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Experience • Rescued Animals

More Marine Animals

Updated September 22, 2023 Posted September 11, 2023

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is full of all sorts of exciting ocean animals! From maine lobsters to triggerfish, there are a number of different sea creatures that are worth learning about.

Where to See

  • Mavis’s Rescue Hideaway
  • Mangrove Key Kids Zone
  • Sea Cavern
  • Hydroponics

More Marine Animal Species

Fish

Clown Trigger

(Balistoides conspicillum)
HABITAT
They prefer the clear tropical and sub-tropical waters of the coral reef.
DIET
These are carnivore fish that live upon a wide variety of species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, echino- derms, including shrimps, shellfish, small squids, as well as, corals and marine algae.
THREATS
The list of enemies of the triggerfish is long. In fact, all carnivore species that share their habitat prey upon the fish, including the sharks of the coral reefs, large squids, and octopuses
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
They are widely spread throughout the Indo-Pacific belt, without any subspecies. Their range includes the coastline of East and South Africa, from Samoa to Indonesia, ex- tending to the southern parts of Japan, as well as the eastern coast of Australia.

Golden Heart Triggerfish

(Balistes puncatus)
STATUS
Vulnerable
THREATS
The list of enemies of the triggerfish is long. In fact, all carnivore species that share their habitat prey upon the fish, including the sharks of the coral reefs, large squids, octopuses, and several other fish species.
DIET
In the wild, Balistes punctatus feeds primarily on crabs, bivalves and other similar crustaceans found in and amongst rocky coastal areas. However, Golden Heart Triggerfish are not picky eaters and will readily consume a wide variety of meaty marine foods including: shrimp, clams, scallops, fish flesh, squid, krill and other similar fair.
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Eastern Atlantic from Madeira to Angola; including the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.

Picasso Triggerfish

(Rhinecathus aculeatus)
SIZE
Up to 12 In
THREATS
The list of enemies of the triggerfish is long. In fact, all carnivore species that share their habitat prey upon the fish, including the sharks of the coral reefs, large squids, octopuses, and several other fish species.
DIET
In the wild, they would prey on inverte- brates like clams, shrimps, and snails. Sometimes they’d manage to get larger foods like squid.
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Picasso Triggerfish extend from the Hawai- ian islands southward to Polynesia and Australia, westward through Micronesia and Melanesia, through the East Indies includ- ing the Philippines, across the Indian Ocean, to the coast of Africa and the Red Sea.

Blue Tang

(Paracanthurus hepatus)
STATUS
Least Concern
THREATS
Large predatory fish such as sharks, groupers and jacks. Habitat destruction, exploitation for the aquarium trade and use for bait for fishing
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands to Kiribati, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and Samoa.
DIET
Primarily an herbivore and feeds on zoo- plankton in the wild.

Snowflake Eel

(Echidna nebulosa)
Snowflake Eel
Status
Vulnerable
Average Size
20 in
Location
Indo-Pacific & eastern Central Pacific
Threats
Fishing, harvesting, habitat lost
Defining Characteristics
Shiny, silvery scales

Also known as the clouded moray.

Clown Tang

(Acanthurus lineatus)
STATUS
Least Concern
THREATS
Large predatory fish, sharks and other marine predators. Overfishing, habitat destruction and coastal pollution.
DIET
Clowns are herbivores who occasionally consume invertebrate crustaceans in the wild.
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
SIZE
Up to 12 Inches

Red Lionish

(Magnificent Firefish)
Lifespan
Up to 15 years
Size
12 to 15 inches in length
Weight
Up to 2.5 pounds
Habitat
Warm marine waters around coral reefs, caves, or rocky areas
Geographical Distribution:
Native to the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to Australia and the Pacific Ocean. Invasive to the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
Diet:
Smaller fish, crab, shrimp, and plankton

Tomato Clownfish

(Amphiprion frenatus)
clownfish
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
3.5 in
Location
Indo-West Pacific
Threats
Pollution, loss of habitat, saltwater-borne diseases
Defining Characteristics
Bright orange-red, one vertical stripe behind eyes

Magnificent Firefish

(Nemateleotris magnifica)
STATUS
Least concern
SIZE
Up to 3 inches long
Habitat:
Coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans
Geographical Distribution:
West of the East African coast, in the Indian ocean, to East of the Hawaiian Islands of the Pacific Ocean.
DIET
Small-shelled crustaceans, zooplankton, and algae
THREATS
Triggerfish, lionfish and large angelfish

Tessalata Eel

(Gymnothorax favagineus)
Average Size
118 In
Location
Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea, East Africa, Papua New Guinea, southern Japan, and Australia
Habitat
Coral reefs
Diet
Cephalopods and small fishes

Squareback Anthias

(Pseudanthias pleurotaenia )
SIZE
7.9 In
HABITAT
Coral reefs from 10 to 180 meters (33 to 591 feet).
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Found in the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, Rowley Shoals, New Caledonia, and throughout Micronesia.
DIET
Zooplankton
THREATS
Coral reef loss and degradation, pollution

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi)
Aquarium Striped Burrfish Smiling in the Touch Tank
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
10 in
Location
Atlantic Ocean
Threats
Pollution, loss of habitat, aquarium trade
Defining Characteristics
Yellow-green coloring, dark, wavy stripes

Striped burrfish are members of the pufferfish family. These fish can grow up to 10 inches in length. They have beak-like jaws that they use to eat their hard prey like shellfish, barnacles and crabs. Burrfish pump water into their bodies to expand their skin and push out their sharp spines. They have large, colored eyes that help them see even in murky water. Come check out these beautiful fish in our Sea Cavern!

Lookdown

(Selene vomer)
Aquarium Lookdown Fish
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
19 in
Location
Tropical Atlantic Ocean
Threats
Aquarium trade, habitat loss
Defining Characteristics
Protruding lower jaw

The lookdown gets its name from its downward oriented eye, but is also called the moonfish for the Greek goddess of the moon,Selene. The average length of a lookdown is 10 inches. The longest lookdown known was18 inches. They feed on small squids, shrimps, polychaetes (chiefly marine worms usually with paired segmental appendages, separate sexes, and a free-swimming larva) and small fishes. Its range includes the West Atlantic, Nova Scotia to Florida, Coastal Central and South America, Bermuda and Gulf of Mexico. This is a benthopelagic, (living and feeding near the bottom as well as in midwaters or near the surface) and demersal (living near, deposited on, or sinking to the bottom of the sea) species found in shallow coastal waters. This species is found at depths to 175 ft.

Red Drum

(Sciaenops ocellatus)
Aquarium Red Drum Fish
Status
Data Deficient
Average Size
55 lbs
Location
Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean
Threats
Trawl fishing, habitat loss
Defining Characteristics
Copper-red coloring

The red drum uses its senses of sight and touch, and its downturned mouth, to locate forage on the bottom through vacuuming or biting. A 3-year-old red drum typically weighs 6 to 8 lb. The largest red drum on record weighed just over 94 lb and was caught in 1984 on Hatteras Island. They max at 5 ft in length. In the summer and fall, adult red drum feed on crabs, shrimp, and sand dollars; in the spring and winter, adults primarily feed on menhaden, mullet, pinfish, sea robin, lizardfish, spot, Atlantic croaker, and flounder. Red drum can live up to 60 years. Ranges include Southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, including the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Immature red drum prefer grass marsh areas of bays and estuaries when available. Both younger mature red drum (3-6 years of age) and bull red drum prefer rocky outcroppings including jetties and manmade structures, such as oil rigs and bridge posts.

Lined Seahorse

(Hippocampus erectus)
Status
Vulnerable and at high risk of extinction
Average Size
2-4 In
Location
Western Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to Uruguay
Habitat
Mangroves, seagrasses, sponges, corals, and floating sargassum
Diet
Small crustaceans, amphipods, copepods, polychaetes, and gastropods

Sargassum Frogfish

(Histrio histrio)
Average Size
7-8 In
Location
South Africa, Indian Ocean, Subtropical seas of the world
Habitat
Floating sargassum
Diet
Shrimp and small fish

Ocellaris Clownfish

(Amphiprion ocellaris )
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
4 In
Location
Indo-West Pacific Ocean, Philippines, Australia, and Southeast Asia
Habitat
Outer reef slopes, sheltered lagoons
Diet
Polychaete warms, amphipods, copepods, algae

Yellow Tang

(Zebrasoma flavescens)
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
7.9 In
Location
Pacific Ocean, Japan, Hawaii, and Western Atlantic
Habitat
Coral-rich tropical waters
Diet
Algae, seaweed, and zooplankton

Algae Blenny

(Salarias fasciatus )
Average Size
4-6 In
Location
East Africa, Red Sea, Samoa, Micronesian Islands
Habitat
Reefs, Rocks, and Corals
Diet
Algae, Tiny Invertebrates, Detritus

Neon Goby

(Elacatinus oceanops)
Average Size
2 In
Location
Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Western Atlantic Ocean
Habitat
Coral reef heads
Diet
Parasites

Golden-lined Rabbitfish

(Siganus lineatus )
Average Size
17 In
Location
Indo-West Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Thailand, Philippines, Vanuatu, northern Australia
Habitat
Lagoons
Diet
Encrusting algae and leafy algae

Miniatus Grouper

(Cephalopholis miniata)
Average Size
18 In
Location
Indo-West Pacific Ocean, Red Sea, Durban, South Africa, and Line Islands
Habitat
Near caves and holes in lagoon reefs, and also areas under ledges
Diet
Small fishes and crustaceans

Tarpon

(Megalops)
Aquarium Tarpon Fish
Status
Vulnerable
Average Size
4 ft
Location
Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean
Threats
Fishing, harvesting, habitat lost
Defining Characteristics
Shiny, silvery scales

The “Silver King” is one of the Tampa Bay area’s premiere sportfish for anglers looking for a serious battle. They are known as strong fighters and commonly jump multiple times while being caught. There is no food value for tarpon, so they are typically released back into the waterway. Tarpons grow to about 4 to 8 feet long and weigh 60 to 280 lbs. Their diet consists of insects, fish, crabs, and grass shrimp. Tarpon live 30 to 63 years. They are found throughout the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean. Tarpons are also found along the eastern Atlantic coast from Senegal to South Angola. Although primarily a coastal marine fish, tarpon often swim up rivers to access freshwater marshes.

Coral Beauty Angelfish

(Centropyge bispinosus )
Average Size
4 In
Location
Indo-West Pacific Ocean, East Africa, Seychelles, Tahiti, Japan, and Great Barrier Reef
Habitat
Coastal lagoon coral heads, outer reef slopes, and outer reef faces
Diet
Algae and detritus

Pajama Cardinal

(Sphaeramia nematoptera)
Average Size
3.3 In
Location
Western Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu Islands, Java, New Guinea, and Micronesia
Habitat
Lagoons, sheltered bays, and reefs
Diet
Crustaceans

Sixline Wrasse

(Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
2-4 In
Location
Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean
Habitat
Coral reefs, clear coastal water slopes
Diet
Small crustaceans

Crustaceans

Cleaner Shrimp

(Lysmata amboinensis)
AVERAGE SIZE
2-2.4 In
LOCATION
Indo-Pacific Ocean and Red Sea
HABITAT
Coral reef caves or rock ledges
DIET
Parasites and dead tissue from fish

Spiny Lobster

(Palinuridae)
SIZE
15 inches
WEIGHT
Up to 15 pounds
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Spiny lobsters live in tropical oceans worldwide. However, they are most commonly found in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, in coastal waters off Southeast Asia and Australia, and off the coast of South Africa.
HABITAT
They live in protected crevices and caverns of coral reefs, sponge flats, and other hard-bottomed areas
DIET
: Variety including snails, crab, clam, & urchins
THREATS
Unstainable Fishing practices including overfishing Predators include groupers, snapper, skates, turtles, & octopi

Giant Hermit Crab

(Petrochirus diogenes)
AVERAGE SIZE
12 In
LOCATION
Atlantic Ocean, Brazil, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico
HABITAT
Muddy, sandy, and shelly bottoms, turtle grass beds and mangroves
DIET
Macroalgae and other invertebrates

Cleaner Shrimp

Maine Lobsters

(Homarus americanus)
AVERAGE SIZE
Up to 3 ft. 3 in.
LOCATION
Canada, North Carolina, and Maine
HABITAT
Cold and rocky coastal waters
DIET
Crabs, mollusks, worms, urchins, sea stars, fish, & maroalgae
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS
Lobsters with various pigmented colorations, such as orange, are considered rare.

Blue Crab

(Callinectes sapidus)
STATUS
Not threatened or endangered
AVERAGE SIZE
7 In
LOCATION
Western Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia, Maine, northern Massachusetts, Argentina, Bermuda, and the Antilles
HABITAT
Underwater grasses, and oyster reefs, and range from shallow, brackish waters to deeper saltier waters
DIET
Clams, oysters, mussels, smaller crustaceans, dead fish, plants, animal detritus

Other Aquatic & Coastal Species

Mudskippers

(Periophthalmus barbarus )
Average Size
2.75 to 9.75 In
Location
Tropical Atlantic coasts of the African Indian Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean and Guam
Habitat
Their environments are fresh, marine and brackish waters. Need land and water areas to thrive.
Diet
Crickets, worms, flies, mealworms, beetles, fish, crustaceans, and other arthropods

Perdido Key Beach Mice

(Peromyscus poliontus trissyllepsis )
Status
Endangered species
Average Size
3 In
Location
Perdido Key, Florida & Baldwin County, Alabama, Dunes
Threats
Habitat loss due to hurricanes, construction and foot – traffic damaging vegetation on dunes
Habitat
Coastal Dunes

The mice carry seeds to a deep seed cache for storage. Some of the uneaten seeds take root in the sand, which sustains the dunes’ structure. These dunes protect from storm surges and high waves, preventing or reducing coastal flooding.

African Clawed Frog

(Xenopus laevis)
Status
Least Concern
Average Size
Males: 2-2.5 In; Females: 4-4.5 In
Location
African Rift Valley south of the Sahara Desert in east and Southern Africa
Habitat
Warm, stagnate pools and quiet streams
Diet
As tadpoles exclusively filter feeders, adults become scavengers, eating living, dead or dying arthropods and other organic waste. Insect larvae, water insects, crustaceans, small fish, tadpoles worms and snails.

Corals

Discosoma Mushroom Corals

(Discosoma )
Average Size
2 to 3 In
Location
Indo-West Pacific Ocean, Red Sea, East Africa, Indonesia
Habitat
Nutrient rich tidepools, shallow lagoons, and various coastal areas
Diet
Marine algae (zooxanthellae), nanoplankton

Zoanthids

(Zoantharia)
Average Size
1.5 In
Location
Most marine environments, common in tropical and sub-tropical waters
Habitat
Coral reefs flats
Diet
Zoas are photosynthetic coral and get nutrition from their symbiotic zooxanthellae

Did You Know…

Picasso triggerfish are named after the renowned artist Pablo Picasso due to their vibrant and striking coloration, which resembles abstract patterns.
The blue tang gained significant popularity and recognition among the general public due to the character “Dory” from the Disney/Pixar ani- mated film “Finding Nemo” and its sequel “Finding Do- ry.”
Clownfish are born male and have the ability to turn into a female.
Atlantic mudskipper’s eyes are adapted to terrestrial-living by being located closely together providing a large field of vision. Their eyes can move independent of the other at 360 degrees.
Magnificent Firefish communicate using their dorsal fin. They will twitch their fin to signal to others of any nearby dangers.
Tarpon have a lifespan of over 50 years.
Fish

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249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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