learn the other body types and markings that will help you identify reef fish.

1. C.V. Bethel Magnet Marine Science Program
Reef Fish
Identification Course
C. Johnson
adapted from
Atlantic Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment
(AGRRA)

3. Objectives
After view PowerPoint student will with 90 accuracy;
1. List 3 main types of marking
2. Name 3 type of fish from the same species
3. Identify one distinguishing marking on a local fish

4. Why is Fish Id Important?
Stock Assessment
Mating
Poison
Deliacies

5. What you need to know/do
• Label a diagram showing external features of fish;
of fish markings
• Use body position terms of reference to describe
external features and markings of fish
• Observe and identify members of 12 fish id groups
• Compare/Contrast adaptations of fish families (i.e.
body and tail shape; coloration; mouth, teeth &
gill rakers)

6. External Features of Fish
1
3
2 4
6
5
7
9
8
10
13
12
14
11
1. Snout
2. Nape
3. Dorsal fin
4. Lateral line
5. Finlets
6. Scutes
7. Caudal fin
8. Tail margin
9. Caudal peduncle
10. Anal/Ventral fin
11. Position of anus
12. Pelvic fin
13. Pectoral fin
14. Operculum
Drawing by C.Carey, BREEF

7. Body Position Terms of Reference
Dorsal Side
Ventral Side
Anterior or
Head region
Posterior or
Tail region
Main Body region
Drawing by C.Carey, BREEF

8. Lines- Thin
markings
Stripe
- horizontal mark
Speckles
-fine spots
Blotch
- irregular marks
Bar
- vertical mark
Spot- well defined,
solid circular marking
Ocellated spot
– a spot surrounded by
a ring of another colour
Band
- diagonal mark
FISH MARKINGS
Lines – thin markings
of any orientation
A
G F
E
D
C
B
H
Drawing by C.Carey, BREEF

9. Identification Group1
- Disks & Ovals/Colorful
• Angelfish
• Butterflyfish
• Surgeonfish

10. Queen Angelfish (adult, juvenile)

11. French Angelfish (adult, juv.)

12. Rock Beauty (adult, juv.)

13. BUTTERFLY FISH

14. Banded Butterflyfish

15. Foureye butterflyfish

16. Spotfin butterflyfish

17. SURGEON FISH

18. Blue Tang (adult, juv.)

19. Ocean Surgeonfish

20. Doctorfish

21. Identification Group 2
- Silvery
• Dolphin
• Jack
• Needlefish
• Barracuda
• Bonefish
• Porgy
• Tarpon
• Chubs
• Silversides

22. Dolphin fish (Mahi mahi)

23. Bar jack

24. Needlefish

25. Great Barracuda

26. Bonefish

27. Tarpon

28. Identification Group 3
- Sloping Head/Tapered Body
• Grunt
• Snapper

29. GRUNT

30. French Grunt

31. Blue-striped Grunt

32. White Margate

33. SNAPPER

34. Grey Snapper

35. Yellowtail snapper

36. Mangrove Snapper

39. Schoolmaster (adult, juv.)

40. Identification Group 4
- Small Ovals
Damselfish
Sergeant Major

41. Yellowtail damselfish (adult, juv.)

42. Bicolor damselfish

43. Sergeant Major

44. Lane Snapper

45. Identification Group 5
- Heavy Body/Large Lips
• Grouper

46. Nassau Grouper

48. Red Hind

49. Tiger Grouper

50. Identification Group 6
- Swim with pectoral fins/Obvious Scales
• Parrotfish
• Wrasse

51. Stoplight Parrotfish (adult, IP)

52. Bluehead Wrasse (supermale)

53. Identification Group 7
- Reddish/Big Eyes
• Squirrelfish

54. Squirrelfish

55. Identification Group 8
- Small, elongated; Bottom-dwellers

56. Redlip blenny
Redlip Blenny

57. Identification Group 9
- Odd-shaped; Bottom-dwellers
• Flounder

58. Peacock Flounder

60. Balloonfish

61. Sharpnose Puffer

62. Yellow Goatfish

63. Identification Group 10
- Odd-shaped swimmers

65. Green Moray Eel

66. Nurse Shark
Nurse Shark

67. Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark

68. Great Hammerhead Shark

69. Southern Stingray
Southern Stingray

70. Spotted Eagle Ray
Spotted Eagle Ray

71. Try an Online Fish ID quiz at
http://www.pbcrrt.org/PBFQ_18.shtml
The fish id groups in this presentation are based on
those listed in the book ‘Reef Fish Identification’ by
Paul Humann & Ned DeLoach.
Not all fish families from each id group are
represented here.
The fish species included are representatives of
families, those more commonly observed in Bahamian
waters, and/or of special interest to students.