Page 360 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

358 ANIMAL LIFE

ORDER SCORPAENIFORMES ORDER SCORPAENIFORMES ORDER SCORPAENIFORMES The adult lumpsucker (or lumpfish) has
a slightly grotesque appearance because
Spotted Scorpionfish East Atlantic Lumpsucker the first dorsal fin becomes overgrown
with thick, lumpy skin. Other bony
Red Gurnard
Scorpaena plumieri Cyclopterus lumpus lumps and bumps stick out in irregular
LENGTH LENGTH rows along its large, rounded body. The
Chelidonichthys cuculus
Up to 18 in (45 cm) Up to 24 in (60 cm) pelvic fins form a strong sucker disk on
LENGTH its belly, which the lumpsucker uses to
WEIGHT WEIGHT
Up to 3 1 / 4 lb (1.5 kg) Up to 20 in (50 cm) Up to 21 lb (9.5 kg) cling to wave-battered rocks near the
WEIGHT shore where it spawns. The male guards
DEPTH DEPTH
3–200 ft (1–60 m) Not recorded 7–1,300 ft (2–400 m) the eggs from crabs and also fans them.
DEPTH
DISTRIBUTION Western Atlantic and eastern Atlantic DISTRIBUTION Temperate and cold waters of north Lumpsucker eggs are marketed as
around Ascension Island and St. Helena 50–1,300 ft (15–400 m) Atlantic substitute caviar.
DISTRIBUTION Temperate waters of northeastern
Atlantic and Mediterranean
Resting quietly on the seabed,
the spotted scorpionfish is almost ORDER PERCIFORMES ORDER PERCIFORMES
invisible thanks to its mottled color
and weedlike skin flaps that cover its Wreckfish Fairy Basslet
head. However, if this fish is disturbed,
it can open its large pectoral fins to Polyprion americanus Pseudanthias squamipinnis
display dramatic black and white- LENGTH LENGTH
spotted patches. Flashing these “false Up to 7 ft (2 m) Up to 6 in (15 cm)
eyes” is often enough to frighten off a WEIGHT WEIGHT
potential predator, but if this does not Up to 220 lb (100 kg) Not recorded
work, the spines on its dorsal fin can DEPTH DEPTH
inflict a venomous sting. 130–2,000 ft (40–600 m) 0–180 m (0–55 m)
The East Atlantic red gurnard could DISTRIBUTION Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian DISTRIBUTION Red Sea and tropical waters of Indian
be said to be a “walking-talking” fish. Ocean, and Pacific Ocean and western Pacific
The first three rays of the pectoral fins
are shaped as separate, thick, finger- The name of this fish comes from Fairy basslets live around coral
like feelers, which are covered with the juveniles’ habit of accompanying outcrops and dropoffs. The larger,
sensory organs. These feelers are used to drifting wreckage. This is a large, more colorful males have a long
“walk” over the seabed and probe for solid fish with a pointed head and a filament at the front of the dorsal fin,
shrimp and crabs. The fish has a large protruding lower jaw. It has a spiny and they defend a harem of females.
head protected by hard, bony plates dorsal fin and a bony ridge running As they grow larger, the females
and spines and two separate dorsal fins. across the gill cover. Adult wreckfish change sex and turn into males.
These gurnards sometimes form live close to the bottom of the sea
shoals, and as the fish move around, floor and often lurk inside shipwrecks
they make short, sharp grunting noises and caves. Juvenile wreckfish prefer
by vibrating their swim bladder with surface waters and can often be
special muscles and so stay in contact approached by snorkelers,
with other gurnards nearby. They spawn presumably because the fish consider
in spring and summer and the eggs the swimmers to be floating wreckage.
and larvae float freely near the surface. As the young fish grow, they give up
Adults live for at least 20 years. their nomadic life to live near the
Although caught commercially, this seabed. Adults are fished using
species is not a main target for fishing. lines and make good eating.

ORDER PERCIFORMES
Potato Grouper

Epinephelus tukula
LENGTH
Up to 7 ft (2 m)
WEIGHT
Up to 240 lb (110 kg)
DISTRIBUTION
33–500 ft (10–150 m)
DISTRIBUTION Tropical waters of Red Sea, Gulf of
Aden, and western Pacific
Groupers are large and important
predators on coral reefs. They help
to maintain the health of a reef by
picking off weak fish. They also eat
crabs and spiny lobsters. The potato
grouper inhabits deeper reef channels
and seamounts. It has a large head
and heavy body with a single long,
spiny dorsal fin. Irregular dark
OCEAN LIFE fish are territorial, and in some
blotches cover the body and dark
streaks radiate from the eyes. These
areas, individuals are hand-fed by
divers. However, one diver drowned
after being rammed in the chest by a
large potato grouper. The large size of
these fish makes them an easy target
for spearfishermen.