October 2016 archives

Monkeyface Eel

  Pricklebacks—Family Stichaeidae Monkeyface eel from the Morro Bay T-Pier Species: Cebidichthys violaceus  (Girard, 1854); from the Greek cebidichthys (two words meaning Sapajou—a kind of monkey, and fish); and the Latin word violaceus  (meaning violet). Alternate Names: Monkeyface prickleback, blenny eel, monkeyface blenny. Called abrojo cara de mono in Mexico. Identification: Typical eel shape. Adult [...]

Dolphinfish aka Dorado aka Mahi Mahi

Dolphinfishes—Family Coryphaenidae A dorado I caught fishing out of Rancho Buena Vista in the Sea of Cortez Species: Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758); from the Greek words Coryphaena (helmet and to show) and hippurus (horse and tail). Alternate Names: Called mahi mahi in Hawaii, dorado or dorado delfin in Mexico. Identification:   A single dorsal fin [...]

California Lizardfish

Order Myctophiformes  Lizardfish—Family Synodontidae Lizardfish, Avila Pier in 2013 Species: Synodus lucioceps (Ayres, 1855); from the Greek word synodus (the ancient name of a fish in which the teeth meet), and the Latin word lucioceps  (pike head). Alternate Names: Gar, barracuda, candlefish. Called lagarto lucio or chile lucio in Mexico. Identification: They are cylindrical shaped [...]

Giant Kelpfish

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads—Family Clinidae Giant kelpfish from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon i 2011 Species: Heterostichus rostratus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words heter  (different) and ost (extra bone), and the Latin word rostratus  (beaked or hooked). Alternate Names: Kelpfish, eel, iodine fish, butterfish, and kelp blenny. Called sargacero gigante in Mexico. Identification: The body [...]

Soupfin Shark

Cartilaginous Fishes—Class Chondrichthyes — (A skeleton of cartilage that is not true bone) Subclass Elasmobranchi—Sharks and Rays Order Carcharhiniformes — Hound Sharks—Family Triakididae Picture courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Species: Galeorhinus zyopterus (Linnaeus, 1758); from the Greek words galeos  (a kind of shark), rhinos (nose or snout), zuon, (animal) and pteron  [...]