopts
the color of
surrounding
weeds.
To avoid being
swept away in
shifting seas, the
sea horse wraps its
il around the
Sea horses avoid predators by mimicking
the colors of underwater plants. There are
35 species living along the coasts of Australia/
Africa/ Europe/ and North America. They
range in size from the tiny pygmy variety to
the giant Eastern Pacific sea horse.
~ HABITAT
Sea horses are usually found
in warm, shallow water
among seagrass beds. They
situate themselves near deep,
fast-running channels that
provide them with plankton,
the microscopic marine life
on which they feed.
To avoid being swept away
by the current, they wrap
their long tails around nearby
vegetation. Their tails are
prehensile-specially adapted
for grasping.
~ FOOD fie FEEDING
Sea horses feed constantly on
plankton and other small fish .
A sea horse can use each eye
independently from the other,
which allows it to search for
prey without moving its body.
When prey comes close, the
sea horse can snap it up from
~ BREEDING
Sea horses are an unusual
species in that the male be-
comes pregnant. The female
releases her eggs into a
pouch on the male's abdo-
men. As the eggs attach
themselves to the spongy
pouch wall, he fertilizes them
and nourishes them with a
special fluid secretion. After
gestation, about fifty young
are released from his pouch.
up to an inch and a half away.
The sea horse can avoid
most predators because its
coloration acts as camouflage
in all surroundings. Within
seconds, it can change from
gray or black to vivid yellow
or purple.
Right: The
female releases
her eggs into
a pouch on
the male's
abdomen.
Below: The
babies are born
as perfect
miniatures of
their parents. By
the time they
are two months
old, they have
grown to two
inches.
left: On the
lookout for
food, a yellow
sea horse uses
both its eyes
separately to
spot its prey.
Right: Well
camouflaged, a
sea horse grips
onto plant
stems with its
prehensile tail.
~ SEA HORSE fie MAN
The sea horse was once
thought to be a mythological
creature. Today it is much in
demand for home aquariums.
However, it is extremely
difficult to keep a sea horse
alive outside its natural
environment, probably
because of the high intake of
food it needs to survive.
DID YOU KNOW?
Except for crabs, few preda-
tors eat sea horses-they are
too bony.
Male pregnancy lets the
female produce more eggs
quickly without nurturing the
last batch.
~
F e m a l e sea horses compete
with each other for male
mating partners.
"" CARD 9
LION FISH
____________________________________ G_RO __ U_P_4_: _FI_SH __ __
... ORDER ". FAMilY ". GENUS & SPECIES
'IIIIIIIIIII Scorpaeniformes 'IIIIIIIIIII Scorpaenidae Pterois volitans
With its vivid coloration and poisonous spines,
this scorpionfish species effectively deters predators and,
conseQuentlv, can swim freelv without fear of attack.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
length: Lionfish grow to 15 in.,
with pectoral fins spanning 30 in .
BREEDING
Mating season: Spring for tem-
perate species.
No. of young: Up to 20,000 in
some species.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary. Lionfish are free-
swimming; other species are
mainly bottom-dwellers.
Diet: Smaller fish, small crabs,
prawns, and shrimp.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 300 species of related
scorpionfish, found mainly in the
Indian and Pacific Oceans, but
Sebastes marina, the redfish or
ocean perch, is found throughout
the north Atlantic.
Range of the lionfish.
DISTRIBUTION
Reefs and coastal shallows in the Indian and Pacific oceans,
from eastern Africa to New Guinea, Australia, the Philippines,
and the western Pacific islands.
CONSERVATION
Despite some commercial collection for aquariums, the
lionfish is in no immediate danger.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE LION FISH
Pectoral fins: Spread wide and used
to rake through the water, sweeping
smaller fish into a position where
they can be eaten.
Spines: If the spines are thrust into an attacker, the ---\
venom in the glandular tissue is squeezed up a groove
into the d, where it enters the bloodstream.
Mouth: The wide
mouth of the
lionfish is used as
a trap. When
suitable prey
swims past , the
fish opens its
mouth and water
in, drawing
the helpless prey
in with it.
The lionfish is a type of scorpion fish.
Its beautiful fins conceal an array of
poisonous spines capable of inflicting
severe pain. Like many scorpion fish/
it does not have many predators/ since
few animals will dare to attack it.
~ HABITS
The lionfish lives in shallow
water among the rocks and
coral reefs of warm and tem-
perate seas.
Its featherlike fins and
bristling spines are not merely
decorative but, rather, serve as
camouflage that helps protect
the fish among the seaweed
and coral on the seabed. The
lionfish spends most of its time
lurking or resting among the
rocks on the bottom of the
seabed. It is rarely detected
unless it moves. This behavior
is typical of most scorpionfish
(members of the Scorpaenidae
family).
Unlike the lionfish, some
other species of scorpionfish
do not hide but, rather, swim
through the water seemingly
indifferent to predators. They
have poisonous spines and,
like brightly colored wasps,
they advertise the presence
of the spines with their gaudy
coloration. Would-be preda-
tors seem to recognize the
possible danger and avoid
swimming too close. As a
result, the scorpionfish is vir-
tually immune to attack by
other fish.
Right and below: The lionfish
is one of the few aggressive
scorpion fish. It will raise its
spines, point them at an
intruder, and even advance
threateningly'
DID YOU KNOW?
An Indian species of scorpi-
onfish has a symbiotic, or
mutually beneficial, relation-
ship with the hydroid (a small
species resembling the sea
anemone). The hydroids
attach themselves to the skin
of the scorpionfish and
Most fish lay eggs. Many pro-
duce millions at a time, leaving
them to the ocean currents
and to predators, so that only
a small proportion survive to
maturity.
Some scorpionfish species,
including the lionfish, have
large numbers of eggs that
reach maturity. These fish are
ovoviviparous (the eggs stay in
the female's body until they
hatch), ensuring that the eggs
are safe. Still, when the hatch-
lings are released into the
provide it with camouflage.
In return, they are trans-
ported by the fish.
The closely related stonefish
is t he most poisonous fish in
the world. Its 13 dorsal spines
deliver a poison that can kill a
person in six hours.
water, many fall prey to other
fish. Several thousand young
must be produced each sea-
son so that a sufficient num-
ber will survive.
The Californian scorpionfish
and some tropical species
also lay eggs. The eggs are
embedded in a large, hollow,
gelatinous balloon that floats
on the water's surface. As
soon as the young hatch,
they sink rapidly to the sea-
bed to avoid being eaten by
predators.
.
...
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The lionfish eats any fish and
crustaceans it can catch.
It expends a great deal of
energy chasing its prey, so it
must eat a large amount to
compensate for this loss. Still,
like all predators, the lionfish
has an instinctive awareness
that causes it to give up the
chase if it seems likely to use
more energy than it is worth.
~ DEFENSE
Scorpionfish spines are barbed
and dagger-sharp, and each
has an elongated poison
gland. The more elaborately
finned shallow-water species
are the most poisonous.
The effect of the poison on
an animal can be fatal. Lion-
Above: A lionfish opens its
mouth wide, and its prey floods
in with the water.
Some species of scorpion-
fish are bottom-dwelling
and remain motionless and
virtually invisible when not
feeding. Its inactivity uses up
little energy, so a single feed-
ing will sustain the fish for
several days.
fish venom is a neurotoxin, or
nerve poison, and when in-
jected into a predatory fish,
it paralyzes its muscles-
including its heart. For a
human, the consequences
are usually less drastic, but
still extremely painful.
left: The
stonefish is a
close relative of
the lionfish. Its
harmless
appearance
disguises
venomous
spines that are
lethal to
humans.
BARRACUDA
... ORDER
~ Perciformes
... FAMILY
~ Sphyraenidae
... GENUS
~ Sphyraena
GROUP 4: FISH
As a deep-water hunter, the barracuda strikes with lightning speed
and deadly accuracy. With its dagger like teeth, the great
barracuda can easily bite off a person's leg.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 6 ft .
Weight: Highest recorded, 103 lb .
BREEDING
Very little known about habits.
Thought to breed in open water,
probably at any time of the year.
~ LIFESTYLE
Habit: Small or young fish found in
schools. Larger fish are mainly
solitary.
Diet: Almost any fish.
Lifespan: 1 0-15 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 20 species of barracuda,
the best known being the
California or Pacific barracuda,
S. argentea, and the European
barracuda, S. sphyraena. Within
the Perciformes order, there are
some 8,000 species, contained in
about 150 families.
Range of the great barracuda.
DISTRIBUTION
Widely distributed in all tropical seas, especially around coral
heads and submerged reefs, but probably most common in
the western Atlantic and Caribbean.
CONSERVATION
The great barracuda has no commercial value, and although
a popular target of sport fishermen, it is in no danger of
extinction.
FEATURES OF THE BARRACUDA
The most noticeable and menacing
feature of the barracuda is its strong
bottom jaw. whi ch protru des beyond
the pointed snout of the top jaw. The
jaws are equipped wi th formi dable
sets of teeth-a row of small razor-
sharp ones around the outside and a
larger set of tearing teeth set just
Insi de.
The torpedo-shaped body is long and
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
slender with two prominent dorsal fi ns
set well apart. The tail fin is broad and
powerful. The body is silver colored.
usually wi th darker speckles and dark
gray-bl ue stripes down the side.
0160200071 PACKET 7
Barracudas vary in size from a mere
78 inches to more than 6 feet. The 6-foot
great barracuda is the most feared of all species,
and the many authentic records of attacks
on man has led to its being known as the
tiger of the sea.
HABITAT
Barracudas are found in the
Mediterranean, western
Atlantic, and tropical waters.
Adult barracudas are found in
the deep waters of their range.
In stormy weather they some-
times come inshore.
Young barracudas are mostly
DID YOU KNOW?
The barracuda is also
known as the sea pike,
because it bears a resem-
blance to the freshwater pike.
The two are not related.
Because barracudas are
attracted to yellow-colored
objects, fishermen often use
found in inshore waters,
particularly over shallow,
sandy, or weedy areas. They
swim and hunt in small
schools, which is very unusual
in predatory fish. Larger fish,
however, tend to be more
solitary.
yellow lures to catch them.
In the eighteenth century,
there were sightings of 15-
foot barracudas.
Barracudas adapt remark-
ably well to aquarium living,
provided they are fed with
an ample supply of fish .
BARRACUDA &: MAN
Barracudas have been known
to attack fishermen and skin
divers on several occasions.
Barracudas are extremely
curious and will swim around
skin divers, watching their
movements. They become
highly excited by the splashing
of fast-moving objects, per-
haps mistaking them for prey.
Because the great barracuda
absorbs toxins from the food
it eats, it is not fished com-
mercially. But the European
barracuda, S. sphyraena, is a
popular commercial fish.
Right: Its two
sets of razor-
sharp teeth
make the
barracuda an
efficient and
feared
predator.
Left: The
tropical marine
waters that are
the barra-
cuda's habitat
are also much
favored by
divers. Conse-
quently, the
two often come
into conflict.
FOOD &: HUNTING
The great barracuda's reputa-
tion for being a voracious and
fierce hunter is well founded.
All species of barracuda are
active hunters. Their food
varies according to their hab-
itat. Groupers, grunts, bream,
snapper, and its own young
fall prey to the great barra-
cuda.
Barracudas attack swiftly,
charging their prey with great
speed and biting with their
powerful jaws. Their eyesight is
so acute that they hunt by
sight even in the most murky

Barracudas are such aggressive
hunters that they generally live
alone. But large groups of
adult barracudas do come
together each year to spawn
(breed). The Mediterranean
barracuda spawns from April to
September. The females lay
waters. When several barracu-
das hunt together, it is
believed that they herd their
prey into a dense school,
increasing the success of their
attack.
The flesh of some of the
coral reef fish that make up
the great barracuda's diet is
poisonous, so the barracuda's
flesh becomes poisoned with
it as well.
Left: The barracuda's elongated
body helps it to achieve lightning
speed for an attack.
their eggs in the surface
waters of the sea far offshore.
Young fish may produce up to
5,000 eggs per season, while
mature barracudas can lay
300,000. The newly hatched
fish (or fry) immediately begin
to prey on other fish.