October 2016 archives
Subclass Elasmobranchi—Sharks and Rays Order Hexanchiformes — Cow Sharks—Family Hexanchidae A sevengill taken from the Oyster Point Pier by Matt Shockley in 2003 Species: Notorynchus cepedianus (Perón, 1807); from the Greek roots noto (back) and r(h)ynchos (snout); and the Latin cepidianus (spotted). Alternate Names: Broadnose sevengill shark, cow shark, spotted cow shark, mud shark, bluntnose [...]
Order Lamniformes — Thresher Sharks—Family Alopiidae Small thresher shark from the Pacifica Pier in 2006 Species: Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788); from the Greek word alopos and Latin word vulpes, (both meaning fox). Alternate Names: Thresher, blue thresher, longtail shark, swiveltail, fox shark, sea fox, fish shark, sea ope, pesca pavone. A worldwide range with a [...]
Order Heterodontiformes — Bullhead Sharks—Family Heterodontidae Horn shark from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon in 2015 Species: Heterodontus francisci (Girard, 1855); from the Greek hetero (different) and odont (tooth) and the Latin francisci (referring to San Francisco). (They have a small pointed tooth at the front of their jaw and a blunt tooth at the [...]
Order Gadiformes — Cods—Family Gadidae Three Pacific tomcod (2nd, 3rd and 4th fish) together with a barred surfperch and six white croaker (generally called tomcod in southern California and kingfish in northern California), all from the Pacifica Pier in 1976 Species: Microgadus proximus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words micros (small) and gadus (codfish), and [...]
Grunts—Family Haemulidae A sargo caught at the San Clemente Pier in 2015 Species: Anisotremus davidsonii (Steindachner, 1876); from the Greek word anisotremus (unequal aperture, in reference to the pores on the chin), and davidsonii (for George Davidson, a 19th Century astronomer at the California Academy of Sciences). Alternate Names: China croaker, black croaker, blue bass, [...]