Say Hello to the Striped Cusk-Eel
With its shiny elongate, snake-like body, it is understandable why the striped cusk-eel (Ophidion marginatum) might be mistaken for a true eel at first glance. The uniquely shaped fish, however, belongs to a group of fishes known as cusk-eels (family Ophidiidae) whose name is derived from the Greek origin ‘ophis’ meaning “snake” or “serpent.” A […]
Let’s Call a Spade a Spadefish!
The Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber) is commonly associated with many of Georgia’s near and offshore reefs and other structured habitats. However, like many of our state’s marine fishes, spadefish are also reliant on Georgia’s vast estuaries for a safe haven before they get large enough to move offshore to deeper waters. Spadefish have a blunt […]
A Star in the Estuary
Did you know that the American star drum (Stellifer lanceollatus) is a close relative of two of Georgia’s most popular sport fish, the red and black drum? However, despite being one of the more common residents in coastal Georgia waters they often don’t share the same recognition as their larger, more popular cousins. Star drum’s […]
All Choked Up About the Hogchoker!
It’s a fairly safe bet that for most people the hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus) is not a common household name. Fortunately, for all us they are a common feature in Georgia’s estuaries! These well-camouflaged flatfish with no pectoral fins are members of the Sole family (Achiridae) and have round to oval-shaped bodies. As with all fish, […]
‘Sea Something?’… Say Something!!
One of my favorite questions as a Sea Grant Extension Agent is, “What is this?” because it usually means I get to help a person identify some type of marine life. I got one of these calls the other day from a gentleman in McIntosh County who caught what was he thought was a freshwater […]
Not Your Grandma’s Skillet!
Georgia’s estuaries never disappoint when it comes to illustrating the various shapes, sizes and adaptations you can find in fish. This thought entered my mind the other day as I tried removing a tiny skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus) that suctioned onto my hand during a recent sampling trip in Sapelo Sound. This tiny, flattened fish gets […]
Why the Long Face?
The lookdown (Selene vomer) is yet another example of the rich biodiversity we can find along the Georgia coast. While they are found across both northern and southern hemispheres, locally, lookdowns are yearlong inhabitants of our estuaries and shallow nearshore waters. Characterized by their silver and iridescent color along with elongated dorsal and anal fins, […]
Bait or Supper…? The Striped Mullet is a Good Choice!
Equally at home in freshwater as in saltwater, the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) is a common inhabitant of Georgia’s coastal rivers, estuaries and offshore waters. If you’ve spent any time on the water, there a good chance you’ve witnessed one of their more well-known traits…jumping out of the water! It is still not definitively known […]
A File with Style
Named for its rough skin, which resembles the texture of a fingernail file, the planehead filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) is another great example of the rich biodiversity found within Georgia’s estuaries. Planeheads, like all filefish are characterized by a deep flattened body (also known as laterally compressed) and a short pointy snout. Their mottled bodies can […]
Does this body make my face look fat?!
Always a crowd pleaser, the striped burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfii) is no stranger to Georgia’s estuaries. A member of the porcupinefish family (Diodontidae), these prickly fish are easily recognized by their conspicuous stiff body spines, numerous wavy stripes and dark spots that cover their yellow-toned bodies. They also possess a parrot-like beak made up of fused […]